Autobiography: science, technology and medicine Books

Book SynopsisA Sunday Times BestsellerHave you ever had a strange urge to jump from a tall building, or steer your car into oncoming traffic? You are not alone. In this captivating fusion of science, history and personal memoir, writer David Adam explores the weird thoughts that exist within every mind, and how they drive millions of us towards obsessions and compulsions.'One of the best and most readable studies of a mental illness to have emerged in recent years . . . an honest and open and, yes, maybe life-changing work' - Matt Haig, Observer Told with fierce clarity, humour and urgent lyricism, this extraordinary book is both the haunting story of a personal nightmare, and a fascinating doorway into the darkest corners of our minds.David has suffered from obsessive compulsive disoder (OCD) for twenty years, and The Man Who Couldn't Stop is his unflinchingly honest attempt to understand the condition and his experiTrade ReviewClear-sighted and eminently accessible ... a fundamentally important book that will bring a breath of fresh understanding to sufferers - as well as mental-health professionals, and family and friends of anyone who exhibits symptoms of OCD. I urge anyone to buy it. It will make you think again * Sunday Times *A fascinating study of the living nightmare that is obsessive compulsive disorder ... one of the best and most readable studies of a mental illness to have emerged in recent years ... an honest and open and, yes, maybe life-changing work -- Matt Haig * Observer *Combines a scientific account of OCD from ancient times to the most recent research with passages of tenderly written memoir * Telegraph *The Man Who Couldn't Stop is quite simply book of the year, on living with OCD: just buy it now -- Adam RutherfordSuperb... A brave and helpful contribution to deepening our understanding of the intricate complexities of mental ill-health * The Times *Adam recounts his journey with humour and detachment * Literary Review *[An] engaging, exhaustively researched neuro memoir, a blend of brain science and personal history * Evening Standard *This blew me away. Stunning -- Ian Sample * Guardian *An insider's tour of the OCD brain, providing insight into the cultural and scientific evolution of how we view and treat a disorder that affects up to 3% of people worldwide * Nature *A captivating first-person account of how a blizzard of unwanted thoughts can become a personal nightmare. At times shocking, at times tragic, at times unbelievably funny, it is a wonderful read * Focus *A lucid, humane ­- only intermittently autobiographical - science book ... offers a clear history through riveting case studies and the work of key figures * Metro *David Adam, a successful writer, is also a sufferer of obsessive compulsive disorder ... He covers the history of OCD, the treatments that have been tried without success, and his experience of cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT, which was greatly helpful. A well-written, thorough account * Independent *Well-researched, witty, honest and irreverent, Adam's account proves as irresistible as his subject * Kirkus Reviews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring a pandemic lockdown full of pyjama dance parties, life talks, and final goodbyes, a family helps a father die with dignity.In April 2020, journalist Mitchell Consky received bad news: his father was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer, with less than two months to live. Suddenly, he and his extended family many of them healthcare workers were tasked with reconciling the social distancing required by the Covid-19 pandemic with a family-based approach to end-of-life care. The result was a home hospice during the first lockdown. Suspended within the chaos of medication and treatments were dance parties, episodes of Tiger King, and his father's many deadpan jokes. Leaning into his journalistic intuitions, Mitchell interviewed his father daily, making audio recordings of final talks, emotional goodbyes, and the unexpected laughter that filled his father's final days. Serving as a catalyst for fatherly affection, these interviewTrade ReviewThis journey of a grown son letting his father go is meaningful for us all as we face grief and loss. Although a memoir about dying, there are elegantly written lessons about living: of being thankful for the simple moments; of finding joy despite overwhelming sorrow, and realizing they are compatible. Consky was fortunate to have had a father filled with such love and laughter. * Jennifer Dance, author of Gone but Still Here *America has Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Canada now has its own Mitch, Mitch Consky who has written Home Safe, a tribute to his father. Consky manages to convey deep love for his father who devoted all he had to his family. As you read it, you long to have the closeness and constant support that this father gave the children. * Cathy Gildiner, NYT bestselling author *An intimate, raw and honest look at what it was really like to grapple with end of life care and loss during unprecedented times. This amazingly hopeful book illuminates these unimaginable circumstances while reminding us that love, even in the face of darkness, brings so much light. * Liz Levine, author of Nobody Ever Talks About Anything But the End *In capturing the resilience, the philosophizing, and the joking around of family and friends, Consky’s heartfelt, tender memoir embraces the ultimate realization that dying is indeed part of living, especially for a young man losing his father before his eyes. * Bill Reynolds, professor of literary journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University *On the surface, this a memoir about a son watching his father’s