Autobiography: science, technology and medicine Books

Book Synopsis'Fascinating...an enticingly interesting read' - Sayeeda Warsi. Born in rural Afghanistan, Shakardokht Jafari became a refugee aged just six, after a harrowing half-year trek to Iran. There, at twelve, she discovered she had been promised in marriage at birth to an older cousin. Resisting no fewer than three arranged marriages, she fought to choose her own husband, education and career, defying convention to study radiation technologies at Tehran University. Returning to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, she was asked to re-establish a cancer facility in Kabul, which meant studying first for higher qualifications in the UK. With Islamist insurgency on the rise again, her lawyer husband fled to join her, driving a minicab to make ends meet. The inventor of a method for improving outcomes of radiotherapy on cancer patients, Shakar has become one of Britain's leading medical entrepreneurs. Ironically, at the same time she has faced one of her biggest battles - to save her own health. This remarkable woman, winner of a string of awards for business innovation, is also a leading campaigner for girls' education in Afghanistan. She tells her extraordinary story with disarming candour.Trade Review'A deeply emotional and inspiring book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. A must-read for anyone interested in the history, culture, and politics of Afghanistan and a timely reminder of the resilience and strength of Afghan women Dr Jafri's commitment to empowering women through education is a reminder of the power of empathy and courage. However, the book is also a wake-up call for the broken promises made to Afghanistan by the international community.' Waseem Mahmood, author of Good Morning Afghanistan

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Book Synopsis'Filled with wonderment and awe ... Greene's eloquent memoir is equal parts escape and comfort.' Publishers WeeklyA powerful reflection on life in isolation, in pursuit of the dream of Mars.In 2013 Kate Greene moved to Mars.On NASA's first HI-SEAS simulated Mars mission in Hawaii, she lived for four months in an isolated geodesic dome with her crewmates, gaining incredible insight into human behaviour in tight quarters, as well as the nature of boredom, dreams and isolation that arise amidst the promise of scientific progress and glory.Greene draws on her experience to contemplate what makes an astronaut, the challenges of freeze-dried eggs and time-lagged correspondence, the cost of shooting for a Planet B.The result is a story of space and life, of the slippage between dreams and reality, of bodies in space, and of humanity's incredible impulse to explore. From trying out life on Mars, Greene examines what it is to live on Earth.'In her thoughtful, well-written account of the mission, Greene reflects on what this and other space missions can teach us about ourselves and life on Earth.' Physics TodayTrade ReviewGreene is a talented writer, and her words shine throughout -- Library JournalIn her thoughtful, well-written account of the mission, Greene reflects on what this and other space missions can teach us about ourselves and life on Earth. -- Physics TodayFilled with wonderment and awe ... Greene's eloquent memoir is equal parts escape and comfort. -- Publishers WeeklyLooking for a relatable isolation read after enduring so much pandemic-fueled social isolation? This may be just the book you need. Kate Greene's memoir recounts her time spent as a research participant for NASA in a Mars simulation study. Over the course of four months, Kate lived in insolation with a handful of other participants inside a geodesic dome perched along a Hawaiian volcanic slope. Kate pairs her story of simulating life on Mars with reflections on her queer identity, her brother's disability, and more. -- Book Riot

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Book SynopsisThe progressive development of man is vitally dependent on invention.Visionary, pioneer, and eccentric genius, Nikola Tesla was the quintessential scientist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Two of his creations, the induction motor and the Tesla coil, underpin the technology of the modern world. First published as six articles in the Electrical Experimenter magazine, My Inventions tells the story of Tesla''s life, from his humble beginnings in Croatia to his migration to the United States, and describes his revolutionary feats of invention and pivotal breakthroughs in the world of engineering. This book takes you on an inspirational journey into one of the world''s greatest and most unconventional minds.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

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Book SynopsisDr Tony Holohan served as Chief Medical Officer in Ireland for 14 years, but only really became known to the public during the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time his remarkable leadership skills came to the fore and he became the public face of the pandemic, helping to steer the nation through the biggest public health crisis in Ireland's modern history.However, while dealing with the most serious pandemic in a century in his professional life, he was also enduring challenges at home. His beloved wife of 25 years, Emer, was battling cancer, and died in February 2021. This remarkable book reflects on these experiences and inspires us to have those difficult conversations that ultimately make life more meaningful.Trade Review'Engrossing, readable, and thought-provoking' -- Prof Brendan Kelly * The Medical Independent *'A compelling, honest and at times brutal and deeply emotional account' * Irish Independent *'dignified, careful and compelling' * The Irish Times *'Worth reading' -- Allan Prosser * Irish Examiner *'A very important contribution from a man at the very heart of policy making' -- John Kirkaldy * Books Ireland *'Worthy and humane' -- Andrew Lynch * Business Post *

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Book SynopsisSmall Game Hunter echoes the author's fascination and appreciation of the strange and wonderful world of insects and spiders. It is a scientific and cultural kaleidoscope of the many encounters that he had across his career and around the globe.

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Book SynopsisDavid Nutt regularly hit the headlines as the UK's forthright Drugs Czar (Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs), not least when fired by the Home Secretary in 2009 for his 'inconvenient' views. In Nutt Uncut he explains how he survived ill-judged political and media vilification to establish the respected charity Drug Science, with the aim of telling the truth about drugs. The book describes his life, distinguished career and scientific achievements, including his research into the human brain and the effects that both lawful and criminally illegal substances (including psychedelics) have on the brain and behaviour. It also catalogues with expert precision the risks of harm to drug users and others of a range of well-known drugs. Surveying the state of medical knowledge around various currently prohibited substances - from hard drugs to LSD, cannabis, ecstasy, magic mushrooms and poppers - Professor Nutt ranks their potential harms and benefits (e.g. in treating anxiety, depression or pain) leading him to challenge the distorted logic of a blanket ban on anything psychoactive except alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. Nutt Uncut contains far, far more about the usually hidden world of drugs, their use, abuse and role as a political bargaining counter - making it of interest not just to the many experts and others who already support the author's campaign for a frank, evidence-based approach to drugs but also anyone who wishes to learn about what he describes in Chapter 11 as 'policy madness.'Trade Review‘Nutt’s book achieves his goals, to “put into the public domain, in non-specialist terms, the truth about psychiatric disorders and their treatments” and to counter “extreme and unfounded claims” about drugs. It is also an absorbing read for clinicians who want to brush up on their psychopharmacology and to appreciate better the convoluted paths of government health policy decision-making.’– BJPsych Bulletin.Table of ContentsForeword by Ilana B Crome. Becoming Conscious: Politics and the Science of Breathing; Shocking Times: Bombs and Life Threats; Revealing Anxiety Through Reframing Benzodiazepines; Struggles with Serotonin; Alcohol - A Drug or Not a Drug?; Ecstasy or Not?; Conflicts Over Cannabis; The Scale of Harms; The Sacking; The Rise of Drug Science; And It Gets Worse! More Policy Madness with the Psychoactive Substances Act; Resurrecting Psychedelic Research with Magic Mushrooms; Psilocybin and Depression; A General Theory of Psychedelic Actions - Imaging LSD and DMT; Moving MDMA back into the Clinic; Coda: Further Reflections and Timeline. Index.

