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Volume 4 . Issue 26
September 2008

COUNCIL OF REFERENCE

Dr. Richard Averbeck

Take the Risk:

Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk

Rev. D. Stuart Briscoe

Dr. Paul Cedar

A Quick Focus

Mr. Dave Coleman

Dr. & Mrs. Larry Crabb
Mr. Roger Cross
Dr.
Kenneth
Gangel
Rev.
SamuelO.Farina
Rev.Kenneth
& Mrs. O.
Lud
Golz
Dr.
Gangel
Dr.
Howard
G.Lud
Hendricks
Rev.
& Mrs.
Golz
OlanG.
Hendrix
Dr.Mr.
Howard
Hendricks
Dr.
Jeremiah
Mr.David
Olan Hendrix
Rev.David
KnuteJeremiah
Larson
Dr.
Dr.
John
C. Maxwell
Rev.
Knute
Larson

The Book's Purpose

Prove that no one will reach his
fullest potential by avoiding risk
Present the Best/Worse Analysis
(B/WA) as a formula for decision
making
Give personal examples integrating
the B/WA formula in faith and work
Explain practical ways one can implement the B/WA in his daily life

Dr.John
Bruce
Dr.
C.McNicol
Maxwell
Mr.Bruce
DeanMcNicol
Merrill
Dr.
Mrs.
Elisa Morgan
Mr. Dean
Merrill
Dr.Elisa
Luis Morgan
Palau
Mrs.
Dr. Dr.
Gilbert
A. Peterson
Ray Ortlund
Rev.
Dr. Wes
LuisRoberts
Palau
& Mrs.
Jamie
Dr.Rev.
Gilbert
A. Peterson
Rassmussen
Rev. Wes Roberts
Mr. Jim Warren
Rev. & Mrs. Jamie
Dr.Rassmussen
Rick Warren

The Books Message

We live in a society that is obsessed with safety
and risk avoidance. Instead of embracing those
risks that lead to greater success, we tend to run
from them. If we choose to stay in our comfort
zone, we will miss out on lifes greatest adventures,
and we will never reach our God-given potential.
Which risks do we take? When do we take
them? The Best/Worse Analysis (B/WA) formula provides a practical way to take calculated
risks. By using this formula, we can learn to identify
and live with acceptable risks.

By Ben Carson
Zondervan
ISBN: 0310259738

Mr. Jim Warren

Dr. Rick Warren

Publishers
Catherine & David
Publishers
Martin
Catherine & David
Martin
Editors
Cheryl & Michael
Chiapperino
Editors
Cheryl & Michael
Chiapperino

Eight Main Points

The Bijani Twins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Life Is Risky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Eight Truths about Risk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Life-Changing Risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The B/WA Formula Applied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Integrating Faith and Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B/WA for Parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
B/WA for Big Risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

22

The Bijani Twins

Reflecting on performing surgery on the Bijani twins, a feat which
brought worldwide coverage, helps explain how to identify, choose, and
live with acceptable risk.

The Twins Story

I will never forget my trip to Singapore where I first met the infamous
Bijani Twins. Ladan and Laleh represented a true medical rarity. The odds
of giving birth to conjoined twins are about once in 200,000 births. The
odds of twins being conjoined at the head are about one in 2 million. Surviving beyond two years is rarely heard of. But the Bijani twins had reached
their 29th birthday.
They had adapted to their environments and had become educated,
productive citizens in their native Iran. Both had law degrees. But they were
at a life-altering crossroads because Laleh wanted to pursue a career in journalism while her sister wanted to continue in the legal field. For their whole
lives, whatever they did, whether going to the bathroom or to class, depended on the others cooperation.
The twins made contacts all over the world to find a surgeon to separate
them. No one was willing because the odds indicated that one if not both
would die. Finally, they located Dr. Keith Goh, who had successfully separated craniopagus twins. Dr. Goh contacted me to see if I would assist. At
first, I thought the surgery was too risky and even recommended that it not
happen. But once I met the twins and saw their determination to live separated lives even if the risk cost them their lives, I was willing to join the
team. They said, We would rather die than not pursue this if there is any
chance we could be free to live our own separate lives.