brutal 2 ½ month descent from cancer diagnosis to death, during the dark days of the pandemic, no less. But Home Safeis really an intimate reflection on grief, loss and the burden of keeping memories alive. A must-read for anyone who wishes they had been able to spend just a little more time with a loved one in their final days. * André Picard, author of Neglected No More and Health columnist at The Globe and Mail *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Inspirational'' - Professor Alice Roberts''Engrossing'' - Professor Ben GarrodRhys Jones was brought up on a council estate in South Wales where expectations for what life held in store for you were slim. As he recalls, he was born fighting and never stopped. His perspective on what life could offer him changed forever in the early 1980s when his grandfather took him to the local cinema to see Stephen Spielberg''s blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. The dream of emulating his hero Indiana Jones and travelling to the farthest reaches of the planet to explore exotic locations and its wildlife now burned deep inside him.As he progressed at school this passion to escape and explore was further kindled through the pages of an old natural history encyclopaedia given to him by his grandmother. Devouring the pages, the encyclopaedia would help craft his chosen path in life. Like his hero and namesake Indiana Jones, Rhys''s journeTrade ReviewAn inspiring journey that reflects Rhys' strength, resilience, and perseverance in the face of life's challenges. Through his words, Rhys has beautifully captured his life's experiences, and has shared them with the world. He has opened up about his struggles and triumphs, and his unwavering spirit shines through every page. This book is a reminder of the power of human determination and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams. Rhys' story is a shining example of how one can overcome obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side -- Sir Gareth Edwards CBERhys Jones is one of the most upstanding, kind, intelligent, and engaging people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. His ability to connect with people on a deep level is remarkable. Whether it is through his warm and welcoming demeanour, his thoughtful conversation, or his insightful observations, Rhys has a unique talent for making others feel seen, heard, and appreciated -- Jamie BaulchFrom a childhood immersed in books, films and wildlife to a career in environmental science - Dr Rhys Jones' inspirational story is a call to arms - to follow our dreams! -- Professor Alice RobertsThis engrossing, humorous and inspiring journey, from little boy to globe-trotting adventuring scientist, is a heart-warming tale for us all -- Professor Ben GarrodDr Jones is a wonderful raconteur. I implore you to join him on this epic journey filled with passion, his thirst for knowledge and an insatiable desire to connect human beings to their remarkable cohabitants -- Mark A SheppardWhat an inspiration to anyone and everyone who has ever been told 'you will come to nothing . . . Give up!' He is a kind reminder that working hard and sticking to your dreams whilst being kind and generous to those you meet along the way is the message we should all be pushing for -- Eve MylesAn honest, funny and action-packed memoir from one of Wales' real life heroes -- Gareth David LloydAn inspiration for those who have dealt with adversity . . . Dr Jones truly has led a WILD LIFE worth hearing -- Jesse McClure

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Human Kind is a compelling account of some of the hardest cases in one doctor's career.Everyone gets to be a patient sooner or later. Almost everyone has some experience of being misunderstood by doctors; encounters with difficult doctors; of relationships burdened with mutual bafflement, hostility and pain. Every doctor is haunted by memories of difficult relationships with patients, of the decisions made, and the outcomes that followed. People whom, despite all of their patience, persistence, the best communication, diagnostic and reasoning skills, they haven't helped. People for whose unique suffering it seems medicine has nothing to offer. Dr. Peter Dorward explores the many ethical dilemmas that GPs must face every day, to explain why it is that despite vast resources, time, skill and dedication, medicine is so often destined to fail. His recollections include his worst failures and biggest challenges, ranging from the everyday, the tragic, the grotesque, the vilTrade ReviewMoving, compassionate and beautifully written – this book illuminates general practice the way Henry Marsh has illuminated neurosurgery. Dorward's stories from his practice are subtle, eloquent and told with great integrity. He doesn’t shy away from confronting some of the most difficult challenges in medicine. But he carries the reader through with verve, imagination and great humanity. I loved it. -- Gavin Francis * author of Adventures in Human Being *Peter Dorward has created a moving and thought-provoking insight into complexities of contemporary general practice * Dr. Jed Mercurio, writer/producer of Line of Duty, Cardiac Arrest and Bodies *...funny, edgy, moving, it ambushes you with sudden kindnesses and flashes of human resilience and goodness. -- former BBC researcher and reporter * Allan Little *wise and illuminating… a compelling and beautifully written account of learning to be a doctor * Sunday Express *This wise and illuminating collection of case histories examines the many ethical dilemmas that doctors face every single day * Sunday Express *Dr Dorward describes, with sensitivity and acute insight, the ethical and emotional dilemmas doctors face every day. * The Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Delightfully