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Book SynopsisTime to Heal tells the story of the colourful life of a country doctor towards the end of his career. In turn shocking, sad and funny, they describe a doctor who feels poorly served by the conventional medicine of his time and finds new ways to relieve the suffering of his patients. This tale has a twist. Twenty-first century General Practice and its patients have been betrayed by top-heavy regulation, performance management and a blame culture. Young doctors no longer want to enter General Practice. The author explores why and how pandemics might provide the answers. ‘A fascinating look into life as a village doctor, with observations so profound it seamlessly becomes a thesis on humanity as a species. The local GP, not only a potential lifesaver but also a constant and friend in these ever-changing, isolated times has never been more needed. A beautiful and moving book.’ – Lady Sophie Windsor (nee Winkelman), Actress ‘A wonderful book, full of fascinating, engaging and timely stories. Michael Dixon reminds us of the importance of human medicine and the way in which communities can create health. He concludes with a new vision for health which blends the best of the past with the latest technology and science - and which will help us cope better with future pandemics.’ – Lord Nigel Crisp, Former Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health ‘Time to Heal describes very human stories – entertaining, thought provoking, and eminently readable, whilst woven through the text is the insight that general practice is the human face of medicine.’ – Sir Denis Pereira Gray, Former Chair and President, Royal College of General Practitioners

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Book Synopsis'Vital and heart-wrenchingly intimate' Leah Hazard'Urgent, fascinating and thought-provoking' Julia Bueno'Thoughtfully researched and beautifully written' Pippa VosperAfter losing four pregnancies with no obvious cause, Jennie Agg set out to understand why miscarriage remains such a profoundly misunderstood, under-researched and under-acknowledged experience.Part-memoir, part-scientific investigation, Life, Almost documents Agg's path to motherhood and her search for answers. Tracing each tentative step of her fifth pregnancy - as her body becomes a creature she does not wish to spook - Agg dismantles the myths that we unquestioningly accept about our reproductive lives:· Why are we told miscarriage can't be prevented when half of all miscarriages are of perfectly healthy embryos?· Why is it normal not to tell anyone you're pregnant for the first three months? · Why don't we know why labour starts? Drawing on pioneering research and interviews with world-leading experts, Life, Almost is a ground-breaking book that will change how you think about miscarriage, and a moving reflection on grief and love at the edge of life as we understand it.Trade Review'Vital and heart-wrenchingly intimate, this is the miscarriage manifesto we need'Leah Hazard, bestselling author of Hard Pushed'Beautiful, powerful and important ... Essential reading for anyone who lives in a world where miscarriage happens - a book for us all'Georgina Lucas, author of If Not For You'An urgent, fascinating and thought-provoking book that should pioneer new conversationsJulia Bueno, author of The Brink of Being'A thoughtfully researched and beautifully written book'Pippa Vosper, author of Beyond Grief'The perfect combination of informed personal experience and practical journalistic research. Highly recommended'Viv Groskop, author of How to Own the Room

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Book SynopsisThis special centenary edition of The Discovery of Insulin celebrates a path-breaking medical discovery that has changed lives around the world.Trade Review"The Discovery of Insulin deserves a place on the bookshelf alongside such eye-openers as James Watson's The Double Helix." * Washington Post *"Scrupulously researched and compellingly readable ... I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in diabetes, medical history, or medical scandal and gossip." * British Medical Journal *"The definitive history ... well written, highly readable." * London Review of Books *Table of ContentsPreface to the Special Centenary Edition Foreword by Alison Li Introduction: What Happened at Toronto? 1. A Long Prelude 2. Banting’s Idea 3. The Summer of 1921 4. “A Mysterious Something” 5. Triumph 6. “Unspeakably Wonderful” 7. Resurrection 8. Who Discovered Insulin? 9. Honouring the Prophets 10. A Continuing Epilogue Notes Sources Index

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Book Synopsis'A great read. I am honoured to have worked with such a legend' David Nott'A role model for women' Independent'A wonderful read' Julian Fellowes'Remarkable' Lauren Laverne'Charming' GuardianWe were occasionally expected to travel by ambulance to a serious case and would always have a kit of tools and drugs ready for emergency calls. On one occasion, we were responding to a man who had fallen into the hold of a grain ship and broken his leg. I was expected to go down a pole into the ship to administer analgaesia before he could be rescued. The 'audience' of shipworkers delighted in telling me that there were rats the size of dogs down in the grain. The other problem was that this was the era of the mini skirt, and you can imagine what that meant. Following the incident, I instituted the purchase of some 'Casualty Officers Emergency Dungarees' as an addition to the kit.Averil Mansfield established herself as a pioneer in every sense of the word when she qualified as a surgeon in the early 1970s. At the time just two per cent of her colleagues were female, and she was often met with surprise, bordering on disbelief and amusement, when telling people what she did. But time and again, Averil proved herself more than capable of the role which had been her greatest dream since the age of eight. After a formidable operating career in Liverpool and London, during which she made many enduring friendships, she went on to became the UK's first ever female professor of surgery.Life in Her Hands is the remarkable story of a truly trailblazing woman. Averil's account shines light on a medical and societal world that has changed beyond measure, but which - as she shows through her experiences - still has a long way to go for the women finding their place within it.Trade ReviewA great read. I am honoured to have worked with such a legend * David Nott *An amazing journey recounted with modesty and humour. A wonderful read * Julian Fellowes *Delightful, brave, funny, lovely and self-deprecating. Professor Mansfield really has paved the way for others * Dr Fiona Godlee, first female editor-in-chief of The British Medical Journal *Remarkable * Lauren Laverne *A role model for women * Independent *

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Book SynopsisA RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK'With poignancy, humour and compassion, Jones invites us into "the invigorating chaos of pre-hospital care" . . . a panorama of experiences: the mundane, the ridiculous, the heartbreaking and the tragic' - The Guardian'This beautifully written book, punctuated with wry humour, is a sobering portrayal of the ailing, the distressed and the lonely... Yet it's also an uplifting read which will make you thankful that should your hour of need arrive, so will someone like Jones' - Daily ExpressA memoir of the chaos, intensity and occasional beauty of life as a paramedic.A young man has stopped breathing in a supermarket toilet. A pedestrian with a nasty head injury won't let the crew near him on a busy road. A newborn baby is worryingly silent. An addict urinates on the ambulance floor when denied a fix. This is the life of an ambulance paramedic.Jake Jones has worked in the UK ambulance service for ten years: every day, he sees a dozen of the scenes we hope to see only once in a lifetime. Can You Hear Me? - the first thing he says when he arrives on the scene - is a memoir of the chaos, intensity and occasional beauty of life on the front-lines of medicine in the UK.As well as a look into dozens of extraordinary scenes - the hoarder who won't move his collection to let his ailing father leave the house, the blood-soaked man who tries to escape from the ambulance, the life saved by a lucky crew who had been called to see someone else entirely - Can You Hear Me? is an honest examination of the strains and challenges of one of the most demanding and important jobs anyone can do.Trade ReviewA panorama of experiences: the mundane, the ridiculous, the heartbreaking and the tragic. * Guardian *This beautifully written book, punctuated with wry humour, is a sobering portrayal of the ailing, the distressed and the lonely... Yet it's also an uplifting read which will make you thankful that should your hour of need arrive, so will someone like Jones * Daily Express *According to Jake Jones, who has spent ten years as a paramedic, there is in his job "a stubborn embargo on egotism and conceit..." Evidently, two crucial qualities a paramedic needs are patience and compassion... [His] humour brings some light relief, because we are in no doubt about the difficulty of his work... He admits that the "short visit to someone else's heartbreak" takes its toll, and alludes to the impact on mental health that stifling frequent bursts of anguish may have. Jones's writing is at its most humane when he describes the panic and grief induced by losing his father to Alzheimer's. But there is no self-indulgence here; rather, Jones conveys in these passages the humbling effect of experiencing trauma from the inside. * Times Literary Supplement *[Jones is] not just a good paramedic, however. There's a descriptive flair to his writing, too, as he breathes uncomfortable life into foul, neglected flats and wet Sunday-night cityscapes, and embarks on a frightening subterranean rescue mission into an industrial labyrinth... Can You Hear Me? does nothing to dent the heroic image of the paramedic, but Jones' troubling ambivalence brings a complexity to it, forcing him to ask whether the pragmatic, detached attitude needed to do such work is a poisoned chalice, doing them harm as they do others good. * The Herald *Jake Jones has written a searing, honest, often funny account of life in the UK ambulance service. An intense, and sometimes strangely beautiful, read. * Richard & Judy Book Club Autumn 2020 selection *