Weighing the Risks

On the day before the surgery, I told the twins I would pray for them
before going to bed. I prayed for them, for the large team of doctors and
staff, and for myself. I prayed for Gods presence in the operating room
and for His strength and wisdom.
Before accepting my involvement in the surgery, I weighed the risks.
Some of my colleagues warned me that my reputation would be at risk if
the surgery failed. On the other hand, what if they did die and I did not
participate? I would wonder for the rest of my life if I could have made a
difference.
When I make major decisions, I go through an exercise of four questions
that serve as the basis for this book: What is the best/worst that can happen
if I do? What is the best/worst that can happen if I dont? In the Bijani
case, I felt an obligation to do everything I possibly could to help.

The Surgery

All through the surgery, we encountered one unexpected challenge after

another. At one point, to me it became obvious that we should not proceed
any further because the risks were too great. But when the twins guardian
insisted that they would not approve of stopping, the surgical team continued.

At various stages, we saw glimmers of hope and reasons to be ecstatic. We were able to overcome
a number of unexpected challenges.
Their two brains had become entwined over their 29-year lifespan.
We began the tedious task of separating one millimeter at a time.
The greatest challenge was stopping
the bleeding, because as soon as
we stopped one area, bleeding began in another. Without any warning Ladan arrested and could not
be revived. About 90 minutes later
her sister arrested as well, dying
from uncontrollable loss of blood.

Was the Risk Worth It?

Never in my life do I want to

experience the agony that I suffered
on that day when the twins died.
But was the risk worth it? Yes. Especially in light of the Bijanis request that they would rather die
than continue to live conjoined
lives. But in addition, there were
many medical lessons we learned
that would give us a better understanding for future surgeries. What
we learned about the potential of
the human brain was staggering.
CBS

Life
is
Risky

The Bijani twins case was not

the first time I had to weigh the
risks of performing a ground-breaking surgery. For example, I was
approached to perform a hemispherectomy on a beautiful four-year-old
girl named Maranda Francisco.
continued on page 3

3
LIFE IS RISKY
continued from page 2

I warned the family that I had never attempted such a surgery; but after
studying the procedure, I agreed to give it a try, knowing that it was extremely
risky and that Maranda could very easily die as a result.
Despite the risks involved, my decision actually came very easily. If a
person is going to die without the surgery (as was the case with Maranda),
one has nothing to lose by trying. Thankfully, the surgery had a much better outcome than the Bijani twins surgery had.

Around for a Long Time

Risk has been around for a long

time. Take a quick look at American
history and you will learn about the
early explorers to this land and the
risks they took. The establishment
of the democratic form of government was risky. What about the
risk of detonating the hydrogen
bomb? Risk has been a fact of life
since the beginning of time.

Obsessed with Risk

The roots of probability theory

can be traced to Blaise Pascal in
the 17th century. His groundwork
through time led to new fields of
business such as risk management,
insurance, and forecasting economic trends. These new endeavors
culminated in the 70s with the
emergence of a new science we call
risk analysis.

Sometimes our obsession with risk ends up in the ridiculous mode.

McDonalds must put on their coffee cups a warning that the contents are
hot. Youre not supposed to tear the tags off pillows. Doctors must pay
absurd amounts of money for malpractice insurance. Ladders are sold with
warnings about falls. Halloween costumes include the disclaimer that the
cape does not enable the person to fly.

Now we can spout off one risk

factor after another. Alcohol is a
factor in 44 percent of all accidental
deaths. A child is 600 times more
likely to be killed by a school bus
than by traveling on a school bus.
One is 400 times more likely to
die from falling than to die by having something fall on him. And on
and on it goes.

How did we become so intrigued

by risk~and so worried about it
at the same time?

The bottom line? Everything

in life is risky. Every day is filled with
risks. The main issue is how we respond. How can we sort through
all the information that bombards
us?
CBS

Many people are actually schizophrenic when it comes to risk. Think

about the irony. We idolize extreme athletes who perform death-defying
feats. We cheer their successes as we cheer our heroes. On the other hand,
look at the extreme policies every public school in America has to follow
to make sure no child suffers an injury. Every swing set and set of monkey
bars must be equipped with legally standardized cushioning to soften the
blow of any fall. We stayed glued to the television to watch Fear Factor and
Survivor. Then we turn our sets off and join the public outcry over the need
to have greater safety standards.

Eight Truths About Risk

Which risks should we worry about, and which ones should we not be
concerned about? Since so much distorted perspective abounds, how can
we learn to make wise and reasonable decisions? The following eight principles will help.
1. Everything in life is risky.
A study of daily newspapers across America revealed that about 47
percent of front-page articles dealt with some type of risk. Note the
themes of some of the headlines on a single day: painkillers cause heart
risk; pets increase eczema risk in children; and veterans have high risk
of identity theft. With all the information that bombards our minds, it
is easy to see how confusion can set in.

