"From an impoverished neighborhood of Boston to the surgical suites of one of the nation's most vaunted medical institutions, Steep recounts Craig Yorke's climb to become a respected neurosurgeon. A gifted violinist who might have filled a concert hall, he chose instead to exercise his virtuosity in caring for patients with neurosurgical disease. A complex story written with the same precision, clarity, and intensity that once guided his scalpel, Steep offers a rare window into the emotional and ethical terrain of a life spent on the front lines of life and death. It stands alongside the best medical memoirs-riveting, profound, and unforgettable."

-Dr. Paul Camarata

Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery and Chair, Neurosurgery, The University of Kansas Medical Center

"...a fascinating memoir by a distinguished Black neurosurgeon. But it is more than that; it's also evidence that professional achievement along with self-respect can bolster one's "armor" against racist condescension. Dr. Yorke is a masterful storyteller."

-Bill Tuttle

Professor Emeritus of American Studies at the University of Kansas and the author of several books, notably including "Daddy's Gone to War" The Second World War

in the Lives of America's Children

"Written 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-Soican, Ph.D.

Professor of Liberal Arts, Kansas City Art Institute

"... a thoughtful reflection on life lessons and a compelling read."

-Kathleen Sebelius

21st U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services

Publisher: Flint Hills Publishing

Pub date: 2025-04-28

Length: 176 pages