Alla Shapiro’s compelling memoir entitled Doctor on Call is told in three distinct yet bonded stories. The first two parts—a harrowing recollection as a first responder to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and her anguished flight from the former USSR to freedom—are written with startling immediacy with vivid images and clarity of prose. The third and most recent part of her life highlights her expertise in prophylactic treatment of massive radiation exposure and the medical management of physical injuries and psychological trauma from such exposure.
In reading Dr. Shapiro’s biographical account of the world’s worst nuclear accident, despite the many obstacles from the former USSR’s authoritative regime, her courage and perseverance provide the driving force as she steadily moves forward in her immediate goal of saving lives while placing her own life at great risk. When combined with the third part of her extraordinary memoir, it is a story of accumulative expertise, to include frightening on-the-job training and subsequent research, with an ultimate goal of saving countless lives from disaster.
Alla Shapiro’s harrowing tale of her escape from Russia’s authoritative grip is a fast read because of its narrative momentum. It is a timely story as we see daily images of immigrants desperately trying to reach the promised land. And she manages to do so with humor. Her dedication to her family and a passion for living are evident throughout.
With respect to the third part of her extraordinary life, many anti-terrorism experts warn that it is not a question of if but when other September 11-like attacks or far worse will occur and radiation is a likely weapon. From the battlefield of Chernobyl through many years of research, Dr. Shapiro’s hard-won expertise—she is at the forefront in her field—is invaluable to humanity.
There is another subject addressed by the author that she knows only too well from her own bitter experiences portrayed in several vignettes. She reminds us of the centuries old scourge of anti-Semitism and the need to confront and overcome such hatred at a time when it is alarmingly on the rise both here and abroad.
There is are common threads in Alla Shapiro’s fascinating life; her courage, faith, hope, and compassion are evident in abundance throughout. And in a world full of polarization and conflict, love is the good doctor’s prescription.
Scarica l'app Kindle gratuita e inizia a leggere immediatamente i libri Kindle sul tuo smartphone, tablet o computer, senza bisogno di un dispositivo Kindle.
Leggi immediatamente sul browser con Kindle per il Web.
Con la fotocamera del cellulare scansiona il codice di seguito e scarica l'app Kindle.
Le recensioni migliori da altri paesi
richard williams
Dr, Alla Shapiro’s extraordinary memoir entitled Doctor on Call
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 14 luglio 2021
Margaret H. Greenberg
A Powerful Story of One Woman’s Journey
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 14 ottobre 2021
Alla Shapiro
The intimacy of the book and the human resilience that shone through was just fantastic!
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 6 novembre 2021Andrea Cohen
An inside look at an unfolding disaster
Recensito negli Stati Uniti il 15 agosto 2021