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Book SynopsisIn The Smallest Lights in the Universe, MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager interweaves the story of her search for meaning and solace after losing her first husband to cancer, her unflagging search for an Earth-like exoplanet and her unexpected discovery of new love.Sara Seager has made it her life''s work to peer into the spaces around stars looking for exoplanets outside our solar system, hoping to find the one-in-a-billion world enough like ours to sustain life. But with the unexpected death of her husband, her life became an empty, lightless space. Suddenly, she was the single mother of two young boys, a widow at forty, clinging to three crumpled pages of instructions her husband had written for things like grocery shopping things he had done while she did pioneering work as a planetary scientist at MIT. She became painfully conscious of her Asperger''s, which before losing her husband had felt more like background noise. She felt, for the first time, alone in the universe.In this prTrade ReviewWinner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology in 2020 ‘Her story is sure to help any readers grappling with a similar loss… Full of blues and blacks, written in the ink of grief, suffering, healing and — ultimately — clarity…’ Anthony Doerr, The New York Times ‘Seager’s beautifully written memoir strikes the perfect balance, weaving a richly told personal story with a clear and accessible tale of the birth and development of a new kind of astronomy – the search for other worlds like our own’ Katie Mack, astrophysicist, author of The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) ‘I absolutely loved this book. It presents both cutting-edge science and the deeply human side of a MacArthur award-winning astrophysicist. While searching for other planets in the universe, she grieves for her husband who died of cancer’ Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Autistic Brain ‘The miracle of this breathtaking book is the way Sara Seager’s search for life in the universe mirrors her search for a fitting life here on earth. Who knew that so much love and beauty and hope could come from so much confusion and fear and grief? Who knew that the macrocosm and the microcosm could end up being the very same thing?’ Margaret Renkl, author of Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A heart-breaking story of courage and compassion from the front line of the toughest battle our nurses have had to fight. Anthea Allen's writing is raw, honest and full of love for those she cares for.' Susanna ReidAn extraordinarily powerful memoir based on the diaries of intensive care nurse Anthea Allen, who worked on the front line of one of the largest hospitals in Europe during the Covid crisis.A nurse for 25 years, Anthea thought she had seen it all. But with Covid came the greatest trial, personally and professionally, of her life. Thrust into hourly challenges many a matter of life and death while on the Critical Care units of St George's in south London, Anthea processed her shocking experiences through writing. It started with an email to request biscuits. But her appeal to help boost the morale of her fellow nurses soon turned into a series of astonishingly moving stories detailing the realities of being a front line worker.It wasn't long beforTrade Review‘[These] words will live on as an important history of Covid for generations to come’ – Sir Richard Branson ‘Vivid, loving, raw, opinionated. There have been several very good books written by doctors during the pandemic, but nothing as visceral as this.’ – The Times ‘A moving and awe-inspiring account’ –Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThis biography of Charles Darwin attempts to capture the private unknown life of the real man - the gambling and gluttony at Cambridge, his gruelling trip round the globe, his intimate family life, worries about persecution and thoughts about God. Central to all of this, his pioneering efforts on the theory of evolution now that recent studies have overturned the commonplace views of Darwin that have held for more than a century.Table of Contents1809-1831; 1831-1836; 1836-1842; 1842-1851; 1851-1860; 1860-1871; 1871-1882.

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Book SynopsisA glimpse into the mind of one of the world's intellectual giantsThe Autobiographies of Charles Darwin (1809-82) provide a fascinating glimpse into the mind and experiences of one of the world's intellectual giants. They begin with engaging memories of his childhood and youth and of his burgeoning scientific curiosity and love of the natural world, which led to him joining the expedition on the Beagle. Darwin follows this with survey of his career and ends with a reckoning of his life's work. Interspersed with these recollections are fascinating portraits - from his devoted wife Emma and his talented father, both bullying and kind, to the leading figures of the Victorian scientific world he counted among his friends, including Lyell and Huxley. Honest and illuminating, these memoirs reveal a man who was isolated by his controversial beliefs and whose towering achievements were attained by a life-long passion for the discoveries of science.For more than sevTable of ContentsAutobiographies " cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" border="0"AcknowledgmentsChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingNote on the TextsAn autobiographical fragment1876 May 31 - Recollections of the Development of my Mind and CharacterCambridge, 1828-1831Voyage of the Beagle: from Dec. 27, 1831 to Oct. 2, 1836From my return to England Oct. 2 1836 to my marriage Jan. 29 1839Religious BeliefFrom my marriage, Jan. 29 1839, and residence in Upper Gower St. to our leaving London and settling at Down, Sep. 14 1842Residence at Down from Sep. 14 1842 to the present time 1876My Several PublicationsBibliographical Register

