The House of God

The House of God is a semi-autobiographical novel that offers a darkly comedic and brutally honest look at life as a medical intern in a major teaching hospital. The novel follows Dr. Roy Basch as he begins his medical internship, facing the absurdities, ethical dilemmas, and emotional toll of working in a dehumanizing healthcare system. Through sharp satire, Samuel Shem (the pen name of psychiatrist Stephen Bergman) exposes the often harsh realities of the medical profession, from dealing with difficult patients to navigating hospital bureaucracy, and the ways in which doctors cope with burnout.

Why read this book

• Experience a raw, often humorous portrayal of the pressures and challenges faced by young doctors in their first year of practice.
• Gain insight into the emotional toll of the medical profession, with its demands, ethical quandaries, and the struggle to maintain compassion.
• Explore themes of institutional dysfunction, the commercialization of healthcare, and the depersonalization of patients.
• Appreciate the novel’s influence on the medical community, where it has become a cult classic for its candid look at the realities of life in the hospital.

About the Author

Samuel Shem is the pen name of Stephen Bergman, a psychiatrist and author who drew on his own experiences as a medical intern to write The House of God. The novel has had a lasting impact on the medical profession, often praised for its candid portrayal of the psychological toll that the medical training process can take. Shem’s writing continues to be a reference point for discussions about healthcare reform and physician burnout.