Even though I'm an ER doctor and I've called in my share of medical helicopters to evacuate severely injured people to specialized trauma centers, the sound of a helicopter landing on the ER helipad always cranked up my pulse by a notch or two. Aircraft of any sort are exciting, and so are emergencies. Combine the two into a book, and it's bound to be interesting. Is this book? Yes. The author does a good job of immersing you in her stories, and once you begin reading this book you probably won't want to put it down. Not all of the book concerns her experiences in the CALSTAR air ambulance service; some of the material recounts her career as an ER nurse. Nevertheless, I found that material equally interesting. The only criticisms I have of the book (both of which are very minor) are: 1) The author tends to pull her punches. It seems to me that many authors are afraid to say what they really think for fear of offending some readers who possess contrasting viewpoints. I prefer that authors speak their minds, especially when their opinions were shaped by the experiences they're describing. When I began working in the ER I had virtually no opinions, but after a decade in the ER cauldron I've developed some very strong opinions. Likewise, most ER personnel I know harbor similar opinions that they're not shy about relating to one another, but when most of those folks sit down to write a book they clam up and sterilize their work. 2) The author describes the personality and appearance of several co-workers in her book, and in the center of it there's a group photo of the CALSTAR gang (in color, nonetheless). However, there isn't any accompanying caption to explain who is who.
Notwithstanding these minor flaws, Hudson produced a commendable book. In my opinion, this book is one of the best books in this genre. I've read every book that is even remotely related to emergencies, and many disappointed me because they have little to offer besides an attractive cover and catchy title. In contrast, Hudson's book is filled with nonstop action that's bound to capture your interest. (Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of "Believe It or Not! True Emergency Room Stories") Since my review is quite complimentary of her book, will you please leave in the "Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D., author of Believe It or Not! True Emergency Room Stories" part? Thanks!