Reviews with content warning for Cursing - This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

I have had this on my want to read list for a long time, but after watching the TV series (twice) it quickly moved up to my must read now list and it did not disappoint.
Written as different chapters in Adam Kay’s life, from newly qualifying to the incident that lead him to quit medicine, this book covered all aspects of life as a doctor. Each chapter starts with an explanation about the post he is in and a few anecdotes from his life. It then moves onto diary entries from the time in each post.
The book had me laughing at the ridiculousness of some situations, cringing at others and tearing up at a few too. It opens your eyes to the dire state of the NHS and how doctors are always viewed as well paid for short hours when that’s really not true. They are underpaid, under appreciated and overworked in a system that is failing them. We are lucky to have our NHS in this country and we should appreciate it much more than we do sometimes.
Adam’s writing is both informative and witty and it was a pleasure to read and was one that I flew through as it was so easy to read that I didn’t want to put it down at all.
The main takeaway that I have from this book is how much the system needs to change for those working for the NHS but in order for that to happen, governments need to stop trying to privatise parts of it and set unobtainable targets all while the expecting those that work there to spend the majority of their life at work and only getting paid for some of it. All of the staff are under tremendous pressure and they need their loved ones support before we lose all of them to easier and better paying jobs.

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bookwormjoshua's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

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eliza_flamingo1's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny informative sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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onthelam's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

i just finished reading this and i am shook .I cant believe that we are in the 21st century yet people have to go through such torture constantly. i cant believe there is nothing we can do. i have a sister who's gonna become a doctor because of parental pressure, I have a friend. i cant believe that this is how the most important profession is treated..this is how we treat the people we put our lives in the hand of. The title was true, this is going to hurt and it should hurt for this hurt is nothing faced with what these people go through.I am grateful to this book for bringing me awareness about this topic and helping me make some major decisions of my own life.

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akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.25

I was never prepared for anything this book threw at me. When I prepared for the worst, I ended up laughing. When I was prepared for a funny story, I was hit the hardest.

This book is poignant and beautiful and fucking hilarious. Adam Kay is brilliant, and his writing style is fabulous. If you get the chance to see him live- which I have- do it!

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feebee's review against another edition

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funny informative reflective sad fast-paced

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