Gifted Hands

by Ben Carson
240 pages, 1990

If you've seen the Hallmark movie of the same name, let me tell you, the book is even better! Ben Carson grew up in poverty, with only one parent, but her prodding, his own hard work, and many clearly God-given opportunities, allowed him to become a brain surgeon.

The title of the book comes from a passage where Carson explains that he chose neurosurgery because of an "acceptance of my God-given talents of eye-and-hand coordination – my gifted hands – that fitted me for this field." Carson is a charming author because, while he knows he is gifted, he also knows he is flawed. And he knows Who to give credit to for the amazing work he has accomplished.

This biography concludes in 1987 right after the operation that first garnered him national attention: the separation of conjoined twins who were connected at the head.

But I read the book after seeing his appearance at the 2013 American National Prayer Breakfast, which got people talking about him as a potential presidential candidate. With President Obama just two seats away, Dr. Carson gave an outstanding speech on the perils of our country's fiscal irresponsibility. It was a soft-spoken, brutally pointed rebuke of Obama's trillion dollar deficits.

So if you have an interest in medicine, or in the background of this rising political figure you'll find this fascinating.