2. Worry increases with

knowledge.
One significant reason we tend
to worry more today than people did one or two generations
ago is that technology allows
us to see firsthand some of the
gruesome things that happen
to people. People worry about
flying. But the odds are greater
of dying on the way to the airport than dying in a plane crash.
continued on page 4

4
EIGHT TRUTHS ABOUT RISK
continued from page 3

One of the skills we need to develop is the ability to focus on those

risks we can do something about. For example, most people think the
risks of dying from a fatal heart attack are about 1 in 20. In reality the
odds are 1 in 3. And those are odds that each one of us can do
something about.
3. Many risks are not worth worrying about.
Did you know 8,000 Americans are injured annually by musical
instruments? Did you know that January is the most common month
that people die? Sometimes even the experts provide conflicting reports. Worry never does anyone any good.
4. Eliminating all risk is impossible.
People tend to believe that if a risk can be identified and measured,
then it can be nullified. Zero risk, a concept that has been planted in
our brains, represents a true disconnect from reality.
5. Our goal should be minimizing risk.
The scientist responsible for developing the Saturn 5 rocket noted the
impracticality of designing a valve that does not leak. Consequently,
one must determine how much leaking can be tolerated.
6. Each person must decide on acceptable risks.
Taking an aspirin can cause stomach ulcers. But a daily aspirin can
also prevent strokes. Each individual must use his God-given brain to
determine which risks to accept.
7. Every risk is not bad.
There is an upside to some risks. Think how dull life would be without
risks.
8. We will all die one day.
The odds of dying from cancer are 1 in 500. The odds of dying while
riding your bicycle are 1 in 130,000. The odds of dying by a falling
meteor are 1 in 5,000,000,000. The odds of dying are 1 in 1.
Some people never take risks and end up doing nothing significant
with their lives. Others take all the wrong risks and end up hurting themselves and others. In both cases these people never enjoy their God-given
purpose in life. CBS

Life-Changing Risks
All through my life I have faced risks. Applying to Yale for college was
a risk because I had enough money to apply to one college only. While
at Yale, I took a huge risk by developing a relationship with Candy Rustin
who later became my wife. One of the greatest risks took place in med
school when my advisor suggested that I either drop out or take lighter
loads. Instead, I chose a third option. I designed a new method of studying, which proved to be the turning point in my med school years. Three
other risks deserve attention here because they helped shape my career.

The Risk of Thinking in New Ways

While observing a neurosurgical procedure, the surgeon explained

that the most difficult part is locating the foramen ovale, a tiny hole at
the base of the skull. Indeed, as I watched, the process became a trialand-error approach.

There had to be a better way.

I spent some days designing a new
approach that involved using an
X-ray beam to line up through two
points. At first, I sat on the idea
because I was just a student. How
would the doctors feel about my
suggesting a new procedure? Eventually, I took the risk; the procedure
worked, and the doctors were impressed.

The Risk of Weighing

the Alternatives

During my fourth year of residency at Johns Hopkins, I faced a

difficult dilemma. A teenage boy
came into the emergency room
with a head that had been badly
beaten with a baseball bat. He
would die without immediate surgery. Most of the neurosurgeons
were in Boston for an annual convention, including my supervisor.
The next protocol step was to call
the faculty member in charge of
all consults. After numerous failed
attempts, I knew I had to make a
quick decision because the boy was
already comatose and deteriorating
rapidly.
The physicians assistant told
me to go for it and I did. I waited
for several days to see what kind
of consequences I would suffer.
But thankfully there were none.
That young man is now married,
has a family, and works as a psychologist in Baltimores public
school system.

The Risk of Making

Your Own Decision

Near the end of my residency

a neurosurgeon from Australia invited me to come there and become
senior registrar (like our chief resident). The opportunity would provide a wealth of experience, although
it would extend my residency for
an additional year. And since Candy
was pregnant with our first child,
we declined. But we were never at
peace about our decision.
As we continued to weigh the
pros and cons, we decided to accept
the position. The year was fulfilling
to say the least. Many of the surcontinued on page 5

5
LIFE-CHANGING RISKS
continued from page 4

geries I performed were extremely complex, thereby giving me experience

I would have never garnered in the states. About a year after returning
from Australia, I accepted the position of director of pediatric neurosurgery
at Johns Hopkins, at the unheard-of age of 33.

