Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon's Journey

Steep traces an odyssey from a poor Boston neighborhood to a neurosurgical practice in Middle America. It's more about the price of success than the weight of bigotry - a story of resilience and self-discovery that will resonate with anyone who has wrestled with their past as they chased the American Dream.

About the Author :
Craig Yorke was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He received a BA from Harvard College and an MD from Harvard Medical School. After residency training at the University of California San Francisco, he practiced neurosurgery in Topeka, Kansas for nearly 25 years. He lives in Topeka and makes coffee each morning for his wife, Mary. Their two sons are a blessing. He is a credible violinist and hits tennis balls with passion. Steep is his first book.

Review :
"From an impoverished neighborhood of Boston to the surgical suites of one of the nation's most vaunted medical institutions, Steep recounts Craig Yorke's climb to become a respected neurosurgeon. A gifted violinist who might have filled a concert hall, he chose instead to exercise his virtuosity in caring for patients with neurosurgical disease. A complex story written with the same precision, clarity, and intensity that once guided his scalpel, Steep offers a rare window into the emotional and ethical terrain of a life spent on the front lines of life and death. It stands alongside the best medical memoirs-riveting, profound, and unforgettable."-Dr. Paul CamarataChairman, Department of Neurosurgery and Chair, Neurosurgery, The University of Kansas Medical Center"...a fascinating memoir by a distinguished Black neurosurgeon. But it is more than that; it's also evidence that professional achievement along with self-respect can bolster one's "armor" against racist condescension. Dr. Yorke is a masterful storyteller."-Bill TuttleProfessor Emeritus of American Studies at the University of Kansas and the author of several books, notably including "Daddy's Gone to War" The Second World War in the Lives of America's Children "Written with the deftness of a brain surgeon and the ear of a concert violinist, Steep is the unforgettably moving story of one man's life and times. But it is also a wise and courageous commentary on our time." -Cyrus Console-Soican, Ph.D.Professor of Liberal Arts, Kansas City Art Institute"... a thoughtful reflection on life lessons and a compelling read."-Kathleen Sebelius 21st U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services