(14): Book Review: Gifted Hands; The story of Ben Carson.

Author(s): Ben Carson. Cecil Murphey. 

Genre: Autobiography. 

Year of publishing: 1990.

Reviewer: MA Iliasu.

One magic of intuition that's often overlooked lies in it's ability to equip people with eloquent wisdom, when their resourcefulness is flogged, even when the wisdom is empty. I know you may ask, how can wisdom be empty? The intellectual and emotional misappropriation or otherwise of the deliver plays an important role towards determining that. Mainly because you'll have people uttering well-assembled words that they do not know or feel anything about and vice versa. If you want to prove that, ask a random person on the streets regarding what advice could he tell you to achieve a certain goal, and I've no iota of doubt he'll energetically tell you to “Pray and Work hard”; which is an eloquent wisdom that comes mostly from intuition rather than practice, and hence does consistently offer an escapist destination that effortlessly accommodate all and sundry - the rightful and the right-less, even when they've no idea what hard work and prayer means, or when they feel nothing of their spirit. And when people are allowed to advise with words they're not sure about, or they don't honestly feel anything about, the future of guidance looks inept and heading towards an arena that's full of doubt, willful ignorance and inconsistency. Mentorship mustn't be relegated into an escapist role for people who all they know is how to speak. And that's why when someone guides, at least one should be able to be intellectually honest - like Dr. Ben Carson - or be able to wholesomely and wholeheartedly feel the spirits of the words - like Sonya Carson. 

In his prolific attempt to dissect the steps necessary to succeed in life, Dr. Benjamin Carson, an American Neurosurgeon, has elucidated what effect an intuitive wisdom can have when it's not empty and is lucky that the receiver is willing to put in the needed ingredients, and what purpose could Hard Work and Prayer serve when their meanings are fully grasped, felt and understood, in his deserved-to-be best selling book, Gifted Hands. The reader was literally taken into an exhilarating journey through a well-penned autobiography that starts from the author's childhood up to his time as a successful, internationally recognized expert in neurosurgery. Blowing the reader away with the flow of events that took place in-between; the people behind it and what it means. 

Gifted Hands is a refined, intellectually-honest, emotionally-rich, theologically-inspiring, sociologically-challenging, economically-pitying, academically-stimulating piece that'll guide a reader through understanding what's talent and who is talented, what's guidance and who is a guider, what's faith and who's a faithful, what's dedication and who's dedicated, what's hard work and who's hardworking, what's success and who's a successful, what's love and who's a lover, as well as what absolute impact a submissive belief in God can have to whomever agree that He's the doer and un-doer - by telling the story of an inner-city boy with poor grades who'll become a neurosurgeon that gives people a second chance at life. The book sailed through the angle of history in United States when race and social class could seal the future of person before he was born. And what it takes to break the barrier in style and sweat, to make history. 

Starting from his mother, Sonya Carson, to whom the book was dedicated, Ben Carson uncovered the feature of stunningly honest, dedicated and protective guardian who tells what to do not because she can simply do it but because she feels and believes and trusts that's what should be done with all of her heart, and with her actions serving as a living reference. Disqualifying whichever wisdom she uttered to be empty because she knew what it meant and felt it with all of her heart. Sonya Carson indeed deserved all the accolades achieved by Bennie and Curtis, her relentless approach can't be more rewarding. 

After the parental crisis the family of Carsons silently endured mainly from the absence and greed of their father - which I personally believe could be a common factor to many other families during 1940s America - race was the next important force. Ranging down from his days in high school up to his becoming an assistant professor in Johns Hopkins, Ben Carson faced countless incidents of racism, which would have broken him had he not been determined and focused on success through the merits of his hard work and faith. His clinical dissection of cramming - which was the instrument of his success in high school - and grasping the knowledge - which was the major challenge he faced in Yale - can't more be more relatable and elucidating. It was really an interesting test that could've been failed by anyone who couldn't put in the right work ethic as Carson. 

Another impressive element of Gifted Hands is the rendition and fluidity of the narrations that was so captivating and vividly assembled that hardly could one believe it's an autobiography, even though it's. The work was a masterpiece. The consistency of the flow was touching. The author must've possessed some eidetic memory to retain such eventful happenings, and to forge them through his prism of “Think Big”, and explain them in such an easy language that'll enable young-people understand the message he was trying to pass. Medicine generally has a tricky literature. Yet Carson simplified it beautifully, and coined it in a way that'll make anyone who reads “Gifted Hands” feel relatable. The chapters are well arranged too; from my Mother Sonya Carson, Hemispherectomic surgery of Mandara and Lil Beth, the heartwarming story of Susan and Craig, The Separation of Twins, etc, it couldn't get better than that.

The only detectable fault in “Gifted Hands” is the preference to preach in favour of goal-dreaming efficiency through reading and in-depth focus, by downgrading sports and music. Even though it sounds reasonable, but I believe there has to be another way. 

What I find most applaudable on the other hand is Carson's dedication and love towards Medicine that made him willing to sacrifice most of his time away from his loving wife - Candy Carson - and children, to fulfill the demands of such exhausting endeavor. His patriotic spirit towards United States that never allowed him act or feel with an iota of regard for race, which would betray the emotions of any reader that expected a black man who succeed to be thoroughly loyal to his race. That sparks the feeling that perceives Carson as an overly nice person who's chasing nothing but political correctness. His humility to acknowledge what he couldn't remember in his story, his urge to clarify where his literary authority on the individuals in the Book is limited, and to respect the privacy of people who may not appreciate such publicity. His unwavering belief in God and submission to Him in everything can't be more alluring, just as it can't be more rewarding. The acknowledgement of his God-given talent of Eye-to-hand-coordination. Among many others. 

Truly, Dr. Benjamin Carson succeed because he “Think Big”, but what would happen had his God-given “Gifted Hands” not existed? The same way the credits of his rare success in surgery can go to his “Gifted Hands”, but what would happen had Carson chose not to “Think Big”? The answer is, not only Carson, every person must utilize his talent, faith and hard work to succeed in life. And it's no wonder that Carson is seen a role model and mentor, simply because his words aren't empty, he meant them and believes every single one of them, and also his actions speak for themselves. In “Gifted Hands”, Ben Carson delivered an eloquent wisdom that comes both from intuition and tenacity. And the way I see it, that's a textbook definition of a mentor. 

If you love autobiographies and self-improvement books, Gifted Hands got you covered. And it merits a 9.5/10 rating from me.

MA Iliasu is a Book, TV-show and movie reviewer who writes from Kano State, Nigeria. He's very active on Twitter: @MA_Iliasu and Facebook: MA Iliasu