The Best/Worse Analysis Formula

Whether it is deciding on career moves, knowing whether to accept

speaking engagements, or discerning which cases to accept, I analyze the
risk. How do I analyze risks and arrive at a decision? I use a formula that

I designed called the Best/Worst

Analysis (B/WA) formula. It is actually quite simple. What is the
best thing that can happen if I do
this? What is the worst thing that
can happen if I do this? What is
the best thing that can happen if
I dont do it? What is the worst
thing that can happen if I dont
do it?
CBS

The B WA Formula Applied

These four questions have become my best friends when analyzing
any risk that I face.

The Christopher Pylant Case

Four-year-old Christopher Pylant had been diagnosed with a massive,

inoperable brain tumor. Every medical professional had given him a terminal prognosis. The parents informed me that they felt God had led them
to Johns Hopkins and to me. They were not satisfied when I informed
them that I concurred with all the other prognoses.
The parents pressed me to do something. But I couldnt justify taking
any action just because of the parents faith. I needed some rational justification. I wondered if there was any possibility at all that the mass was
something other than a malignancy. At that point, I applied the B/WA
formula to decide whether or not we should operate. Only one option
provided any chance of a positive outcome.
There was nothing to lose by doing an initial exploration. Unfortunately,
what I saw confirmed what everyone else had said. However, Christophers
quick response and recovery surprised us all. The decompression we did
at the back of his head evidently relieved a lot of pressure from the tumor.
Further testing showed that the tumor had not yet penetrated the brain
stem. After surgery, he made a remarkable recovery, finished his education,
and is now a minister. This result would have never happened had I not
used the B/WA formula.
Please understand that applying the formula does not guarantee a
storybook ending. But it is unlikely you will have a worse outcome by
implementing the formula.
What a B/WA does guarantee is that you consider the various possibilities in a reasonable, logical manner before making any uncertain
or risky decision.

When Additional Wisdom Is Needed

In those cases for which the formula seems insufficient, try answering
the basic questions of who, what, where, when, how, and why. Who will
be most affected by the decisions? Who else will be affected? How will
the decision affect me?
What do I need to know? What am I willing to learn? Many times
other professionals will see that I am on to a good idea and will ask,
What can I do to help?
The where question needs to be asked from three different perspectives.
Your goals lead you ask, Where are you going? Your skills, thinking,
and attitudes lead you to ask, Where are you now? And your preparation

leads you to ask, Where will you

begin?
The issue of timing (when?) is
critical when performing the B/WA
formula. What I might decide to
do today I may never have decided
to do 10 years ago. If anything has
changed significantly over the past
year, this might modify or even reverse your thinking.
It doesnt matter which order
you use to answer these questions.
Frequently, the questions must be
considered simultaneously. This,
in fact, has been the case for me
when dealing with the how question. How will we proceed with a
surgery? How can we use multiple
procedures to accomplish our goals?
The why question and the
Golden Rule (which I try to follow)
are closely connected, and they
play a pivotal role in the decisions
I make. I try to put the needs of
others ahead of my own.

Because of my
personal value system,
because I know
why I do what I do,
Im usually more
than willing to
take a risk in
treating [people].
CBS

Integrating Faith and Work

God expects every believer to integrate his faith in the workplace.
I dont believe He ever intends us to cram truth down peoples throats.
Nor does he want us to cower when opportunities arise.

An Imposing Audience

Probably my most formidable assignment was to participate in a panel

discussion conducted by the prestigious Academy of Achievement. The
subject was the relationship between faith and science. Past participants
in this elite group include former presidents, Nobel Peace Prize winners,
well-known CEOs, as well as world-renowned participants from the fields
of arts, public service, science, and sports. I wasnt sure if I wanted to
reveal my spiritual beliefs before such an audience.
After applying the B/WA formula, I decided that the possibility of
embarrassing myself before such an august group wasnt as important as
the opportunity for open and objective discussion on things that matter
the most.
The main truth I wanted to portray in this discussion was that faith
did not have to be anti-science. I tried to explain that science has many
gaps that actually require a measure of faith to accept. Science and religion
both require faith. Each person must decide where to put his faith. And
whatever choice is made does not make him superior to those who choose
a different path of belief.