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Book Synopsis''Deeply affecting - a personal memoir that grips, harrows, inspires and, ultimately, uplifts with its vein of deep humanity'' Philippe Sands''An extraordinarily frank book laced with humour and self-deprecation'' The TimesAs a doctor on the intensive care unit at one of London''s top hospitals, Jim Down has spent his life working as healthcare''s last resort, where each day reveals a new challenge. But nothing could prepare Jim and his colleagues for the events of spring 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic put them on the frontline of a global health crisis.In Life Support, Jim tells the extraordinary month-by-month story of how, as the world came to a standstill, he and his co-workers faced down the biggest challenge in the history of the NHS. Full of warmth, honesty and humour, this book is a gripping and moving testament to the everyday heroism of the NHS staff in a global emergency, and an unforgettable insight intoTrade Review'Remarkable... humane and deeply moving, Jim's book questions the future of healthcare in Britain' * Daily Mail *'Deeply affecting - a personal memoir that grips, harrows, inspires and, ultimately, uplifts with its vein of deep humanity' -- Philippe Sands'One of the doctors with the most hands-on experience of Covid in the country' -- Edward Docx * New Statesman *'A deeply moving and beautifully written account of what life was truly like for our frontline ICU teams during the first wave of COVID-19' -- Dr Kevin Fong'Reading Life Support, I was gripped, amazed, appalled and, ultimately, inspired. If Jim Down is as good a doctor as he is a writer, I'd definitely want him treating me' -- John O’Farrell'I can't think of a more important and compulsive book to come out of the Plague Year. Read and weep with gratitude for the NHS and doctors like Jim Down' -- Rachel Johnson'Jim Down's Life Support is essential reading for everyone who has been affected by Covid-19, which is to say everyone. Beautifully written, it combines warmth, humour and science to give a portrait of one of the most important but least understood parts of any hospital by one of the UKs pre-eminent ICU physicians' -- Dr Chris van Tulleken'Reading this, I felt humbled. Written with great clarity, as well as humour and compassion, this is an extraordinary account of life on the Covid frontline, of the expertise and the dogged, unending labour of those who attempt to keep the rest of us - however sceptical we are, however careless - alive' -- Lissa Evans, author of V for Victory'This is the struggle against COVID-19 unfolding in real time ... it is a story of how some of our most gifted and dedicated medical practitioners have been brought to the very edge of their abilities and endurance and how they came through, scarred but wiser ... above all it is a very human story about how people - medics and patients alike - found common cause in the face of a nasty speck of a disease that threatens our way of life' -- George Alagiah'An honest and engaging eye-witness account of the Covid crisis from one of London's busiest intensive care units, that demonstrates the compassion and dedication of frontline staff dealing with a terrible new disease. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand why our lives have been turned upside down by the pandemic' -- Fergus Walsh, Medical Editor BBC'Life Support immediately transported me back to those early days of uncertainty, the growing fear as the waves lapped our feet, and then the frantic struggle to stay above water as the tsunami broke. The reader will learn a deal more about intensive care units and the jobs of the people who work there. But this book is far from a technical manual. It is a human narrative - and an important one' -- Hugh Montgomery, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, UCL and author of Control'Brought me to tears' * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis''A remarkably honest memoir of a life spent pulling people back from death'' - Adam KayIn these stories, Dr Jim Down brings us to the very heart of the intensive care unit - the section of the hospital where the sickest patients are brought to be cared for until their condition improves. With honesty, humility and a streak of dark humour, Dr Down describes the quietly heroic work of doctors and nurses on the ICU, a place which sits at the cutting edge of medical technology and where a split-second decision can make the difference between life and death.From headline-grabbing cases like that of Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by Russian agents and admitted to Down''s ward, to the appalling aftermath of a train crash, Life in the Balance offers an inside glimpse of intensive care medicine, its immense challenges, deleterious effects on doctors'' mental health and enormous rewards. Its profundity will make you reconsider the fragility of life and reframe y

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Book SynopsisWhat's it like to start a revolution? How do you build the biggest tech company in the world? And why do you walk away from it all? Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft. Together he and Bill Gates turned an idea - writing software - into a company and then an entire industry. This title tells the story of how it came about.Trade ReviewHighly readable, refreshingly honest * Mail on Sunday *A fascinating tale of the early days of the software industry * Financial Times *A founding father of the modern information age . . . provides a fascinating insight into the ironies of capitalism * The Times *He, and a tiny club of others, literally invented the twenty-first century -- BonoRiveting reading * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe No 1 Bestseller''Compelling ... colourful, thoughtful'' Sunday Independent''Tubridy''s compassionate, no-nonsense approach makes him a comforting guide through the landscape of neurological medicine'' Irish Times__________As a medical student Niall Tubridy fell in love with neurology. Figuring out how the brain and nervous system signal problems was a form of high stakes detective work and answers could be life-changing.Just One More Question is the story of Niall Tubridy''s career in neurology. He shares the stories of encounters that are, by turn, poignant, dramatic and funny, such as...- The chef who goes for his usual morning walk, and loses his memory for the next six hours- The painter who believes her left hand is her guardian angel- The eager young lover whose head ''explodes'' every time he orgasmsUsing simple and illuminatTrade ReviewCompelling ... colourful, thoughtful * Sunday Independent *[My brother] has written a book which has to be one of the most extraordinary books written in Irish medical history! I would say that, wouldn't I? But it is great. It's really good, really accessible, a super read. We're all very proud of him -- Ryan Tubridy[Tubridy] renders sometimes complex medical concepts understandable for the general reader ... good on the sometimes unbearable pressures on doctors * Irish Times *Fascinating -- Liz NugentIt's a most readable book. There's no jargon in it -- Seán O'Rourke * RTÉ *[Oliver] Sacks hoped that his neurological tales ... could bring us closer to where the psychic and the physical meet ... Tubridy's concerns are less rarefied. He wants us to understand the human toll that illness takes * Sunday Times *Niall's sense of wonder at the human brain is enormously clear even with almost three decades of work in the field under his belt * RTÉ Lifestyle *Very interesting and very entertaining -- Pat KennyFascinating ... The book teems with interesting characters * Sunday Business Post *Will make you think in a whole new way about the human brain * Ireland AM *A book that will fascinate you with the patients' tales but leave you at the end pondering the notion of what life really is * Journal.ie *Simple and illuminating * Irish News *Written in a very accessible way for non-medical people, like myself -- Dave Fanning * RTÉ *

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Book Synopsis''A hymn to life, love, family, and spirit'' DAVID MITCHELL, author of Cloud AtlasThe vividly told, gloriously illustrated memoir of an artist born with disabilities who searches for freedom and connection in a society afraid of strange bodies.***WINNER OF THE BARBELLION PRIZE***In 1958, amongst the children born with spina bifida is Riva Lehrer. She endures endless medical procedures and is told she will never have a job, a romantic relationship or an independent life. But everything changes when as an adult Riva is invited to join a group of artists, writers, and performers who are building Disability Culture. Their work is daring, edgy, funny, and dark, and it rejects tropes that define disabled people as pathetic, frightening or worthless, instead insisting that disability is an opportunity for creativity and resistance. Riva begins to paint their portraits - and her art begins to transform the myths she''s been told her whole Trade ReviewLuminous; a profound portrait of the artist as a young-and mature-woman; an unflinching social history of disability over the last six decades; and a hymn to life, love, family, and spirit * David Mitchell *Riva Lehrer is a great artist and a great storyteller. This is a brilliant book, full of strangeness, beauty, and wonder * Audrey Niffenegger *This searing personal history expands Lehrer's project of looking at our bodies inside and out, in all their queerness, fragility, and strength, into a stunning new dimension * Alison Bechdel *Vivid . . . unforgettable . . . It is the story of how someone who is fundamentally different made not a life that transcends that difference, but a life that lionizes it. This book expands our notion of what constitutes the human experience, and it does so with generosity and open-heartedness * Andrew Solomon *With deft painter's prose, Riva Lehrer helps us discover what it is to be human when others see us as broken. In Golem Girl, Lehrer gives us the gift, at long last, of our own crip beauty * Nicola Griffith, author of HILD *One of the most dedicated, stalwart, witty, funny people that I've ever met * Mat Fraser *Not your typical memoir about 'what it's like to be disabled in a non-disabled world . . . Lehrer tells her stories about becoming the monster she was always meant to be: glorious, defiant, unbound, and voracious. Read it! * Alice Wong, founder and director, Disability Visibility Project *Lehrer's story is a revelation of an inner subjective life-full of tragedy, love, and creativity-pushing against the external social stigmas, cultural narratives, and prejudices surrounding disability. She admits a felt kinship with other 'monsters' because their bodies were also 'built by human hands', but unlike them, she is her own purpose, her own meaning, her own unstoppable golem * Stephen Asma *Oy, what a story: Job, eat your heart out! In Riva Lehrer's life chronicle, an appalling fate (and I don't just mean the circumstances of her birth) gets visited upon an invincible character, and the result is a wincing-wise tale, by turns harrowing and hilarious, cut clean through with flecks of grace and beauty. Lehrer is one wry mensch, and an extraordinary kinstler to boot * Lawrence Weschler *Readers will be sucked into Lehrer's powerful memoir * Publishers Weekly *A chronicle of a free spirit who finds solace and purpose in creating art that represents the socially challenged body... [readers] will respond to Lehrer's remarkable resilience and robust sense of humor * Booklist (starred review) *Every bit as powerful as Lucy Grealy's Autobiography of a Face ... An extraordinary memoir suffused with generosity, consistent insight, and striking artwork * Kirkus Reviews (Starred) *An extraordinary memoir in which Riva Lehrer charts with great humour and intimacy her life story, growing up in America with the spina bifida condition . . . Throughout this powerful book - which took her six and a half years to write - Lehrer draws the reader in, giving the sense of what it is like to be on the margins of society, and having metaphorically to shriek to get the mainstream to pay attention * Jewish Chronicle *This astonishing, heart soaring and often shocking memoir of a Jewish woman with spina Bifida born in the 50's is bright and dark, terrifying and wonderful. An ode to art and the beauty of disability * Cerrie Burnell *

