Polite Dissent

The House of God is an autobiographical “novel” of a physician’s intern year at a large New York City hospital. It was written in the 1970s when all residents, regardless of their specialty, shared a common first year. An intern would routinely (and legally) work 100 hours/week at that time and carry a heavy patient load.

Things had improved by my residency in the 90s, and have improved even more today. Don’t misunderstand me, the intern year is still the hardest year of any physician’s life, but it’s at least a little easier today than it was thirty years ago.

Still, the House of God is a terrific read. Portions of the book are scary, some are haunting, many are hilarious, and several are heart-breaking. It stands as a testament of what it took to be a doctor in the 1970s, and what it still takes today.

Plus, it’s very funny.