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THE LEARNING CURVE

A NEUROSURGEON’S MEMOIR

This book deals with my own scaling the learning curve, more by way of failures and with
interspersed triumphs, and recognizing the human aspect of each of the patients and their
loved ones. Failures, rejections, disappointments are like oak barrels in which the life–giving
fluid matures.

Preface Foreword

Book Launch

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Available In India through following links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/1636408494
WFP Store: https://store.whitefalconpublishing.com/products/pre-order-the-learning-curve-a-neurosurgeon-s-memoir

THE LEARNING CURVE

Reviews:

In this autobiographical historical review, Brig. Gen. Bhatoe does a fine job guiding the reader through the personal development of a world-class neurosurgeon! From early childhood days, grand aspirations, sheer perseverance, and hard work. The book explains almost every detail that one should know before embarking on such a glorious career – a wonderful guide to every aspiring student.

This book wonderfully explains the trials and tribulations of working through the army, several neurosurgical centers while experiencing some of the most challenging and personally heart-wrenching stories of a human life. Dr. Bhatoe’s scientific publications are respected globally, with his tremendous experience with military missile head injuries. He does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged by personal anecdotes and high-class world literature reviews that make for a complete story of a phenomenal neurosurgical career.

Readers will find inspiring and fascinating personal stories, details of challenging medical conditions and a very intriguing look into the mind of a high class neurosurgeon. I recommend this book wholeheartedly, especially to young aspiring individuals who hope to make a mark in the neurosciences.

Jogi V. Pattisapu
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Professor, University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Orlando FL USA

Laughed away hours
Looked at the stranger in the mirror

The Learning Curve – a Neurosurgeon’s Memoir authored by Brig Harjinder Singh Bhatoe makes interesting reading. Neurosurgeons world-wide represent the cream of the cream of society. Cleared for a Major General’s rank is indeed pick of the litter. The two co existing is uncommon. Dr Bhatoe while sharing the trials and tribulations encountered over a 45 year period puts the reader into a time machine and gives a kaleidoscopic picture of his experiences and what he learnt. Story telling is the simplest (but difficult!) and most effective way to drive home a message. The scores of illustrations reveal, not only one better than the best in “cutting and stitching” but the humane side of a surgeon par excellence. Surgery of the entire gamut of clinical conditions in the nervous system has been extensively covered in breadth and depth, with real life stories . The uncanny ability of Brig Bhatoe to recall the minutiae of every event described is amazing. This clearly shows his deep involvement in every interaction with his patients, colleagues, family and friends. Only then would there be reception, registration, reinforcement, registration and recall. Use of appropriate quotes intermittently, sharing history, geography, the then prevailing culture, socio economic milieu along with clinical, technical and operative details truly enables the reader to see the “Big Picture” . This memoir would be appreciated by young and old, by civilians and members of the Armed Forces in fact by all those involved in providing health care directly or indirectly.

K. Ganapathy
Past President Neurological Society of India

Brigadier (Dr.) Bhatoe’s book, The Learning Curve is a welcome addition to the genre of neurosurgical memoirs from India. There is a paucity of such literature and to the best of my knowledge, there is no such book by a senior army officer. The narration is fascinating as Brigadier Bhatoe speaks as eloquently about his failures as he does about his successes while he scales his learning curve in neurosurgery in the Armed Forces Medical Services. He has an excellent memory and vividly describes events that happened years ago. His narrative is peppered with wit and humour even as it highlights his passion for neurosurgery and bonding with his comrades-in-arms. He successfully brings out the human aspect of neurosurgical management, and his interactions with patients (and their families) come alive. I hope this book will set a trend in recording the history of medicine in the armed forces and will find resonance in the medical fraternity in English speaking countries.

Sunil Pandya
Neurosurgeon, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai

So proud of Pa on yet another milestone!

I have so many memories from my perspective of these stories in this memoir – extending as far back as the late 1980s.. making sand mounds on the banks of the Indus River (Pa’s tenure in Ladakh as a general surgeon), waking up early morning to see he was back from pulling an all-nighter as a young Neuro resident in the 90s and still dropping me off to my elementary school, peeking into a dark room while he’d be balancing the camera on books as a makeshift tripod to take photos for his articles to be published – in National and international journals, waiting for him at the train station after every long trip that he took to speak and present cases at conferences, to see if he got me any toys(!!), watching the grandiose of his olive green Army uniform earning more medals and ribbons as the sideburns started getting whiter, seeing him don his maroon beret with quiet pride every morning, while I didn’t realize at the time what a prized possession and honor it was to earn that and there I was – fretting over my unmanageable curly hair that I inherited from him ?, him dealing patiently with my teenage behavior ? whilst quietly dealing with soldiers with gunshot wounds in the head.. I could go on and on and on.

One life lived king size .. and continuing. I’m so glad we have it in a memoir now ? Good job Pa!