In 1987, Dr. Benjamin Carson gained worldwide recognition for his part in the first successful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head. Carson pioneered again in a rare procedure known as a hemispherectomy, giving children without hope a second chance at life through a daring operation in which he literally removes one half of their brain.

Such breakthroughs aren’t unusual for Ben Carson. He’s been beating the odds since he was a child.

Raised in inner-city Detroit by a mother with a third grade education, Ben lacked motivation. He had terrible grades. And a pathological temper threatened to put him in jail.

But Sonya Carson convinced her son he could make something of his life, even though everything around him said otherwise. Trust in God, a relentless belief in his own capabilities, and sheer determination catapulted Ben from failing grades to the directorship of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Gifted Hands takes you into the operating room to witness surgeries that made headlines around the world—and into the private mind of a compassionate, God-fearing physician who lives to help others.

I listened to this audiobook because I needed a short book for a short trip. I’m familiar with Dr. Carson, but didn’t know all the details of his story. It really was fascinating to hear how his mother raised him. She could have blamed others and demanded help/assistance. Instead, she set an amazing example of how to work and succeed, even if you have to work hard and for a long period of time.

If anything, the real take away (for me) was how important attitude is to success, for both Dr. Carson and his mom. While I enjoyed learning about his path into neurosurgery, I will forever remember how his mother raised him and the determination it instilled in him.

PG for some medical descriptions. Get your copy here.