Mendelian Inheritance in Man. Catalogs of Autosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive, and X-Linked Phenotypes. 7th Edition

Paul Dudley White (1886-1973) was among the most eminent cardiologists in the United States during his lifetime, and his role as a major consultant at the time of President Eisenhower's heart attack was particularly well known. Dr. Oglesby Paul describes Dr. White as one of those "practicing doctors whose lives have had a profound influence on millions of people." By writing the first biography of Paul Dudley White, the author has certainly contributed to the annals of American medicine. This biography is divided into fourteen chapters, spanning the life and career of Dr. Paul White. The book has an anecdotal nature which makes it enjoyable to read, despite several instances where the details might seem extraneous. A well-written biography should provide more than a mere outline of the events in a subject's life. It should also give the reader a true feel for the subject's character, personality, and nature. The major drawback of this biography is that it leaves the reader feeling relatively unfamiliar with Paul White's character. This deficiency might have been prevented in two ways. First, more insight could have been provided into the mental and emotional development of Dr. White during his childhood and early years. Unfortunately, the author condenses the first twenty-five years of Dr. White's life into twenty-four pages. Second, the author divides the book into numerous chapters, with each devoted to a different aspect of Paul White's career (e.g., his role in various organizations, his role as a teacher, investigator, clinician, and so on). This somewhat fragmented format makes it difficult for the reader to integrate all of the facets of Paul White's life into a picture of the complete man. Despite its flaws as a biography, this book is the first to provide important historical information on the life of one of America's greatest physicians. Most of the chapters are interesting and well presented, especially those dealing with the Eisenhower case and Dr. White's various experimental adventures. I would recommend Take Heart to those readers who have an interest in the development of cardiology in the United States in the twentieth century.