"The orthopedic surgeon David Schneider writes in The Invention of Surgery that, as a result, by the late eighteen-hundreds 'surgeons did the unthinkable. Instead of just operating on people in extremis, at the point of death, surgeons began the practice of elective surgery.' As a surgeon, Schneider is known for his success in the replacement of entire joints, especially shoulders, and, in the later chapters of the book, he shifts his gaze to what he calls the implant revolution. 'The ability to implant foreign materials in the body would awaken the imagination of engineers, biologists, and surgeons, and would usher in one of the most significant upheavals in human history.’ "

– Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker

"Bold and compelling. Lively and informed by Schneider’s fascination with the field's 'tinkerers, oddballs, and lonely geniuses.' Uniformly excellent, and often wryly amusing."

– The Wall Street Journal

Rampaging through surgery’s history, David Schneider’s unique take on its heroes and their achievements is cut with poignant, pithy stories from his own experience of repairing our bodies. He celebrates the audacity of putting something foreign inside of us, ruminates on its current costs and ethics, and asks us to join him on a fascinating ride into the future of implants.

– Helen Bynum PhD, author of Spitting Blood: The History of Tuberculosis

"Comprehensively researched, deftly told, and radiating both intellect and passion, The Invention of Surgery is essential reading for anyone interested not only in the history but also in the future of medicine. This book is a labor of love, and it shows."

– Frank Huyler, author of The Blood of Strangers: Stories from Emergency Medicine

"Brace yourself! The Invention of Surgery is a globetrotting historical adventure, told from the inside of the operating room. Through a series of colorful, bizarre and, at times, stomach-churning stories, Dr. Schneider reveals how the human, messy side of surgical history adds up to the wondrous advances we see today. This is medical writing at its most exhilarating."

– Michael Paul Mason, author of Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath

“The most riveting passages are Schneider's recollections of his medical training and memorable patients.”

– Booklist

“A history of surgery that is informative, entertaining, and highly readable.”

– Library Journal