Here's a fun game: What do you think is the most important word in this section? Why?
I'll go first.
The word I really want to choose is pride, but scour as I might, I cannot find it in this section.
So, I'll choose "Conceit" (223) although that feels overdone. Conceit is "Excessive pride." Like Halstedt's "well-intentioned" radical mastectomy. Like the lack of collaboration and communication between surgeons and chemotherapists in the 70's which caused the stagnation of cancer research. Like the daughter in the narrative, although I think we could probably characterize her attitude and behavior as something other than prideful or conceited because she seems to be desperately seeking longevity for her mother. Who can blame her? Like the reaction of some to "palliative medicine." Like Bonadonna in his suits.
Sidenote: Bonadonna. I guess clothes do matter.
Does anyone get the sense that Mukherjee is trying to soften the unintentional mistakes of Halstedt?
And why do you think Mukherjee chose to put the "Know thine enemy" stuff in this section as opposed to the "Knowing the enemy" section?
Okay. Now, you go.
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