My B/WA

Here is how I assess the risk of integrating faith in my medical practice.

What is the worst that could happen? I could offend someone. And if
I offend the wrong person, I guess I could be fired.
What is the best that could happen? I would be the same person and
true to myself regardless of whether I am home, at work, or wherever.
I can use my God-given abilities and talents in ways to edify others and
God. If my motive is to please God in every area of my life, then I dont
have to waste a lot of energy worrying about how people might react.
What is the worst that could happen if I decide not to integrate faith
and work? My life would be out of balance, and I would be at odds with
myself. Id feel like a hypocrite and would probably eventually have to make
a choice either to abandon my faith or risk being more open about it.

B WA for Parents
One of the most difficult, yet significant, challenges known to man
is being a parent. Every parent every day must make decisions on behalf
of his children. Some carry more risk than others. The B/WA always
comes in handy.

Driving Privileges

Let me tell one story that shows how this formula helped us make a
family decision. Our third son, Rhoeyce, soon after he got his drivers
license, totaled our car when he lost control on a rain-slick road. Its a
miracle he survived the crash. We lectured him strongly; and he was humbly regretful. We had confidence in him. So we let him continue to drive.

What is the best that could

happen if I decide not to integrate
faith and work? Actually, there is
no best scenario with this option.

Faith and Risk Go Hand

in Hand

There is no way we can remove

all risk from faith. But how to
integrate faith and work is a difficult
process for many because the risk
sometimes results in opposition,
injustice, and criticism. I often pray
with my patients, but only if they
ask me to. That is a much different
approach than praying whether the
family wants it or not. There is
something to be said for wisdom
or discernment, and we can all
reduce the risk of living out our
faith at work if we use a little of
both.
It helps me to understand that
any risk I take becomes more acceptable when I remember that
God took a great risk when He
decided to have a relationship with
me. He doesnt ask me to risk anything that He Himself hasnt risked
for me. This truth makes it easier,
then, for me to follow the Golden
Rule and to deny myself and follow
Christ.
CBS

Within a couple of weeks, he

made another serious misjudgment
when he rear-ended another vehicle~two serious accidents in less than
a month. At this rate, it wouldnt
be long before our family would
have no vehicles to drive. Rhoeyce
was very hard on himself. His confidence was badly shaken. He announced that he didnt want to
drive anymore. That sounded like
a reasonable consequence.
continued on page 7

77

B/WA FOR PARENTS

continued from page 6

But then we applied the formula. The best thing that could happen
if we didnt let him drive is that his odds for survival were better. The
best thing that could happen if we let him drive is that he could learn
from the previous two accidents and become an extremely good driver.
The worst thing that could happen if we didnt let him drive is that he
might lose so much confidence that he would never want to drive again.
The worst thing that could happen if we let him drive is that he could
die in another accident.
Other parents may have reached a different conclusion than we did.
But we let him continue driving. After factoring in his personality type,
we believed that letting him keep driving would be a tremendous boost
to his confidence. We told him we believed in him. Five years later he
was still free from accidents and traffic tickets.

No parent can protect a child from every risk our

dangerous world holds, and we shouldnt try,
because there is such a thing as acceptable risk.
Parenting Issues

Lets take a look at two random issues and learn how to apply the
B/WA formula. First is the issue of school choice. Should parents be
content with the public school system or should they look into private
schools? Homeschooling and private schooling are skyrocketing in enrollment. Many parents choose this route because they fear for their
childrens safety. A careful risk analysis would show that those fears are
largely unfounded. Children have a greater chance of dying in an accident
while traveling to school than being killed in some type of Columbine
tragedy. If the motive is concern for substandard education in public
schools, then that is a different story since 80 percent of sixth graders
cannot locate the United States on a map.
Second is the issue of the spiritual considerations related to education.
Do parents provide an educational environment that provides faith and
values or do they send them to public schools where the education is
becoming more and more anti-Christian? I made it fine in public schools
because my faith was deeply grounded; my mother and my church saw
to it.
That doesnt mean you should go the public education route, however. Each parent must weigh the risks. But it is critical that parents not
only protect their kids, but also prepare them for life in the real world.
CBS

B WA for Big Risks

There are huge problems looming over our country that require
earnest risk analysis. Easy answers are not possible. I could amplify many
medical issues such as skyrocketing lawsuits and voluminous paper trails
that keep professionals at a desk instead of with patients. But the problems
go beyond the medical field. Here are a few pressing issues:

