The Medical Science of House, M.D.: The Facts Behind the Addictive Medical Drama

by Andrew Holtz

Book Overview

How can a teenager adopted at birth nearly die because his real mother didn't get a measles shot? How can a husband's faith in his wife's fidelity determine whether radical treatment will cure her or kill her? How can a missed eye doctor appointment reveal a genetic disease? How can doctors choose the right course for a pregnant woman when one may kill her and the other would abort her fetus? Answers to these questions and more are pursued every week...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425212300
• ISBN13: 9780425212301
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Is House MD fact or fiction?

I've worked in the medical field for about 10 years now and two of the doctors I work with are fans of the show. One states that it's much more realistic than ER in terms of how medicine and doctors are portrayed. I love the show myself, and the book dovetails nicely with doctors explaining how they narrow their differential diagnoses in order to arrive at a definitive diagnosis in order to better treat the patient.

Interesting Stuff

You should know that this book is not a glossy guide to "House MD." But if you're looking to enhance your knowledge of some of the medicine in the show, it's a great read. It also addresses how Greg House might fare in the real world.

House has Left the House

... and entered a book... calling all Dr. Gregory House fans, read The Medical Science of House by Andrew Holtz. Holtz, a medical journalist, clarifies the mysteries and diagnoses in the television show House, which follows an irascible, but brilliant, diagnostician named, you guessed it, House. If you watch the show and it goes so fast that you need a review of medical terms and conditions or a clarification of the lightening fast thinking and and Jersey-esque verbal speed and brusqueness of the doctors, go to the show's website which recaps each episode in detail. For a broader view of the medicine on the show, Holtz's book not only explains several of the TV show's episodes and cases, it serves as an introduction to health care and medicine today. Holtz clearly and methodically explains the process of differential diagnosis for example. He covers the different kinds of vaccinations against diseases, briefly describes epidemics and other public health disasters, summarizes the various medical imaging techniques from x-rays to CAT scans and PET scans and generally covers a lot of ground in an entertaining style. This book was a quick read. I recommend it to any non-medical professional with an interest in the field, teens who like medical thrillers and possibly book clubs looking for a break from novels.

Fascinating read!

This book is a must for House, M.D. fans and for anyone interested in medical facts. The book explores situations, conditions, diseases, etc. as in the House, M.D. television show and gives the real facts. As interesting as the cases are it somehow doesn't distract from the House, M.D. show even if sometimes the tv scenes are debunked a bit. I highly recommend this book.

Interesting, if you are "House" fan.

This book is interesting if you have watched "House, M.D." on a regular basis and are familiar with the odd medical cases on the show. If the reader hasn't watched the show, it might not make as much sense, however, it is still interesting to see how medical cases aren't always of the norm.