contemplative essays. Together, they form a unique combination of personal interpretation on a range of subjects. Dr. Schwartz's thought-provoking essays cover topics as various as the development of the Gregorian calendar, the economics of health care, laparoscopic surgery, the nature of pain, and the characteristics of a surgeon. Dr. Wilder's paintings include celebrated athletes performing remarkable feats of strength and coordination; the sensual, sleek lines of racing cars; quietly emotional or vividly dramatic intraoperative scenes; and succulent fruits and a harvest of viands. Surgical Reflections excites the reader's senses, engages the intellect, and invites contemplation. Not just for surgeons, this is a book that will also appeal to individuals outside the medical realm.