Review: "Gifted Mind"

Gifted Mind:  The Dr. Raymond Damadian Story – Inventor of the MRI is an enjoyable story of a very gifted man who, in response to his grandmother’s cancer, decided there must be a way to detect cancer non-invasively – and the seed for the MRI was planted.

The first chapter, rather being “I was born…”, is a historical presentation of the rationality of being a Christian believer and a scientist.  This set the stage for a very different autobiography – one in which the author is very concerned to show the truth of Christianity – the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the wonders of science being part of the revelation of God in nature that God has blessed those who seek to find.

In chapters 2 through 6, he tells the story of his life, the life-changing influence of his grandmother dying horribly of cancer, and how this propelled him to find a way to detect cancer early – and thus, in the Providence of God – the first MRI.

Chapter 7 looks at the violation of his patent and the lawsuits that followed.

Chapter 8 looks at the pain and frustration he has from not being nominated for the Nobel Prize.  Although he submits to the Sovereignty of God, it is impossible not to wince at the pain as he explains how he was kept from the award.

Chapter 9 turns to examine the possibility that the human eye, ear, and heart came into being through the chance methodology of evolution.  He concludes that the only variation among creatures are within kinds, not across them (178).  He writes, “Could God have made the word in 14 billion years?  Yes. Could He have taken twice that length of time.  Again, yes.  Evolution is logically possible (because God is infinite and can do anything He desires) but scientifically untenable (because there is no scientific evidence to support it)” (182, italics his).

The final chapter is a praise to God for the possible good that God will use his work -- in the creation of the MRI – for.  Not matter what he struggled in his life – all good is to the glory of God.

The appendix looks at Jesus as the Source of all Truth.

This is a fascination story and a great story of God working through men and women and science to reveal all that He has done for us.  The transition from purely autobiographical chapters to theology is a little bumpy, but more editing will ease that.  This book is worth one’s time.  May it turn may to praise our God and Savior.

#GiftedMind

[I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, and Masterbooks.com.]