Off the Top of My Head

Inside every skull is a story of heart, humanity—and the occasional hairball. You might think brain surgery is all cool precision and high-stakes drama. Sometimes it is. But more often, it's a gritty, smelly, surprisingly absurd job—one that involves titanium screws, tumors the size of grapefruits, and moments so human they'll break your heart or make you snort with laughter behind your surgical mask. In Off the Top of My Head, Dr. Barbara Lazio peels back the sterile curtain of the operating room and shares the unexpected stories that come with a life spent elbows-deep in the human brain. With warmth, wit, and a scalpel-sharp eye for detail, Dr. Lazio invites readers into her world—where mortality is never far away, but neither is meaning, connection, or the occasional gallows-humored joke. Inside, you'll find: Gripping behind-the-scenes moments from the OR—equal parts miraculous and messy Memorable patients facing the unimaginable with courage, humor, and grace A rare glimpse into the emotional life of a neurosurgeon Unexpected levity in the face of death, grief, and the unknown Whether she's rebuilding a shattered skull or laughing through tears with a family on the edge of loss, Dr. Lazio reminds us that behind every dramatic headline or surgical success is something deeply, beautifully human. Off the Top of My Head is a book for anyone who wonders what really happens when the brain—and life—hangs in the balance.