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Book SynopsisThe life and career of the legendary developer celebrated as the "godfather of computer gaming" and creator of Civilization.Trade Review"… enjoyable… the book serves as a pocket history of game development itself…" -- Alex Hern - The Guardian"An entertaining autobiography... Where some games are more like films, gorgeous to look at but where many of the artistic decisions have been taken for you, Meier’s games are more like novels, inviting the reader to fill in the gaps. His maxims." -- Ed Cumming - The Independent"[Meier is] the master of turn-based gaming." -- Will Wright, developer of The Sims"Any game designer who tries to tell you that he hasn’t taken anything away from a Sid Meier game is akin to a film director saying he has never watched a Hitchcock movie. For Sid is our Hitchcock, our Spielberg, our Ellington." -- Gamespot.com"A growing pile of video-game histories… suggest that the medium has always had collective effort at its heart, from its academic beginnings to its ascent into everyday life. In Meier’s memoir, we discover that he was a good game-maker when he fought this essential fact, but that he became great when he learned to embrace it." -- Neima Jahromi - The New Yorker

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Book Synopsis''Face to Face is not just a brilliant introduction to one of the most exacting areas of modern medicine, it''s a humbling glimpse of humans at their best.'' Sunday TimesSo much of our identity and sense of self is vested in the face we see in the bathroom mirror every morning. Now imagine that face so ravaged by cancer, an accident, a gun shot wound or a car crash that it is barely recognizable. Think how it might feel if, after surgery, the person you remember, but had given up all hope of seeing again, is looking back at you from the mirror once more.Over the years, maxillofacial surgeon Jim McCaul has helped countless people make this journey. His extraordinary book follows the stories of some of the patients he has saved from terrible illness and life-changing injuries and some he wasn't able to help. We follow the epic and complex surgical procedures his job requires him to perform daily, where the margin for error is to all intents and puTrade ReviewThe face is our window on the world. In his powerful and moving account McCaul describes how it feels to take it apart and put it back together again, in the battlefield and on the operating table. This is often scary stuff, but always inspiring. * Professor Stephen Westaby, bestselling author of Fragile Lives *There's a vicarious thrill to being let into this insider zone... Inspires wonder at all that modern medicine can achieve. * TLS *Fascinating and life-affirming ... Jim McCaul confides in us the joys and the agony of facial surgery. * Dr Richard Shepherd, bestselling author of Unnatural Causes *Face to Face is not just a brilliant introduction to one of the most exacting areas of modern medicine, it's a humbling glimpse of humans at their best. * Sunday Times *Enjoyable and compelling. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis**NOW INCLUDING THE FIRST CHAPTER OF DEMON COPPERHEAD**TWICE WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FROM THE WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTIONTHE MULTI-MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHORWith the eyes of a scientist and the vision of a poet, Barbara Kingsolver explores her trademark themes of family, community and the natural world. Defiant, funny and courageously honest, High Tide in Tucson is an engaging and immensely readable collection from one of the most original voices in contemporary literature.''Possessed of an extravagantly gifted narrative voice, Kingsolver blends a fierce and abiding moral vision with benevolent and concise humour. Her medicine is meant for the head, the heart, and the soul.'' New York Times

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Book SynopsisThe local doctor occupies a privileged position in society. Pillars of the community and privy to the most intimate details of people's lives, we often imbue them with superhuman qualities and expect them to have all the answers. Rarely do we get to see the person behind the ever-calm, professional exterior and experience how they handle the weight of responsibility that comes with the role.Step into the surgery of Dr. Lucia Gannon. Arriving in the small village of Killenaule, Co. Tipperary 20 years ago husband Liam (also a GP) and children in tow Gannon was a blow-in determined to build a practice that would provide solace for the sick, worried and confused.Journey with her as she builds a life in this tight-knit community, and discover what it means to be the one people bring their problems to problems that are not always medical, but which still require discretion, kindness and the willingness to provide a listening ear to those on the tricky journey of life.

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Book SynopsisConcern. Compassion. Doubt. Despair. Anger. Hope. Imagine juggling these feelings every day in a situation where your ability to manage them could be the difference between life and death.For Dr Chris Luke, a consultant in emergency medicine, these experiences are an intrinsic part of the job - ranging from rage at a system that often leaves vulnerable people waiting anxiously, to the incomparable satisfaction of relieving patients' suffering and distress and making a real difference in people's lives and in society.Here, Dr Luke reveals his own rollercoaster journey from orphanage boy to one of the leading emergency physicians in the country. Luke's recollections and reflections on a life spent on the frontline - grappling with his own health issues, burnout and sometimes despair at a dysfunctional system - make for compelling reading.A Life in Trauma is a frank, remarkable account of a career spent helping others, sometimes at a p

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the strange and dangerous world of the VENOM DOC.Imagine a three-week-long first date in Siberia catching venomous water shrews, and later a wedding attended by Eastern European prime ministers and their bodyguards wielding machine guns. Then a life spent living and working with snakes. Lots of very, very poisonous snakes and other venomous creatures ... everything from the Malaysian king cobra to deadly scorpions.Welcome to Bryan Grieg Fry''s world.In this action-packed ride through Bryan''s life you''ll meet the man who''s worked with the world''s most venomous creatures in over 50 countries. He''s been bitten by 26 poisonous snakes and stung by three stingrays - and survived a near-fatal scorpion sting while deep in the Amazon jungle. He''s also broken 23 bones, including breaking his back in three places, and had to learn how to walk again. But when you only research the venom you''ve collected yourself - the adventures, and danger, will just k

