Jerusha Bosarge

“Arthur C. Guyton never thought of himself as extraordinary. Maybe that’s what made him so special”. And so begins this book on the far from ordinary life, dreams and inventions of the man, known simply as Ott. Written by Jerusha Bosarge and published by Quail Ridge Press, within this book lays the story of a man who proved that great things can be accomplished by combining need with imagination.

At first glance this book seems pretty elementary; man accomplishes great things despite a handicap. Most would say that this is a story that has been told a hundred times over. And it has. But this book has something more. Perhaps it is the personal touch of the stories of Ott’s childhood, or maybe it is the captivating pictures included within its pages. Whatever it might be, it transforms this book from what could easily be a “ho hum” biography, into a book that clearly illustrates just how one man overcame obstacles, not to help just himself, but others as well.

Throughout the reading of “Inventing Ott”, I was reminded of “Character Education” curriculum widely taught in schools today, and how Ott’s story provides great examples of traits in this program. “Inventing Ott” clearly illustrates traits such as: Trustworthiness: Ott proved himself to be invaluable and trustworthy while working as a lens refractor in his father’s eye clinic. Responsibility: although Ott was burdened by his own physical limitations, he still felt a responsibility, by meeting “needs” with his inventions. Respect: Ott helped many to learn respect, not only for those who had physical limitations, but he helped those with the limitations to find self respect as well. Fairness and Caring: caring was why Ott invented devices to help others, and with regard to fairness, Ott refused to make money off the suffering of others, preferring instead only to meet the needs of others.

This book, written for young readers, would be an excellent addition to any classroom. In fact, with the problems many pre-teens and teens have today with self confidence and self esteem, “Inventing Ott” is a book that could easily pave the way for discussions on these subjects. The fact that physical limitations did little to stop Ott and his dreams of making life easier for others would make wonderful classroom material on the subject of perseverance, especially with an emphasis on “the only limitations we really have within our lives, are those which we put upon ourselves.”

I was honestly impressed and humbled by this story of Ott. His character shone through from the first page through his death and beyond. He reminded me of my father, who despite all the ‘curve balls’ his health has thrown him in the last few years, refuses to give up and stop living. Like Ott, he is an independent man who is always thinking of ways to help others and like Ott he serves others for the single purpose of “filling a need”, with little or no fan fare for his accomplishments.

In my opinion, this book should be front and center of all Junior High classrooms, libraries, counselor’s offices and homes. For within its pages, the reader finds not just the story of a man who overcame physical limitations, but the story of a man of great character and integrity as well. And great stories that touch the soul and teach at the same time are very rare indeed. Stories such as “Inventing Ott”, inspire and encourage today’s youth to follow a dream despite limitations that may seem insurmountable and provide hope to all who read them. And we all know how precious “hope” is in this today’s uncertain world.

Well done and very interesting.
The first question that jumped into my mind on reading the title to this book was wondering just who Ott was and why I should care. This short book is the biography of Arthur C. Guyton. Don't know that name? Neither did I. However, the author is such a skilled writer that the book keeps the reader's interest despite reading the life story of someone they probably never heard of. Actually Arthur C. Guyton was quite a remarkable man and serves as an inspiration to all who would learn of him through this book. In some circles his is a common name as he invented the electric wheelchair, became known as the Father of Modern Cardiovascular Physiology, and fathered ten doctors. Written in short chapters and at a middle school level this would make an excellent book for school assignment or as an inspirational text. Inventing Ott is highly recommended as an interesting biographical text and a fine example of how biographical texts should be written.

I'll admit I'd never heard of Arthur Guyton before this book hit my desk, so I was completely free to learn about the man from Jerusha Borsarge's biography Inventing Ott.

Beautifully designed and loaded with photographs and illustrations, Inventing Ott is intended for students in the middle grades. The writing style will connect most strongly with students in the fifth and sixth grades.

Bosarge has done a masterful job telling Arthur Guyton's ("Ott" was his nickname) story, and students who are interested in medicine and physiology should consider this book required reading.

Guyton re-taught the medical world how the circulatory system works, wrote the best-selling medical textbook of all time, invented the electric wheelchair (among many other items) and probably most importantly was a beloved and respected professor at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

Guyton suffered from polio which caused him to lose the use of his legs, and his story is
an inspiration to all. Bosarge has written about the man and successfully avoided getting caught up in his theories and discoveries, which would have bogged the book down. Bosarge leaves the reader wanting to learn more - which is exactly what a book of this type should do for its intended audience. In a little over 105 pages, Bosarge has captured the essence of a giant in his field, and has done so in a breezy, yet compelling writing style that will introduce students across the country to a Mississippi native who changed the world.

Rating 4.5 Stars.

Let's see. How about writing an inspirational youth-oriented biography about someone with ties to Oxford and Ole Miss? You know, a story about someone who grew up around here, dealt with all kinds of situations and always seemed to find a way to overcome adversity and help his fellow man.

Sounds like a good idea. So who might we choose?
How about the author, the sole author, of the best-selling medical textbook of all time?

Or how about the man, a survivor of polio, who invented walking leg braces and the electric wheelchair?

Or maybe a longtime acquaintance and friend of renowned author William Faulkner?

What about the man, a longtime professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, who's known as the "Father of Modern Cardiovascular Physiology?"

But then again, maybe one about a man and his wife who raised 10 children – all Harvard-educated physicians?

Lots of good choices there. Any one of them sounds just like what we're looking for.

