"While undoubtedly fibromyalgia may not be adequately covered in the medical curriculum, I am not sure that this book fills the gap." – Carolyn Chew-Graham reviews Fibromyalgia by Thanthullu Vasu ...
"As this book progresses, its early playful, even comedic, lightness gives way to the author’s very substantial criticisms ... [that] attempts to metricise, micromanage, and proceduralise all medical consultations and services has led to the displacement and destructing of trusting relationships ...
At six-years-of-age, Hibo Wardere was forcibly held down and brutally subjected to Type III female genital mutilation (FGM). This book tells her story, a riveting, personal, and candid account of her journey...
"Out of nowhere a fit GP [Paul Coffey] ... approaching retirement is diagnosed with inoperable gastric cancer ... Coffey charts the medical, human, oncological, and psychological dramas that take place over the next 3 years with great charm, insight, intelligence, and honesty."
"For me, Range gave credibility to a pre-existing feeling — that early specialisation is less likely to succeed." – Richard Armitage reviews Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, with additional reflections on GP training and today's general practice ...
"Last night, after the three hours it took to get to the toilet and back, to change the bed, to negotiate the medication, he told me I’m very irritating." - Karen Chumberley reviews Fiona Mason's 36 Hours, a reflection on the last
These are five small 'stocking-filler' books that you might see in a bookshop or a charity shop. They are all short and readable, and small enough to fit into most Christmas stockings. They all importantly have some inspiration and wisdom with which
Moral Leadership in Medicine provides a vital account of how the needs of patients and the aspirations of professionals are translated into actions beyond the bedside and should form part of any debate on the future of healthcare.
Sherifi has not written a history per se but a rigorous reflective account of NHS general practice, with relevance to the practitioner and policymaker alike ...
"He is not a man we would ever know or like, but he is interesting" – Terry Kemple reviews Henry 'Chips' Channon: The Diaries, Volumes 1–3 edited by Simon Heffer
This book focuses on Dr Elizabeth Blackwell in America, and Dr Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson and Dr Sophia Jex-Blake in England and explores the difficulties they faced in forging their way in medicine.
"This book is a beautiful representation of what is wonderful, difficult, complex, and rewarding about our job" – Hannah Milton reviews 34 Patients: What Becoming a Doctor Taught Me About Health, Hope and Humanity by Tom Templeton
"a long, detailed, and, at times, harrowing book, but it is worth the effort" – Hannah Milton reviews The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Austin O'Carroll reviews 'Reading to Stay Alive: Tolstoy, Hopkins and the Dilemmas of Existence' by Chris Dowrick
This book should be required reading before applying to medical school. Understanding Henrietta Lacks’ story and her immortal cells is important for all doctors and scientists argues Hannah Milton.
New technologies in health and social care are always a pain, right? Trish Greenhalgh shares a more hopeful and possibly helpful perspective.
Penelope Campling worked for the NHS for 40 years as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist and her book uses patient stories to discuss how we can remain holistic and compassionate as clinicians.
Terry Kemple finds that David Haslam is uniquely placed to reflect on the important questions of modern healthcare. 'Side Effects' calls for clarity about what the focus of healthcare should be, and attempts to describe and address many of the problems of
Cassandra-like, the author warned us, and we did not listen. This is not a book about a political party or ideology however, it is about politicians and political life in the UK. Hardman’s book is divided into three sections: Why we get
"This is an important book that covers a great deal of ground relevant to human health and flourishing" — Paquita de Zulueta reviews the second edition of Nigel Crisp's Turning the World Upside Down Again
Can any guide to financial aspects of medical practice from the doctor’s perspective ever claim to be ‘friendly'? Andrew Papanikitas finds this book to be useful. The book collects an up-to-date set of facts about things such as what a set of
"I strongly recommend this book to my colleagues both in primary and secondary care" – George C Moncrieff, Chair of the Dermatology Council for England until 2018, reviews the second edition of Jonathan Bowling's Diagnostic Dermoscopy: The Illustrated Guide
Andrew Papanikitas reviews 'Jews Don't Count' by comedian David Baddiel, a reflective essay that unpacks the idea that either you can’t be racist to or that is somehow ok to be racist to a Jew. Do some racisms or other sources of
"What I am increasingly aware of the longer I practice medicine is that traditional models of care are not working" — Maryan Naeem reviews 'What Seems To Be The Problem?', the new memoir by Laura Marshall-Andrews
"a filmic, memorable story that will leave its traces on the reader as the coastline is shaped by the sea" — Jane H Roberts reviews Mend the Living, the award-winning novel by Maylis de Kerangal
Paul Hepple reviews 'An ordinary doctor' by Susie West, and is captivated, inspired and angered
"a self-help-style read for patients seeking methods of improving their own mental wellbeing" — Lucy Martin reviews How to Rise: A Complete Resilience Manual by Karen Forshaw and Chrissie Mowbray
Peter Lindsay reviews Jeremy Hunt's new book, Zero
There is an enormous body of information on diet and nutrition, but how do you know what dietary information to recommend to patients? Terry Kemple reviews The Nutrition Proposition by James McCormack and Marcie Gray, where "most questions about nutrition and
Six authors of differing careers, backgrounds, and geography write about their mothers’ lives in six chapters - Our Mothers Ourselves, reviewed by Hannah Milton
A book "of interest to students, GPs, AiTs, patients, and even medical historians" — Professor Amanda Howe reviews The Tales of a Suffolk GP by Andrew Yager
Movies allow health care professionals to immerse themselves in “near-true” experiences that challenge their values and principles. Beatrice Khater and Bassem Saab discuss using The Last King of Scotland in family medicine training at the American University of Beirut
"... it is never too late to start accruing benefit [from exercise]" — Karen O’Reilly, GP, reviews Get Off The Couch Before It's Too Late: All The Whys and Wherefores of Exercise by Hugh Bethell
Rebecca Mawson reviews 2 books different in tone but equally sound on the subject of the menopause.
Hannah Milton reviews a book aimed at 8–12-year-old children which explains how traumatic experiences can affect the brain and lead to altered feelings and behaviours in the future.
Suzanne O’Sullivan is a British neurologist with a particular interest in psychosomatic diseases. Her book explores how the causes of psychosomatic neurological disorders do not necessarily have their cause within the individual patient but within the society that they live in. Review
David Jeffrey suggests that medical teachers will find this book a source of inspiration in encouraging students to engage in empathic relationships with patients and colleagues.
Roger Jones reviews 'A fortunate woman' by Polly Morland. At a very difficult time for general practice and for the medical profession as a whole, this book comes as a most welcome affirmation of the central importance of a respectful, reciprocal relationship
Ivy Mitchell and Andrew Papanikitas review Doughnut Economics - an attempt to rewire economic thinking to take account of both social deprivation and environmental sustainability.
Can a statement be a lie if if its author does not know (or want to know) that they are lying? John Spicer reviews an intriguing little book 'On Bullshit.'