bnelson13's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

Another book, that if I could give it more than 5 stars I would! Mostly funny, slightly gross, this book is comprised of diary enteries from Dr. Adam Kay's time in Obgyn in various hospitals throughout the UK working for the NHS from 2004-2010. Certain terminology that may be lesser known is described in helpful footnotes throughout the entire book. 

Kay writes how difficult it is working in a system that doesn't quite support doctors, midwives, nurses and other hospital staff, and the impacts on their personal lives that also suffer. Kay has since left the healthcare industry but wrote this novel in solidarity, as an insight into hospital life for the general population after the government started to attack the NHS and saying that doctors are only in it for the money in 2016. 

A very insightful read, if you thought working in a hospital was already difficult, it's actually 10x worse than what you had thought. As it is, now in 2023, and with Covid still running rampant, it's clear that a lot of healthcare systems are crumbling due to lack of staffing, lack of care for staff, and governments out to make as many monetary cutbacks as they possibly can. I think we're on a slippery slope with the healthcare system now, and this book is proof that things need to change. Very eye opening. Well worth the read.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

smupple's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny reflective medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bookbird's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Jan 2023: This must be my third or fourth reread of this incredibly special book. Kay is a master storyteller, and it's his finely balanced combination of light and dark that make this book so impactful. A must-read for anyone who has ever had even the briefest experience of the NHS.

Jan 2024: I don't think I'll ever be able to properly express how highly I recommend this book.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

dizzyizzy's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

leonormsousa's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny informative fast-paced

5.0

QUOTE
"So I told them the truth: the hours are terrible, the pay is terrible, the conditions are terrible; you’re underappreciated, unsupported, disrespected and frequently physically endangered. But there’s no better job in the world."

WHAT I ENJOYED
  • the bigger message: no health care provider does what they do for money, they do it to help other people and for passion
  • incredibly funny and witty
  • very honest and raw, maybe a consequence of the descriptive and factual tone: the author does not try to paint himself or anyone else in a good or bad light
  • great insights into the life of a medical care taker (doctor): 
    • the lack of working conditions
    • their struggles with balancing work with personal life
    • the pressure and the emotional weight they’re under
    • the feeling of unreadiness and how they grow as doctors with time
    • working in public vs private healthcare
  • the side notes explaining the more medical/technical terms really help guide us common people
  • the author narration in the audiobook is exceptional

WHAT I DIDN'T ENJOY
  • if you’re not from the UK or are not familiarized with its health and education systems, there might be a couple of things that you don’t grasp as well. it's not something that affects your reading experience much and tbh a google search can probably solve it... 

RECOMMENDED TO
  • everyone!
  • i feel like it’s an essential read to better understand and appreciate the work of health care providers
  • i imagine it might be especially interesting for other healthcare providers since they will probably relate to some of the experiences
  • the only exception to my recommendation is if you have triggers connected to medical content & pregnancies (recommend checking the full list of TWs)

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cicelybelle's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

As someone who works in a veterinary hospital, I found this book in some ways very relatable as in the craziest cases are often true! It is a very enjoyable listen if you like biology and are appropriately thick skinned when it comes to guts, gore, and hospitals. It’s very funny, yet movingly and conveys well the strain the NHS is under. Recommend the TV series too, if you enjoy the book!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beccaruthe's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

theothersideofreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

maddiet425's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny informative sad fast-paced

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

wolf013's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings