Category: books, literature, arts

The Magic of Normal- Book Review

In this post I review Dr. Maky Zanganeh’s memoir, “The Magic of Normal,” which chronicles her journey from fleeing the Iranian Revolution to becoming a successful executive in robotics and cancer research. While the book highlights her professional achievements, it maintains an emotional distance, offering insights into corporate life more than personal struggles. Still, it is a compelling narrative.

The Magic of Normal

Hope, Love, and Beyond

by Maky Zanganeh

Published by Forbes Books January 2025

2025 Global Book Awards Gold Medalist in Biographies & Memoirs – Women

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for sending this book for review consideration.

A Driven Life Told at Arm’s Length: My Take on Dr. Zanganeh’s Memoir

A Story That Begins in Revolution

Dr. Zanganeh describes her book as a chronicle of her private and professional journey, though at times it feels more like a book‑length résumé than a personal memoir. She begins in Iran, which she fled after the Iranian Revolution. (Ironically, while I was reading this, the United States—my own country—was in a military conflict with Iran.)

Her family initially supported the revolution, but the country soon descended into war with Iraq. With the means to do so, her parents sent her and her sisters to France, where they lived with relatives, attended college, and where she eventually trained as a dentist.

From Dentistry to Robotics and Beyond

Then her life pivoted sharply. Instead of practicing dentistry, she entered the business world and rose quickly, becoming a high‑level executive at a budding robotics company. She led the team that created the first long‑distance robotic surgery, and later founded another company that developed a breakthrough cancer drug.

A Personal Life Mostly Offstage

Her personal life stays mostly in the background until, almost abruptly, she mentions becoming pregnant. Because of her demanding career, she sent her son to live with her parents, who raised him while she continued traveling the world for work—a lifestyle that sounded exhausting to me, though she seemed energized by it.

Illness, Resilience, and the Pandemic

Everything shifted when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a disease she had previously encountered only from the vantage point of a medical business executive. The timing was terrible, arriving just as the COVID‑19 pandemic began. Still, she approached her illness with the same determination that fueled her career, and she survived.

Testimonials, Business Lessons, and a Sudden Genre Shift

Throughout the book, Dr. Zanganeh seems to have a knack for meeting the right people at the right time, many of whom offer glowing testimonials in the final chapter. That chapter also includes a lengthy, detailed guide to starting and running a successful company. It felt like it belonged in a separate book and landed a bit flat after the more personal sections.

Admiration, Achievement, and an Emotional Distance

She speaks with deep affection for her family and credits them with much of her success. She also praises her business partners and colleagues, describing their strengths in detail. As someone who has worked in the medical field, I found her accounts of robotic surgery and cancer‑drug development genuinely interesting.

Still, I finished the book feeling that I didn’t truly know her. She is clearly driven by success, validation, and recognition, without exploring the source of that drive.

Her Most Human Moments

One of the most compelling moments comes when she writes passionately about the assault on women’s rights—especially in Iran—and about the suffering in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel. She questions why the world continues to fight wars and what it will take for that cycle to end.

My Thoughts: A Memoir for a Specific Audience

While I found parts of her journey interesting, I wouldn’t call this a universal must‑read. It feels best suited for people who are curious about the corporate world or who want insight into how high‑powered executives build companies and careers. Since it’s a Forbes publication, that audience seems intentional. Readers looking for a more intimate memoir will come away wanting more. You may find such insights in the articles on her website.

A Deeper Look

Dr. Zanganeh addressed several personal, health, and professional issues in her book. Based on this review, what else do you want to know about her and her work?

She experienced

  • political unrest and war
  • separation from family
  • personal illness from COVID-19 and breast cancer
  • Her father’s terminal illness and death
  • high-pressure professional life

Which of these resonates with you? If you read her book, which might be of most help to you?

From the halls of MD Anderson Cancer Center as a patient & care giver to her father battling cancer,
to groundbreaking work in medical research,
she illustrates how science, innovation, and community can illuminate the path to recovery.

From Dr. Zanganeh’s website

Photos of Dr. Maky Zanganeh

The cover image of this post was created by JetPackAI available with WordPress.

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

How Books Traveling to People Promotes Reading

Books are valuable and popular in an increasingly digital world. National Bookmobile Day and Operation Paperback promote reading accessibility. Bookmobiles serve communities lacking libraries, while Operation Paperback delivers books to military personnel. Both initiatives celebrate reading’s role in personal growth and community support.

Computers, tablets, and smartphones make it easy to read on the go, without carrying books or audio devices. But there is still a need and demand for physical books, magazines, and recorded sources of information and entertainment. Here are 2 ways that fulfill that need.

Celebrate National Bookmobile Day

Bookmobiles are mobile libraries that transport books from one local community to another. Bookmobiles make reading more accessible to people who don’t have access to physical public libraries.

National Bookmobile Day , March 22, 2026, celebrates this bookmobile service. The occasion celebrates the work and dedication of the many people involved, including library professionals, drivers, and donors.

National Bookmobile Day – April 22, 2026

The first public library I visited was a bookmobile.

Every week the bookmobile parked next to my elementary school. I  climbed the steps into the bus, and walked down the book- lined aisle. These books took me to faraway places, introduced me to famous people, and helped me dream of what I could do with my life.

I read about people who tried new things, made discoveries, travelled around the world and invented products that changed our lives.

From books  I discovered the mysteries of the human body and read about  people who studied to understand it, to uncover the causes of diseases, and work to cure them.

And I learned about people who used their talents, time and knowledge to make the world a better place. From the library, my dream of working in healthcare was born and nurtured.

Before I graduated from elementary school, a permanent library was built at the site where the bookmobile parked. I continued to make the library my second home, and learned to love the new building.

Go here to learn about the history of National Bookmobile Day

statue of boy reading a book
photo by Dr. Aletha, at a park in Bixby, Oklahoma

Recycle Books

Do you buy new or used books, magazines, audiobooks, or DVDs? What do you do with them after you read them?

Last year I began participating in a unique project to service members, veterans, and their families-Operation Paperback.

Operation Paperback

Operation Paperback began in 1999, sending its first shipments to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It has since shipped over 3.7 million books to 30+ locations overseas.

With 19,000+ volunteers from all 50 states, these individual citizens, American families, and community groups form a network of shippers that send around 15,000 books per month.

They value the praise received at home, the words that mean the most are those that come directly from those served. They appreciate the efforts.

On behalf of my unit and those that received your books through Operation Paperback here at our deployed location, thank you. We greatly appreciate the time and effort you have put into providing us a measure of comfort while we are separated from our friends and family.

Having people out there supporting us during this past holiday season provided us all a welcome respite from normal day-to-day operations. Thank you for your support and dedication during this time. Warm Regards

By: Jessica E (Overseas) (from the website)

Operation Paperback is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

There are two ways you can help Operation Paperback.

  • Donate money to help fund the purchase and shipment of high-demand genres and other special request books.
  • Send books, new or gently used, directly to troops, veterans, and their families. As a volunteer shipper, you will collect and ship your own books using the addresses they provide.

How will you help? Learn more and sign up here.

This post’s cover photo was created using AI.

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog and follow me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Me, at the New York Public Library, on a long-ago trip