A biography of the truly astounding heart surgeon Walt Lillehei who pioneered so many aspects of open heart surgery. What is particularly strong is the risk taking and the inventiveness, the search for simple solutions and the dedication. The story is compelling in part because though Lillehei was extraordinarily gifted (and confident) he was also an early cancer victim who was saved by the drastic surgery of his department chief. What Miller doesn't delve into is the psychology that also made Lillehei so self destructive .He drank, cheated on his wife and was convicted of tax fraud even though he had been a darling of the press for a decade or more. The box is very strong on the supporting cast of ingenious men who helped Lillehei in his quest to make open heart surgery workable. The fact the machine that ultimately allowed him to proceed used a dairy pump and beer hose is wonderful. I came to this after reading Walk On Water about another extraordinary heart surgeon, but part of the momentum of back story here was that Lillehei had been in the World War II and seen the destruction of the human body in all its variety. ( )