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Introduction
The	renown	that	riches	or	beauty	confer	is	fleeting	and	frail;
mental	excellence	is	a	splendid	and	lasting	possession.
Sallust	(86	–	34	B.C.)
This	is	a	book	about	giving	our	best	and	especially	about	doing	whatever	we	can
to	help	others	—	about	Thinking	Big	—	one	of	 the	 important	 concepts	 of	my
life.	It	might	also	be	called	a	book	about	excellence.	Or	about	dedication.
It	is	also	a	book	about	people	who	give	their	best	and	who	Think	Big.
I	 chose	 this	 theme	 because	 our	 society	 tends	 to	 focus	 on	 super-entertainers,
sports	 figures,	 politicians,	 or	 the	 highly	 publicized	 individuals	 who	 do
outstanding	 work	 and	 get	 recognized	 for	 their	 achievements.	 I	 am	 all	 for
achievement,	and	just	as	much	in	favor	of	recognition.	But	what	about	those	who
give	their	best	but	never	receive	recognition?	Or	financial	reward?	Or	honor?	Or
fame?
My	life	has	been	a	rich	one,	having	been	blessed	by	God	in	many	ways.	My
first	book,	Gifted	Hands*	has	brought	me	much	recognition	and	has	focused	the
spotlight	 on	 me.	 Consequently,	 many	 people	 have	 expressed	 appreciation	 for
what	I	have	been	trying	to	do.
High	 school	 students	 have	 written	 to	 tell	 me	 that	 the	 book	 has	 challenged
them	 and	 changed	 their	 lives;	 dedicated	 teachers	 have	 given	 out	 copies	 to	 all
their	students;	a	number	of	congregations	bought	copies	of	Gifted	Hands	to	give
to	 students;	 I	know	of	at	 least	 two	businessmen	who	each	bought	more	 than	a
thousand	copies	to	distribute.	And	I	am	grateful.
I	 am	 pleased	 to	 know	 that	my	 story	 has	 encouraged	many	 and	 thankful	 for
every	word	of	appreciation,	but	I	also	want	to	point	out	one	of	the	great	truths	of
life:	I	did	not	do	it	alone.	I	had	help	along	the	way.
Competent,	 committed	 individuals	 gave	 me	 their	 best	 without	 reservation.
Often	I	receive	the	recognition,	but	now	I	want	to	pause	long	enough	to	shine	the
spotlight	on	them,	if	only	for	a	moment.	They	deserve	it.
Without	repeating	most	of	the	experiences	detailed	in	Gifted	Hands,	I	want	to
acknowledge	the	significant	individuals	who	helped	Ben	Carson	climb	from	the
academic	bottom	of	his	fifth	grade	class	to	become,	at	age	thirty-three,	head	of
pediatric	neurosurgery	at	Johns	Hopkins	Hospital.	One	of	the	youngest	persons
ever	to	have	such	a	position,	I	am	the	only	black	person	to	have	such	a	position
at	 a	 world-renowned	 institution.	 God	 endowed	 me	 with	 ability,	 but	 I	 would
never	have	been	cognizant	of	 those	gifts,	or	used	 them	 if	others	had	not	 taken
time	to	share	their	talents	by	giving	their	best	to	me.
I	hope	that	now	you	will	walk	another	step	further	with	me.	I	want	to	take	you
through	my	 life	again	and	 tell	you	about	 those	special,	 rare,	and	gifted	people
who	 have	 made	 my	 achievements	 possible.	 And	 who	 did	 it	 often	 without
realizing	it,	simply	by	giving	their	best.
*	Gifted	Hands	by	Ben	Carson	with	Cecil	Murphey	(co-published	by	Review
&	Herald,	Hagerstown,	MD,	and	Zondervan,	Grand	Rapids,	MI)	1990.
Part	1
Giving	Their	Best
and	Thinking	Big
There	are	loyal	hearts,	there	are	spirits	brave,	
There	are	souls	that	are	pure	and	true;
Then	give	the	world	the	best	you	have,
And	the	best	will	come	back	to	you.
Madeline	Bridges
	Introduction
	Part 1
	Giving Their Best and Thinking Big