Overview
Hey everyone!
Welcome to this week’s article where we review ‘War Doctor’ by Dr David Nott. This book accounts Dr Nott’s time performing surgery and looking after critically ill patients in some of the worlds worst war zones.
Today’s book review will cover the following topics:
Rating
One Line Summary
Where can I buy it?
Book Summary
Writing Style & Design
What I Learnt from this Book?
Who Should Read this Book
Quotes & Excerpts
Meet the Author
Where can I buy it?
Similar Books
Final Thoughts
Rating
One Line Summary
Un-put-down-able!
Where can I buy it?
Book Summary
Have you ever wondered what life as a trauma surgeon in a war-zone is really like?
Dr David Nott, a prolific trauma surgeon with over 25 years of experience, recounts his time volunteering in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. From Sarajevo to Aleppo to war-torn Syria, David has performed lifesaving operations in the most challenging of situations. He is a true trauma and general surgeon, having performed everything from limb amputations to vascular surgery to caesarean sections.
In his book, ‘War Doctor’, David tells his extraordinary story from a young budding surgeon in the United Kingdom to practicing surgery in the most harrowing of conditions with minimal resources. He elaborates on his battle with post-traumatic disorder and the effect it had on his young family. This book really impresses upon the reader as to why David Nott is widely renowned as the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world. He now fuels his passion into teaching the next generation of surgeons and giving back to humanity through the David Nott Foundation.
This book was un-put-down-able! I listened to it as an audiobook and I was thoroughly transfixed.
Writing Style & Design
War Doctor is written from the perspective of David Nott. He recounts his lived experiences in a raw and unembellished way that will leave the reader/listener in awe. Personally, listening to the audiobook (which is narrated by David himself) gives the audience a more personal account of his time volunteering in various conflict zones around the world and is the format I’d recommend.
What I Learnt from this Book:
- David Nott is a bloody good surgeon and a true inspiration to junior doctors
- Practicing medicine in war-zones with the constant threat of violence or attack, is something we in the western world will never be able to comprehend fully.
- Medicine is about more than just implementing your knowledge, it is about passing it on to those around you to help them become better doctors/surgeons/physicians. Pay it forward.
- The effects of post traumatic stress disorder are very real in, not only, our returned servicemen and women, but also amongst ALL personnel who serve on the front line.
Who Should Read ‘War Doctor’?
I would recommend this book to everyone.
Specific groups that might be interested include:
Budding surgeons, surgical registrars, surgeons
Doctors with an interest in humanitarian medicine (this book gives an insight into the way these operations are often set up)
Anyone who has every wondered what it is like to practice medicine or perform surgery in a war zone
Quotes & Excerpts
On working in Sarajevo, during the siege of 1993:
‘ It was very difficult not to get involved in the reality of the experience for the people on the ground, whose lives were being torn apart. I felt for them keenly. The citizens of Sarajevo were lovely people who had not harmed anyone, yet were being harmed. I did not know them or their past lives, they were very vulnerable.’
David Nott’s reflections on medicine:
‘Is the practice of medicine a business or a vocation? Where does the balance lie between doing well and doing good?’
Meet the Author
Dr David Nott, is a world renowned trauma surgeon who has volunteered in war torn areas in Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Darfur, Yemen and Gaza. Born in Carmarthen in 1956, David grew up with his grandparents until the age of four.
His father was half-Indian and half-Burmese and working as an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. His mother, born Yvonne Jones, was a nurse from Wales. He studied medicine at the Universities of St. Andrews and Manchester and graduated in 1981. The rest is history. Apart from performing surgery, his other talents include flying planes (private and commercial).
Where can you buy it?
Similar Books
Final Thoughts
This was the very first full audiobook that I’ve every listened to, and I was hooked from the first page! The way David recounts his life in conflict zones is extremely fascinating and (at times) jarring. I still can’t begin to imagine what it must be like to perform life saving surgery on a patient in the middle of a war zone, where your own life is in danger. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in surgery or humanitarian medicine. It really paints quite the picture!
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PS: Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, from which I receive a small kickback.
