Editing Magnificent Obsession (section)

==Inspiration ==

The story behind the novel, and the identity of the surgeon on whose life it is based, is mentioned in articles in the American Association of Neurosurgeons' journal ''AANS Neurosurgeon'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104040/http://www.aans.org/en/AANS%20and%20JNSPG%20Publications/AANS%20Neurosurgeon/AANS%20Neurosurgeon%20Issues/2001/Winter%202001%20-%20Issue%204/A%20Magnificent%20Obsession%20-%20%20Classic%20Novel%20Should%20Resonate%20With%20Neurosurgeons.aspx?sc_database=web Magnificent Obsession] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084012/http://www.aans.org/Media/Article.aspx?ArticleId=44465 "Inspirations and Epiphanies"]

The theme of the book is based on a passage from the [[Gospel of Matthew]] (chapter 6:1-4):

<blockquote>
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.....That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
</blockquote>

The philosophy behind the book is also partly that of "[[pay it forward]]", the idea that good deeds received are not to be paid back to the doer of the deed, but to a needing person in the future.