Too late.

It's been done.

Dr. Guyton fits the bill

And, would you believe it, all in one book. All about one man, former Oxonian Dr. Arthur C. "Ott" Guyton, the son of Dr. Billy Guyton (who Guyton Hall on the Ole Miss campus was named for) and the father of 10 doctors including Oxford's Dr. Jean Gispen.

"Inventing Ott, The Legacy of Arthur C. Guyton," by former Mississippian Jerusha Bosarge (whose husband, Joey, was one of Dr. Guyton's last students), is a captivating 120-page book full of information, stories and pictures of the world-famous doctor who grew up here in Oxford before eventually teaching and training countless students at the Medical School in Jackson.

Inspirational book

It's designed to inform and inspire, perhaps giving youngsters another look at someone who dreamed of becoming something and then doing whatever it took to get there. "Ott" Guyton grew up in a different time, but his story of meeting challenges head on and of turning his inquisitive nature into invention is just as fitting today – and certainly when you consider that so much of what he did is still being refined and used today.

It is also, however, a book that carries that same message to all of us. We’re never too old to be inspired, never too old to learn a new technique or way to do or think about something.

“It’s been a while since I read it (in its proof form), but I remember enjoying it thoroughly. It’s accurate and tells the story very well,” Dr. Gispen said. “I’ve heard from people age 8 to 98 who have read it, and they all said they enjoyed it.”

For Gispen, the sixth of the 10 Guyton children (and the only one who moved “back home” to Oxford), the book brings back lots of memories of her childhood and of watching her father achieve many of his goals and accomplishments.

Gispen remembers father

“I like that people get to know my father (through the book). I like that people know that he was someone intelligent who felt enormous ties to Mississippi and to Oxford and to the University,” she said. “He was recruited to go other places, but felt there was such a wonderful environment in Mississippi for him. He had the resources here.”

Gispen and her sister and eight brothers learned many lessons from their father and mother, and have passed those along to their own children.

“From his love of the outdoors to boating – I think most of us (kids) have boats – to swimming (which her daughters have done quite well for the OHS swimming team) to exercise, we got that all from him,” Gispen said. “I also know the theory he and Mama had about children – lay out expectations and boundaries and don’t micromanage, because people will live up to expectations – and we all try to do that.”

Strong, solid values

“He was the most moral person I’ve ever known. He had a very strict sense of what’s right and wrong and if you know what’s right, you do it,” she continued. “I also remember his feeling about the value of self-learning. He felt if you had a book or the information, you could teach yourself.”

Bosarge weaves stories from family and friends in with Ott’s (he got the nickname when his brother couldn’t pronounce “Arthur” and made “Art” come out “Ott”) own words to tell the story of the self-made man who learned lessons as a child and carried them with him the rest of his life.

The book, as its title says, tells the legacy of one of Oxford’s and Mississippi’s finest. A legacy worth learning a little more about.

From the very first page, the adventurous spirit of Arthur C. Guyton (nicknamed “Ott” by his two-year-old brother) is effortlessly revealed to the reader in this engaging photobiography. Inventing Ott: The Legacy of Arthur C. Guyton is the story of how a strong-willed young boy grew up to become a famous author, scientist, medical doctor, soldier, inventor, survivor of paralytic polio, and father of ten Harvard-educated doctors using many of the skills and passions that he developed as a young boy in Mississippi.

Bosarge’s conversational style of writing is surprisingly jam-packed with scientific information, mirroring Guyton’s own ability to take something complicated, and make it simple. Without talking down to young readers, Bosarge turned the life to death account of this previously unsung hero into an inspirational roller coaster through the challenges of childhood, the reality of war, the uncertainty of young love, the tragedy of paralysis, and the triumph of turning adversity into discovery. The author’s ability to combine biography, history, basic science, anatomy, physics, electronics, and even calculus into a single unified story-line is impressive.

This book could be used as a cross-curriculum supplement, but is especially suited for science subjects, as Dr. Guyton was most well known for his groundbreaking discoveries in physiology and the human circulatory system. Recommended for upper elementary, middle, and high schools.

I've read many biographies in my lifetime, but I can't remember reading any more enjoyable than Inventing Ott. The book tells of a boy growing to manhood with a particular type of optimism. His optimism in the face of such trouble is awe inspiring. Dr. Guyton's life story will inspire young people to be all that he or she can be. The author has done her research. The science is correct and easy to understand. The individual personal stories are so much fun and add interest to the biography. I especially enjoyed the pictures. They helped pull the stories together and gave the man and his life more meaning. I bought several copies to give to both adults and children in my life. I recommend this book highly, and would like to read more by this author.



My daughter and I both loved this book! That's really saying something, because my 12-yr-old avoids reading unless required to... that is, she avoids reading fiction. Something she does like to read is magazine articles about real people, so, I wondered if she would enjoy biographies. I chose Inventing Ott because I love inspirational stories, those that highlight the role adversity plays in the success of many people, and because "Ott" accomplished most of his work from a wheelchair (my 12-yr-old is also confined to a chair). I am also interested in stories set in my home state of Mississippi. Well, turns out it was an excellent choice! Jerusha Bosarge writes in such a relaxed and fun style that you forget you are learning! Somehow, even the scientific content is readable and enjoyable. Ms. Bosarge does an excellent job of conveying information accurately to kids without "talking down" to them and without boring them to tears. I would be willing to buy anything written by this author. She really is unique in her ability to teach "painlessly".