"Richard Karl appears to be one of those rare surgeons who cares about as well as for his patients, who speaks to them in English, rather than confusing them with complex medical terms, and who in these difficult days still loves surgery. I admire his ability to describe technical matters in simple language. His book is engagingly conversational, and, like many surgeons, he's a great storyteller."-Joan Cassell, Ph.D., Department of Surgery, Washington Medical School, St. Louis "[Karl is] a natural storyteller and writer... He writes short, pithy sentences and gives a description of an MRI that should speak for everyone who has survived that procedure. Dr. Karl has an acute sense of patients' rights, and members of Congress would do well to read his book before voting on the matter."-Mary McGrory, The Washington Post "From the introduction, readers will be struck with how well this book captures the human side of medicine... It's enlightening to read as Karl eloquently chronicles the sleepless nights spent worrying about patients, the outcomes that were more related to luck than his expertise and the very moving conversations held at the end of life."-Tribune & Times (Tampa, Florida) "In Across the Red Line the author describes much that is satisfying in being an academic surgeon. [Karl] emphasizes the pleasures of teaching, the satisfaction of performing complex surgery, and the great joy in participating in the course of patient recovery...he emphasizes the emotional rewards of surgical work and the privileged interaction with the secrets of bodies and patients."-Dr. Sanford E. Feldman, The Journal of the American Medical Association "...[A] collection of vignettes about the training, practice, and personal life of a busy surgeon...The chapter about the M&M conference is especially revealing and familiar...I recommend this easy-to-read, heartwarming, and familiar book. It will cause you to reflect, remember, and smile."-James O. Menzoian, The Journal of Vascular Surgery "14 tough and gritty essays... If you want to know what it's like to chat with someone one minute and cut into him in the next... this book won't disappoint."-Albert Howard Carter III, St. Petersburg Times "Dr. Karl is a good storyteller. No, make that a very good storyteller... This book will appeal to laypeople as well as to health care practitioners. The book contains no revelations for the surgeon-nor need it contain any. Across the Red Line provides enjoyable reading about things infrequently discussed, and that's reason enough to pick it up."-The Permanente Journal "...spellbinding...The book is entertaining in some parts, but very intense in others, making it difficult to put down. It has value for anyone interested in medical matters or simply a good read, and will be helpful for prospective medical students to decide whether surgery interests them."-Kliatt