Steep
A Black Neurosurgeon's Journey
Memoir
By:
Craig Yorke
A kid from Boston’s ghetto becomes a neurosurgeon. His ancestors insist he avenge centuries of pain with a life of infinite success, but he and his elite education find their way to an unlikely destination, where he wrestles with his history and the armored identity it has imposed.
Steep traces an odyssey from a poor Boston neighborhood to a neurosurgical practice in Middle America - a story of resilience and self-discovery that will resonate with anyone who has ever wrestled with their past and its demons as they chased the American Dream.
Yorke's story will resonate with anyone who’s run from their past, anyone whose world feels too small.
"Craig Yorke writes 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, Professor of Liberal Arts at the Kansas City Art Institute, and author of Brief Under Water, a book of poetry.
“Craig Yorke’s memoir is skillfully woven into the times and places it describes, taking the reader on a fascinating journey through diverse cultures and a transformative period in American history. The people in Craig’s life emerge in his book as vivid characters. His perspective is thoughtful and insightful. Ultimately, it’s the compelling story of one person’s life that illuminates a shared human experience of the times. Once I picked this book up, I didn’t want to put it down.”
– Bryan Welch, former chief executive of Mother Earth News, Mindful magazine and the Utne Reader; he is also the author of Author of Beautiful and Abundant: Building the World We Want and The Gift of a Broken Heart: How Our Grief Can Connect Us
“Using honest lessons gleaned at both the kitchen table and in the operating room, Dr. Craig Yorke reflects on a life shaped by determination and choices made both for him and by him. In this compelling memoir of a black neurosurgeon, he shares powerful stories—offering a heartfelt look at the challenges and triumphs that define a life dedicated to healing.”
– Marsha Pope, President Topeka Community Foundation