In The Real ABCs: A Surgeon’s Analysis and a Father’s Legacy, Second Edition, pioneering cataract surgeon Dr. Robert Osher reflects on his 40-year career and candidly shares that the secret to his professional success and personal happiness lies in the pursuit of “the real ABCs”—achievement, balance, and contentment.

Dr. Osher was an internationally renowned surgeon and father of five when he was diagnosed with a pineapple-sized kidney cancer at age 53. Suddenly confronted with his own mortality, he resolved to write his legacy for his family, friends, and colleagues. The result is The Real ABCs, originally published after Dr. Osher’s successful recovery and newly updated with his experiences and wisdom of the last decade—an inspirational story of one man’s achievements as well as a prescriptive guide for finding balance and contentment.

In The Real ABCs, Dr. Osher tells the story behind some of his accomplishments in ophthalmology, including the founding of the Cincinnati Eye Institute, the Cataract Surgery: Telling It Like It Is meeting, the Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the introduction of groundbreaking techniques in cataract surgery. Dr. Osher demonstrates the importance of hard work and enthusiasm while admitting the inevitability of adversity and setbacks, acknowledging that his achievements wouldn’t be possible without the influence of his cherished teachers, mentors, friends, and family. Throughout the book, Osher also stresses the importance of seeking balance, whether it’s through nature, adventure, service, or adherence to one’s principles. 

The Real ABCs: A Surgeon’s Analysis and a Father’s Legacy, Second Edition is a deeply personal story filled with universal life lessons. Ultimately, Dr. Osher shows that approaching one’s career and personal life with passion and perseverance can help anyone attain a feeling of contentment and success.