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Book SynopsisThis unique collection examines the acting person as an important unit of analysis for science studies, using an integrative approach of in-depth case studies to explore the cognitive, social, cultural, and personal dimensions of a series of key figures in the sciences, from Goethe to Kepler to Rachel Carson.Opening up key questions about what science is, and what comprises a scientist, the volume offers an accessible introductory approach to psychology of science, a growing area in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Case studies focus on the psychological contexts of the contributions for which the scientist is known. Without diminishing its epistemic authority, science is presented as a psychologically saturated human activity, one that is especially illustrative of the way social, cognitive, and personal processes intermingle to both facilitate and impede scientific accomplishment. Each case study ends with a set of discussion questions, providing a valuable resource foTrade Review"Person-Centered Studies in Psychology of Science maintains that various psychological features of individual scientists are indispensable for a thoroughgoing understanding of science itself. 'Case studies' of prominent historically-and-disciplinarily diverse scientists vividly illustrate this indisputable-yet-overlooked fact. Taken as a whole, the book provides a missing link in contemporary science studies: How appreciating the personal, cognitive, and social dimensions of scientists themselves sheds new light on their well-known contributions to knowledge about the world and ourselves. Students and educators will find much to discuss in these pages, written by authors who focus their psychological lenses on the workings of science at the level of scientists themselves."Barbara S. Held, Barry Wish Professor of Psychology and Social Studies Emerita, Bowdoin College, USA"In this fascinating, provocative set of explorations of the lives of particular scientists, the authors shed new light on the psychology of science and on the nature of science itself."Alan Tjeltveit, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Muhlenberg College, USA"I recommend this gem of a book to a very broad audience. More than pedagogical, it is a ground-breaking contribution to the psychology of science and to qualitative, person-centered psychology. A welcome addition to undergraduate and graduate curricula that will attract and edify students at all levels, this fascinating collection will also interest the lay public. Its engaging style and substance will be enjoyed by readers as their understanding of both science and psychology are challenged and enhanced."Frederick J. Wertz, Professor Emeritus, Fordham University, USATable of ContentsIntroduction: Person-centered Studies in Psychology of Science 1. Johannes Kepler – A Pragmaticist Priest of God at the Book of Nature 2. Goethe: A Person of Science 3. The Process of Mendeleev’s Discovery: A Multidimensional, Relational Perspective 4. Henri Poincaré: The Poet of Mathematics and Physics 5. When the Mind Cannot be Trusted: The Lonely Genius of John Nash Jr. 6. An Interpretation of Franz Boas’ Contributions to Anthropology and Scientific Anti-Racism: Merging a Psychology of Science with Anthropology and Feminist Theory to Discuss the Human Influence in Science 7. Rachel Carson: A Scientist of Life Itself 8. Science in the Mists: Dian Fossey 9. Commentary

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Book SynopsisPeter Faulding is a world-leading confined space rescue and forensic search specialist. He has pioneered the use of side-scan sonar in forensic searches for missing persons underwater in the UK and is a world leader in underwater search techniques. He has assisted in the search in many cold cases and has located human remains and evidence that had gone undetected for years, in some of the most remote locations on land and underwater. Peter is a qualified commercial diver, helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, and holds both a UK and United States FAA pilot's licence. What Lies Beneath is his first book.Trade ReviewFrom cold cases and serial killers to the death of a spy, Peter's true life story is as gripping as the finest thriller -- Peter James, author of the Roy Grace series

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Book SynopsisThe life and career of the legendary developer celebrated as the "godfather of computer gaming" and creator of Civilization.Trade Review"... enjoyable… the book serves as a pocket history of game development itself..." -- Alex Hern - The Guardian"An entertaining autobiography... Where some games are more like films, gorgeous to look at but where many of the artistic decisions have been taken for you, Meier’s games are more like novels, inviting the reader to fill in the gaps. His maxims." -- Ed Cumming - The Independent"Depending on your perspective, Meier is either one of the pre-eminent figures in a thrilling artistic form, or one of the greatest time-wasters in human history... His story is that of the industry itself." -- Ed Cumming - I

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Book SynopsisA poignant, funny, personal exploration of authenticity in work and life by a woman doctor.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the profound and moving portrait of one doctor''s life and work in the NHS''Wonderful - insightful and compassionate'' Dr Richard Shepherd, bestselling author of Unnatural Causes________They can''t teach you how to be a doctor at medical school . . .As a junior doctor, Dr Tom Templeton learnt how to do his job from books, professors and other doctors and nurses. But the most important lessons - tolerance, kindness, resilience and bravery - he learnt from his patients.Here, he shares the stories of just 34, and how they changed his life while he was helping theirs.From a stillbirth to the old woman who lived a century, from the inhabitants of stately homes to the homeless, these stories whether heartwarming or heartbreaking, funny or tragic, are always inspiring and illuminating.We are all patients, but discover for the first time how the doctors see us . . .________''An admTrade ReviewWonderful - insightful and compassionate -- Dr Richard Shepherd, bestselling author of Unnatural CausesAn admirably told story * The Spectator *Informative and personal, humbling and healing * Observer *

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Book SynopsisNnedi Okorafor was never supposed to be paralyzed. A college track star and budding entomologist, Nnedi’s lifelong battle with scoliosis was just a bump in her plan - something a simple surgery would easily correct. But when Nnedi wakes from the surgery to find she can’t move her legs, her entire sense of who she is begins to waver. Confined to a hospital bed for months, unusual things begin to happen. Psychedelic bugs crawl her hospital walls; strange dreams visit her nightly. She begins to feel as if she’s turning into a cyborg. Unsure if she’ll ever walk again, Nnedi begins to put these experiences into writing, conjuring up strange, fantastical stories. What Nnedi discovers during her confinement would prove to be the key to her life as a successful science fiction writer: In science fiction, when something breaks, something greater often emerges from the cracks. While she may be bedridden, instead of stopping

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Book SynopsisA rallying cry for a new form of global solidarity in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic. Written from the Italian lockdown. 'Reinforced my sense of hope in humanity' Philippe Sands, bestselling author of EAST WEST STREETTrade ReviewSublimely elegant, provocatively simple, deeply troubling. In one short hour, in the midst of this difficult moment, Giordano reinforced my sense of hope in humanity, in the one and the many. * Philippe Sands, author of EAST WEST STREET *Part analysis, part journal, perhaps the first from the new world we all share. It is modest, lucid, calm, informed, directly helpful in trying to think about where we are now... The literature of the time after begins here. * Evening Standard *A slim guide to understanding this virus and preparing ourselves for what comes next... Taking a breather from bewildering statistics and terrible tales of contagion to read Giordano's book was a jolt of brevity and simplicity... Giordano's short book takes concepts that have been dancing away in our minds, just out of reach, and lines them up neatly. * The Times *The stark and poetic prose of Paolo Giordano's essay How Contagion Works conveys the existential angst of an Italian intellectual as he comes to terms with quarantine: the vulnerabilities, missed opportunities, loneliness, fear of annihilation and the realisation that humanity's supporting structures are 'a house of cards'. * Spectator *'Potent and original' * Sunday Times *The urgency behind Giordano's book is of a different kind, stemming more from the need to preserve the present than to explain it... Much like Sigmund Freud wrote down his dreams when he woke, before they faded, Giordano sought to document, in real time, his experience of the pandemic. * New York Times *Urgent, powerful writing... I could have folded the corner on every page. * John Sutherland, author of CROSSING THE LINE *A timely, vital and inspiring read. * Andrea Wulf, author of THE INVENTION OF NATURE *Paolo Giordano's HOW CONTAGION WORKS is a lodestar for all of us seeking to find our way through this pandemic. Giordano, a mathematician, seamlessly combines lyrical prose and epidemiologic concepts in a clear and compassionate way, recalling at times the work of Jorge Luis Borges. HOW CONTAGION WORKS illuminates a clear and calm path forward as we navigate this strange new world. * Dan Werb, author of CITY OF OMENS *Brilliant...[Giordano] urges us to be kind and see the pandemic not as an accident or a scourge, but as foreseeable, andproof of how our world has become inextricably interconnected. The outbreak's origins reside with us, the planet's most invasive species * NEW SCIENTIST *

