I signed up to the Organ Donor Register many years ago, hoping that by doing so I will be able to leave a legacy of the "gift of life" that a transplant can offer to seriously ill people. My first impression of Dr Mezrich's compassionately written memoir is that this book will offer meaningful insights into both the history and the practice of transplant surgery, especially through the experiences of patients whose lives have been transformed. I know that I will also appreciate the ethical questions raised by this fascinating, life-changing branch of surgery.