Our National
Financial Crisis

Our national debt continues

to spiral out of control. To arrive
at a solution certainly requires
thinking outside of normal parameters. I believe we could eliminate the national debt by doing
away with money altogether. (Ive
even presented this concept to
the president.) Just as God established the tithe for all, the wealthy
and poor alike, I believe nations
would do well to implement a proportional template.
For this concept to work properly would require eliminating all
money and credit cards. We could
identify everyone by a handprint
and a retina scan and perform all
transactions electronically. We
could set the tax rate at 10 percent
(or 12 to 15) on all financial transactions.
There are many glitches to overcome, but think of the positive
effects. One is the issue of fairness.
Everyone would be taxed the same.
The plan would eliminate tax incentives for corporations and the
wealthy. Such a tax wouldnt penalize the rich or patronize the poor.
In war situations, the proportion
could be increased. This system
would eliminate our national debt
because it would increase the tax
base by about 30 percent. Think
about what such a plan would do
to drug dealers and organized
crime, segments of society that
operate on a cash basis.
Most congressmen and senators
agree that my idea would work
very well. But they admit that overcoming resistance from special
interest groups would be difficult
to overcome. Implementing this
idea would require courageous
leadership and a broad support
from the grassroots population.

Special Interests

Some issues are so overwhelming that they can actually paralyze

us. And when we dont respond,
we become complacent, a state
which becomes an even greater
societal threat. We all know that
our government is being run by
continued on page 8

8
B/WA FOR BIG RISKS
continued from page 7

special interest groups. Our elected officials are now spending up to half
their time raising money just to stay in office. We all know its a problem,
but we dont have a clue what to do about it. The very principles upon
which our country was founded are at risk. We must never forget that
the country exists to serve us, not to rule us.
Volume 4, Issue 26

Ultimately, we still hold the power. We hold the

purse strings. We all have a vote, and we all have a
voice with which to try to make a difference. We
forget that at our own risk.
Gambling

Americans are far too complacent about the devastating effect gambling has on families and individual lives. I know this problem is not going away anytime soon. But when I received an invitation to speak to
a national convention of the gaming industry, I accepted. The approach
I used was to talk about the potential of the human brain. Then I challenged them to admit that their industry was not just entertainment,
but that it was actually ruining many lives.
I told them that I knew they were decent human beings who were
not bent on destroying lives. Certainly, they wanted their customers to
have fun. I just encouraged them to use their brains to come up with
a better way to provide entertainment without all the negative effects.
I suggested a type of card, like a credit card, whose limit was based on
a persons income. That way no one could spend rent or grocery money
on the machines.
I am not nave enough to think that all the conventioneers returned
to Vegas or Atlantic City and immediately implemented my ideas. But
I do believe that I planted many seeds in peoples minds that there could
be a less harmful way of doing business. The brain is all you need to
master any problem.

Do you have a brain? Then use it. Thats the secret.

Thats my simple but powerful prescription for life,
love, and success in a dangerous world.

CBS

Publishers

Catherine & David Martin

Editors

Cheryl & Michael Chiapperino

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thorough and readable summaries
of noteworthy books from
Christian publishers.
The opinions expressed are those
of the original writers and
are not necessarily those of
Christian Book Summaries
or its Council of Reference.
Take the Risk: Learning to Identify,
Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk
by Ben Carson with Gregg Lewis, copyright 2007 by Ben Carson. Summarized
by permission of the publisher, Zondervan
Publishing, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
240 pages. $19.99 U.S. ISBN: 0310259738.
Available at your favorite bookstore or
online retailer.
The authors: Dr. Benjamin Carson is
a professor of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology, and pediatrics, and the
director of pediatric neurosurgery at
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
He is also the author of Gifted Hands,
Think Big, and The Big Picture. He
serves on the boards of several corporations, including The Kellogg Company,
Costco Wholesale Corporation, and
Americas Promise. He and his wife,
Candy, are the parents of three grown
sons, and they live in Baltimore County,
Maryland.
Gregg Lewis is an award-winning author
and coauthor of more than 50 books.
He lives in Rome, Georgia, with his wife
and fellow author, Deborah Shaw
Lewis. The Lewises have five young
adult children.
Summarized by: Ken Kelly. A graduate
of Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Dr. Kelly has served as senior
pastor of Chapin Baptist Church in
Chapin, South Carolina since 1986.