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Book SynopsisCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF 2022 BY THE GUARDIAN AND THE NEW STATESMAN 'A STAND OUT' SUNDAY TIMES 'STARTLINGLY HONEST AND DEVASTATINGLY GOOD' RACHEL CLARKE, GUARDIAN 'BRILLIANT' OBSERVER 'POWERFUL AND EVOCATIVE' ADAM KAY 'YOU EMERGE KNOWING HOW LUCKY YOU ARE TO HAVE READ IT' ALI SMITH, NEW STATESMAN From the frontlines of the NHS, the story of a junior doctor's love, loss and grief through the Covid-19 crisis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In early 2020, junior doctor Roopa Farooki lost her sister to cancer. But just weeks later, she found herself plunged into another kind of crisis, fighting on the frontline of the battle taking place in her hospital, and in hospitals across the country. Everything is True is the story of Roopa’s first forty days of the Covid-19 crisis from the frontlines of A&E and the acute medical wards, as struggling through her grief, she battles for her patients’ and colleagues’ survival. Working thirteen-hour shifts, she returns home each evening to write through her exhaustion, chronicling the devastating losses and slowly eroding dehumanisation happening in real time on the ward.Trade ReviewThe most powerful and evocative account of working through the pandemic that I have read -- ADAM KAYThis is such a tough good read about a time of grief, tragedy, loss and catastrophic UK government mismanagement – not over yet, she makes clear – that after you’ve read it, after you’ve withstood its clear-eyed anger, you emerge focussed on what must change and knowing how lucky you are to have read it -- ALI SMITH * NEW STATESMAN *Brilliant … vivid and immediate, fragmentary and unalloyed * OBSERVER *A laser guided insight into what’s been happening in hospitals during the pandemic laying bare what we were all clapping for ... A devastating fusion of private and public grief. Beautifully written, brutally honest -- JO BRANDThe pandemic up-close and thumpingly personal ... Startlingly honest and devastatingly good -- RACHEL CLARKE * GUARDIAN *Even after all we've heard and read about what staff in the NHS have faced during the pandemic, her accounts still have the power to shock * i news *A raw, real-time monologue ... Full of gallows humour, resentment and fear * NEW STATESMAN *Long may Dr Farooki write ... An insightful and entertaining guide, with an attractive blend of wit, self-awareness and moral seriousness ... A genuine insight on love, grief and what truly matters * IRISH TIMES *A stand out ... Raw and clear-eyed * SUNDAY TIMES *The novelist and doctor shares her story of love, loss and grief through the Covid-19 crisis * GUARDIAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *An extraordinary writer … Beautiful, heartbreaking, brilliant, furious and oh-so-honest - an amazing read -- KATE MOSSEAn eloquent testimonial of grief and fury through the first forty days of the Covid crisis – Farooki’s urgent, fragmentary diary of life on the wards conveys the fear, confusion and uncertainty of those first weeks with singular brilliance. I read it in one sitting, hoping it will find its way onto the shelves of those politicians who seem reluctant to learn from their mistakes, and who need to know the truth about the human consequences of health policy decisions -- GAVIN FRANCISA powerful, honest, angry, vivid book ... It will undoubtedly have a big impact ... and finds absolutely the right route through the personal, the political, the angry, the sad, the mundane -- ALICE JOLLYA brilliantly written, disturbing and brutally honest book * TABLET *

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Book Synopsis'During open-chest resuscitations, I've held a non-beating, recently stilled human heart in my hands. And, should you ever get to hold one, you will find the human heart to be rubbery and shockingly light.'What Could Possibly Go Wrong? is a report from the front line of emergency medicine, the first ever account of what it is like to work as an air ambulance doctor. Whether describing cutting through a patient's breastbone to plug a stab wound or barrel rolling a light aircraft at 5,000 feet, Tony Bleetman captures the sheer adrenaline of racing through the sky to save lives. You will learn how to land a helicopter on the side of a mountain, what it means to encounter death every day, and how to perform a tracheotomy in real life (clue: it doesn’t involve a ball-point pen).Funny, shocking and moving, What Could Possibly Go Wrong? is a glimpse at a world where the wrong decision can mean the difference between life and death.Originally published as You Can't Park There: The Highs and Lows of an Air Ambulance Doctor.

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Book Synopsis'Honest, compassionate, brave and big hearted' - LORRAINE KELLY'Celebrates human beings in all their glorious, messy imperfection' - CAT DEELEY Sunday Times Bestseller updated with a new chapter on Amir's experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and being on the frontlines of the historic vaccination effort.60 hours a week240 patients 10 minutes to make a diagnosis Welcome to the surgery. Charting his 15 years working as a GP, from rookie to becoming a partner in one of the UK's busiest surgeries, Dr Amir Khan's stories are as much about community and care as they are about blood tests and bodily fluids. Along the way, he introduces us to the patients that have taught him about love, loss and family - from the regulars to the rarities - giving him the most unbelievable highs and crushing lows, and often in just 10 minutes. There is the unsuspecting pregnant woman about to give birth at the surgery; the man offering to drop his trousers and take a urine sample there and then; the family who needs support through bereavement, the vulnerable child who will need continuing care for a long-term health condition; and, of course, the onset of COVID-19 that tested the surgery at every twist and turn. But, it's all in a day's work for Amir. The Doctor Will See You Now is a powerful story of hope, love and compassion, but it's also a rare insider account of what really goes on behind those surgery doors.

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Book SynopsisSunday Times bestsellerLessons to live by, without getting up with the lark Hannah Jackson (aka The Red Shepherdess) grew up in the Wirral, and hadn't set foot on a farm until she was 20-years-old. But she'd always loved animals and on a visit to the Lake District, she saw a lamb being born and had a light bulb moment - a burning desire to succeed as a farmer - and never looked back.In Tales of a Shepherdess, Hannah gives us a unique insight into farm life and the values it has taught her that we can use in our everyday lives to change ourselves and our world for the better - from connection, communication and community, to leadership, patience and resilience. Hannah will show us how becoming a lambing and farming contractor in a male-dominated and traditional world taught her grit and determination; how training her loyal sheepdog Fraser taught her to trust; and how sometimes failure can teach us more about ourselves than success. Hannah's journey also teaches us how we should find what sets our hearts on fire and throw everything into it.Hannah's simple and universal wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement will inspire you to achieve your goals, follow your dreams and focus on what's really important in life.

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Book SynopsisIn The First Cell, Azra Raza offers a searing account of how both medicine and our society (mis)treats cancer, how we can do better, and why we must. A lyrical journey from hope to despair and back again, The First Cell explores cancer from every angle: medical, scientific, cultural, and personal. Indeed, Raza describes how she bore the terrible burden of being her own husband's oncologist as he succumbed to leukemia. Like When Breath Becomes Air, The First Cell is no ordinary book of medicine, but a book of wisdom and grace by an author who has devoted her life to making the unbearable easier to bear.

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Book SynopsisDr. Glenn W. Geelhoed is a medical doctor, humanitarian, and the founder of Mission to Heal, an organization through which he has been conducting medical mission trips around the globe for over forty years. His organization provides surgery and surgical training to some of the world's most destitute people in the most desolate places on the planet. The title Furthest Peoples First refers to individuals and groups who are the farthest from care and whom the author considers his primary focus. This book showcases the author's latest mission to Africa. The overarching theme of humanity with humility underscores the essence of what it means to reach the furthest people first. With stories and photographs, Dr. Geelhoed shares the excitement, determination, successes, patience, and partnerships that make his work so rewarding and important. This is an inspiring look at how he and his team persevere in the face of countless obstacles to complete the missions they've taken on. Dr. Geelhoed has a BS and AB from Calvin College, an MD from the University of Michigan, and did his surgical internship and residency through Harvard University at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital Medical Center. He is a professor of surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington DC, and is a widely published book and journal author. At 76 years old, he runs 10-20 marathons annually and hopes this book will help him raise money to support his work and attract volunteers to join him in that work.

