How Doctors Think

by Jerome Groopman
How Doctors Think cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Health and Wellness
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  • ID: 11319
  • Added: 2026-03-07
  • Updated: 2026-03-07
  • ISBN: 9781921640216
  • Publisher: Scribe Publications
  • Published: 2010-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

How Doctors Think delves into the rapid decision-making processes of physicians, revealing how snap judgments can lead to both correct and catastrophic outcomes. Jerome Groopman explores the forces and thought processes that influence medical decisions, offering insights into how doctors can avoid errors and improve patient care. The book highlights the importance of effective communication and the potential pitfalls of new technologies in diagnosis. Groopman draws on extensive research, interviews with top doctors, and his own experiences as both a physician and a patient to provide a comprehensive view of modern medical practice. /n/n This eye-opening book offers practical advice for patients, including direct questions to ask doctors to ensure better health outcomes. It challenges common myths about medical decision-making and provides a profound new perspective on the doctor-patient relationship. How Doctors Think is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand and improve the medical decision-making process.

Reviews
BookBrowse · 2026-03-07
practical 4.25

The book is praised for helping readers understand how doctors think and how patients can better assist their doctors. It is seen as a valuable resource for improving doctor-patient communication.

This review highlights the book's ability to help readers understand how doctors think and why they make certain decisions. The reviewer appreciates the practical advice provided, such as questions patients can ask to guide their doctor's thinking. The book is seen as a valuable resource for improving doctor-patient communication and understanding the complexities of medical decision-making. The reviewer finds the book engaging and thought-provoking, offering extensive depth and breadth without wasting pages on trivial matters.

Quick quotes

    The book has helped me to understand how my own doctor might think and why, and how I can better help him to help me.

    In the end, Groopman explains tactful and effective ways for patients to communicate with their doctors.

    It is a valuable resource for improving doctor-patient communication and understanding the complexities of medical decision-making.

Eyrie · 2008-04-08
thoughtful 3.75

The book is noted for its discussion on judgment and decision errors, which are seen as variations of making up one's mind prematurely. It is considered a valuable resource for understanding the cognitive processes involved in medical practice.

This review focuses on the book's discussion of judgment and decision errors, which are seen as variations of making up one's mind prematurely. The reviewer appreciates the depth of analysis provided, making it a valuable resource for understanding the cognitive processes involved in medical practice. The book is seen as a useful tool for both doctors and patients, offering insights into how medical decisions are made and where they can go wrong. The reviewer finds the book engaging and thought-provoking, offering extensive depth and breadth without wasting pages on trivial matters.

Quick quotes

    Groopman talks about a lot of judgement and decision errors, but most of them can be seen as some variation on making up one's mind prematurely.

    The book is not only extremely well-written and engaging, but also offers extensive depth and breadth without wasting pages or diving into trivial.

    It is a valuable resource for understanding the cognitive processes involved in medical practice.

The New York Times · 2007-04-01
insightful 4.00

The book is praised for its elegant and tough-minded approach to recounting stories about doctor-patient interactions. It is seen as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of medical decision-making.

This review highlights the book's elegant and tough-minded approach to recounting stories about how doctors and patients interact. The reviewer appreciates the depth and insight provided into the medical decision-making process, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in healthcare. The book is seen as both inspiring and dismaying, as it explains how even the best doctors can draw the wrong conclusions. The reviewer finds the book engaging and thought-provoking, offering extensive depth and breadth without wasting pages on trivial matters.

Quick quotes

    This elegant, tough-minded book recounts stories about how doctors and patients interact with one other.

    By turns inspiring and dismaying, it explains how even the best doctor can draw the wrong conclusion.

    The book is not only extremely well-written and engaging, but also offers extensive depth and breadth without wasting pages or diving into trivial.

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