Your Life in My Hands

Your Life in My Hands - review

Synopsis:

In this heartfelt, deeply personal account of life as a junior doctor in today's health service, former television journalist turned doctor, Rachel Clarke, captures the extraordinary realities of ordinary life on the NHS front line. From the historic junior doctor strikes of 2016 to the 'humanitarian crisis' declared by the Red Cross, the overstretched health service is on the precipice, calling for junior doctors to draw on extraordinary reserves of what compelled them into medicine in the first place - and the value the NHS can least afford to lose - kindness.

Your Life in My Hands is at once a powerful polemic on the systematic degradation of Britain's most vital public institution, and a love letter of optimism and hope to that same health service and those who support it. This extraordinary memoir offers a glimpse into a life spent between the operating room and the bedside, the mortuary and the doctors' mess, telling powerful truths about today's NHS frontline, and capturing with tenderness and humanity the highs and lows of a new doctor's first steps onto the wards in the context of a health service at breaking point - and what it means to be entrusted with carrying another's life in your hands.

My Review:

A book that is more political than medical, though does have a few interesting anecdotes. Dr Clarke writes in a raw and emotional way, stating the facts while adding emotional stories to clearly show the terrible state of the NHS in 2016 (from which it has never recovered)

I did find the book quite repetitive at times, with some facts and events being repeated past being effective. However I did think it showed a comprehensive account of the junior doctor strikes and fully explored a lot of the politics behind the series of events more than I would have thought.

I would recommend this book as an eye opener to the struggles of NHS workers and the unbelievable stupidness of the British government. Just be warned that it is very politics heavy.

My Rating: 7/10

Comments

The Babylonian Empire review

Synopsis: The Babylonians were indisputably a formidable force in the ancient world’s stage, but how did they rise to power three separate times in Middle Eastern history? What led to their cataclysmic falls? And why did everyone keep stealing their chief god Marduk? Dive into the riveting stories of the remarkable Babylonians, who transformed the Middle East and left an enduring legacy. Thoroughly researched, engaging, and easy to read, this book will guide you through the fascinating history of a civilization that has left an indelible mark on our world. My review: A very thorough review of the Babylonian empire, includes some interesting facts and stories yet unfortunately was a little bit confusing and uninspiring. I felt that some parts of the book could have been written in a more clear manner. However, lots of good images and diagrams which helped to tell the history of this ancient kingdom. I particularly enjoyed the chapters about Babylonian culture and innovation - i di...

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs - Review

Synopsis - ‘66 million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped from the face of the earth. Today a new generation of dinosaur hunters, armed with cutting edge technology, is piecing together the complete story of how the dinosaurs created a hugely successful empire that lasted for around 150 million years. In this hugely ambitious and engrossing story of how dinosaurs rose to dominate the planet, using the fossil clues that have been gathered using state of the art technology, Steve Brusatte, one of the world’s leading paleontologists, follows these magnificent creatures from the Early Triassic period at the start of their evolution, through the Jurassic period to their final days in the Cretaceous' and the legacy that they left behind.’ Review - This book is a brilliant insight into a whole new prehistoric world, filled to the brim with incredible facts and photos and written by an expert in the field. What I really love about this book is that it gives dinosaurs the limelight...

The Wire in the Blood - review

Synopsis: Across the country, dozens of teenage girls have vanished. Authorities are convinced they're runaways with just the bad luck of the draw to connect them. It's the job of criminal profilers Dr. Tony Hill and Carol Jordan to look for a pattern. They've spent years exploring the psyches of madmen. But sane men kill, too. And when they hide in plain sight, they can be difficult to find... My review: A good crime novel that had some great twists and characters, especially Jacko Vance, a true psychopath. I really enjoyed the insight into Jacko’s life and point of view as his mind is so sick and twisted, I found it very interesting to see what motivated him. I thought most the characters, including Vance, were very well written as complex individuals However, I did think this book was a little too long and was a little boring especially in the middle, I also think that the arson storyline wasn’t needed and didn’t make a difference to the book. Another thing I’d say is ...

Liv’s Book Corner

Search This Blog