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Book SynopsisWhen Catherine is diagnosed with acute leukemia, a deadly form of cancer that attacks the immune system, her life is turned upside down. Young and previously healthy, she now finds herself catapulted into the world of the seriously ill—constantly testing and waiting for results, undergoing endless medical treatments, learning to accept a changing body, communicating with a medical team, and relying on the support of her partner, family, and friends.A professional illustrator, Catherine decides to tell the story of her disease in this graphic novel, and she does so with great sincerity, humor, and rare lucidity. We accompany her through the waiting, the doubts, the fears, and the tears—but also the laughter, the love, and the strong will to live.Rich in emotion, lighthearted, and profound, Down to the Bone is a powerful book.Trade Review“A stunning example of what graphic medicine can do.”—starred review Publishers Weekly“The narrative, the information about leukemia, and the details about her treatment that the book shares all have a sense of hope that made the graphic novel’s abrupt ending, with a short text note about Pioli’s death in 2017, all the more devastating.”—Gene Ambaum Library Comic“There is humor but far more humanity in Pioli’s story about a ‘rare’ cancer . . . that takes away a beautiful life and leaves sorrow in its wake. Pioli’s book helps touch this sweet spot in us all while educating readers about cancer and how they can help.”—Denise Hill New Pages“Thoughtful, graceful, unforgettable. Pioli captures both the coldly clinical and the deeply personal with honesty, humor, and revelations that hit hard. It’s as good as graphic medicine gets.”—Brian Fies,author of Mom’s Cancer“A life-affirming graphic novel that ably illustrates not only the medical issues but also the very personal ones that affect a person diagnosed with leukemia. Elegantly translated from the original French by J. T. Mahany, it’s an excellent read for anyone interested in cancer, mortality and life in France.”—Doreen Sheridan The Frumious Consortium

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Book SynopsisAs a young doctor working in the middle of the HIV epidemic in the early ’90s, Alicia Blando feels unsure of the effectiveness of the medical profession. To gain insight into her life’s path, she seeks advice in some unconventional places, and lands on astrology as her way forward. Astrology, based in astronomy, has specific rules; it can’t be easily manipulated. The scientist in her can’t help but respond to this idea.At a pivotal group demonstration, Alicia finds a mentor, Iris, who introduces her to the study of astrology. By learning to read the horoscope, Alicia gains insight into her potential and manifests her ambition to travel and explore healing techniques from indigenous cultures. Eventually, her search for new teachers and past knowledge takes her from Manhattan to the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, and Bolivia, where she discovers ancient ways of healing among people who consider the sky to be a continuation of nature on earth. She connects with the tenets of astrology as the language that describes man’s connection to the sky environment. The horoscopic map gives information that can assist in making better choices in life, Alicia learns; it has the potential to analyze a person’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and health concerns. Alicia’s journey off the beaten path ultimately leads her to true self-exploration and connection with the world around her, as well as a desire to share her knowledge. In Open for Interpretation, she shares her story of finally finding the map she’s been seeking—and explains how we can all use that map to access our true selves and untapped potential.Trade Review“Open for Interpretation is a moving memoir about a medical doctor’s search for a guide to a life of connection, meaning, and purpose.”—Foreword Reviews“Blando’s prose is clean and concise, and her storytelling moves effortlessly between the conscious and unconscious mind and body. . . . For those drawn more to the practical than the magical when it comes to the intuitive arts, her scientific perspective on astrology will be particularly appealing."—BlueInk Review“Dr. Alicia Blando’s Open for Interpretation is a beautifully written memoir that will pull at your heartstrings as she pursues a medical career that is juxtaposed with her passion for astrology. She writes with brutal honesty about her self-doubt and questions whether to give up on her dream to become a doctor. At the same time, Alicia uses the language of the stars to view herself objectively and build the confidence to become a physician. Join her in this illuminating journey as she combines her two passions: medicine and astrology.”—Ronnie Gale Dreyer, MA, author, astrologer, and teacher

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Book SynopsisTake Your Baby and Run is Carol Youngson's first-hand account of the shocking ineptitude and misogynistic behaviour that led to the death of twelve children, primarily infants, under the care of Dr. Jonah Odim at Winnipeg's largest hospital in 1994. Youngson was the nurse in charge of the cardiac unit and in her book she details the dysfunctional hospital hierarchy that allowed this tragedy to unfold, leading to the longest running inquiry in Canadian history. Sadly, the themes of this book are just as relevant today during our current health crisis.

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Book SynopsisAs Featured on BBC Woman''s Hour? Deeply thoughtful and compassionate? Susie Orbach, author of In Therapy? A book with the power to move and inform . . . [Campling] is an expert in ? intelligent kindness? .? Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know''Fantastic new book from Penny Campling - 5 stars'' Dr Kate LovettOver the course of her 40-year career, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Penelope Campling has worked with patients from all walks of life, from survivors of abuse to ICU doctors struggling under the strain of Covid-19. She has seen many positive changes in how we approach mental health ? and yet she is increasingly troubled by the state of our health services. Too often those suffering from serious mental illness are being neglected, locked away, even abused.In Don? t Turn Away Campling takes us into the therapy room, offering unique insight into how we treat those in distress. She shows us how the progress made in a more optimistic era of psychiatry is fast being eroded; how our struggling healthcare system often fails those who need our support; and how crucial it is in today? s uncertain world that we do not turn away.

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Book SynopsisA Bricklayer's Guide to the Galaxy . . . The inspirational memoir of a former brickie who followed his passion for the stars and built his own observatory. Perfect for readers of Robert Macfarlane, Helen Macdonald and James Rebanks - as well as fans of Brian Cox and the BBC’s Sky at Night Gary Fildes left school at sixteen, got a trade like most of his mates and was soon married with four kids. His life seemed set. But he had a secret. Something he only practised late at night with a few like-minded friends. Then one day, middle age approaching alarmingly, he acted on his lifelong passion. He finally came out. As an astronomer.Today, Gary is the founder and lead astronomer of Kielder Observatory, one of the top ten stargazing sites in the world, which he also helped to build. Situated in the beautiful forests of Kielder, Northumberland, within Europe’s largest protected dark sky park, it offers some of the UK's most spectacular views of stars, planets and galaxies.An Astronomer’s Tale is Gary’s inspirational story: part memoir, part nature writing, part seasonal guide to the night sky. It is a book brimming with passion; and at a time when the world is captivated by space, it will leave you ready to get out there and explore the wonders of the skies for yourself.Trade ReviewI can heartily recommend this book as an inspiration to all public outreach volunteers as, like Gary, they too reach for the stars * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *The observing tips are honed by years of experience, and Fildes excels at capturing the atmosphere at public observatories and star parties * Physics World *Kielder is a stargazer's paradise -- Robert MacfarlaneMove over Brian Cox * Daily Telegraph *Gary’s story reminds us of the old saying that our destiny is not in the stars but in ourselves. He is proof that dreamers from the most unlikely backgrounds can turn their hopes into reality, if they get lucky and work hard... A moving and informative read * Sunday Times *

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