Undergoing anesthesia is the source of great fear and fascination for many. Przybylo explores its history, from the famous first demonstration of anesthesia in the Ether Dome at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1846 to today's routine procedure that controls anxiety, memory formation, pain relief, and more. He weaves his experiences as a pediatric anesthesiologist into an intimate exploration of the nature of consciousness, the politics of pain relief, and the wonder of modern medicine.