First Cut: A Season in the Human Anatomy Lab - Hardcover

As he sees changes "in personal feelings about death, touching, and the wonderfully complex activities of the human body" in the young men and women, he also puts to rest the memory of his father, who had donated his body for medical study. Pacing the story are three inspired essays on the nature of medical education and thirty beautiful and absorbing Renaissance anatomical illustrations. First Cut, far from being a sensationalistic account of young doctors run amok, is perfect for anyone who is interested in understanding medicine and its practitioners. --Rob Lightner

"It's a beauty of a book, and its anatomy is unique and lovely." --John Stone, Associate Dean of Admissions at Emory University School of Medicine, and author of IN THE COUNTRY OF HEARTS and IN ALL THIS RAIN

"Carter, a superb writer, paints us a marvelous picture of the human anatomy lab." --THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

"An intimately woven and candid exposition of life, death, and learning...FIRST CUT is pleasurable to read, both entertaining and thought provoking." --THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (JAMA)

"[An] excellent book...His reflections on the intricacies of our construction are calm, restrained and intelligent.' --THE WASHINGTON POST

"An incisive and finely wrought rendition of what takes place in the anatomy laboratory, that crucible where every doctor is born." --Richard Selzer, author of MORTAL LESSONS and LETTERS TO A YOUNG DOCTOR