insightful and intensely readable [...] There is an energy and drama to Rory's writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds'' Stephen FryThe inside story of how tech became personal and pernicious, from the BBC''s technology correspondent.We live at a time when billions have access to unbelievably powerful technology. The most extraordinary tool that has been invented in the last century, the smartphone, is forcing radical changes in the way we live and work - and unlike previous technologies it is in the hands of just about everyone. Coupled with the rise of social media, this has ushered in a new era of deeply personal technology, where individuals now have the ability to work, create and communicate on their own terms, rather than wait for permission from giant corporations or governments. At least that is the optimistic view.This book takes readers on an entertaining ride through this turbulent era, as Trade ReviewA refreshingly skeptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans. * Wall Street Journal *This delightfully insightful and intensely readable history combines the personal with the objective. From Jobs to Musk, from Facebook to fake news, from Snapchat to bitcoin by way of Raspberries, Blackberries and Apples there is an energy and drama to Rory’s writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds. -- Stephen FryCellan-Jones weaves together the broad story of the smartphone era with the personal element. By showing how technology has touched – and altered – him for good and bad he shows how it has affected us all. -- Jimmy Wales, founder of WikipediaWho better to tell us this story than the arch technology storyteller himself? From the first smartphone to test and trace, Rory has seen it all and interviewed everyone. Putting it all together makes for a fascinating and beautifully written story of our times -- Wendy Hall, Regius Professor of Computer Science, University of SouthamptonMr Cellan-Jones…takes a refreshingly sceptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans…The book shines when Mr Cellan-Jones combines these journalistic war stories with personal reflections. * Wall Street Journal *Table of ContentsPrologue PART I: REVOLUTIONARY TIMES 1 'We're Going to Make Some History Here Today' 2 The Smartphone Revolution 3 Facepack: The Rise of Social Media 4 Raspberry Pi: Can Britain Build a Computer? 5 The End of the Human Race 6 Elon Musk and the Triumph of Tech PART II: THINGS FALL APART 7 The Woes of the Web 8 Always On 9 Spinners, Hacks and Hype 10 Crypto Craziness PART III: TECH IN A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS 11 The Pandemic Arrives 12 The App That Could Tame COVID 13 Fake News, 5G and the Virus Epilogue Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe powerful and moving memoir by a scientist and mother of three of how she learned to live again, after a sudden severe infection caused her to die and then revive, but locked in - completely paralysed, and only able to blink an eye. With a foreword by Bill Bryson.Trade ReviewIt's a wonderful meditation on the human condition and a testament to the power of love. It was heartbreaking and life-affirming in equal measure. An extraordinary story and a joy to read. -- Max Pemberton, columnist and author of TRUST ME, I'M A (JUNIOR) DOCTORAs gripping as a thriller * Sunday Express *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe powerful and moving memoir by a scientist and mother of three of how she learned to live again after a sudden severe infection caused her to die but then revive with 'locked-in syndrome' - only able to blink an eye. With a foreword by Bill Bryson.Trade ReviewIt's a wonderful meditation on the human condition and a testament to the power of love. It was heartbreaking and life-affirming in equal measure. An extraordinary story and a joy to read. -- Max Pemberton, columnist and author of TRUST ME, I'M A (JUNIOR) DOCTORAs gripping as a thriller * SUNDAY EXPRESS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''A beautiful little book by a brilliant mind'' DAILY TELEGRAPH''Effortlessly instructive, absorbing, up to the minute and - where it matters - witty'' GUARDIANThe world-famous cosmologist and #1 bestselling author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe''s biggest questions in this brilliant posthumous work.Is there a God?How did it all begin?Can we predict the future?What is inside a black hole?Is there other intelligent life in the universe?Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?How do we shape the future?Will we survive on Earth?Should we colonise space?Is time travel possible?Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. But even as his theoretical work on black holes, imaginary timTrade ReviewA beautiful book from a brilliant mind * Daily Telegraph *Almost everything in Brief Answers is effortlessly instructive, absorbing, up to the minute and - where it matters - witty * Guardian *The best, most mind-bending sort of physics: black holes, time travel, the origins of the universe * The Times *It is that ultra-distinctive voice (modest, profound, sometimes very funny) that knits this book together * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA brutally honest, darkly funny and profoundly moving memoir about the author's global search for a cure to chronic painTrade ReviewA timely, worrying and extremely important book * OBSERVER *Truly fascinating . . . a searingly honest first-hand account of Buckley's journey, both spiritual and physical, and an insightful, deeply researched story of pain from the multiple perspectives of medical science, psychology and faith. An absolute must-read on the subject, what's laid bare here about our understanding of and attitudes to chronic pain is alternatively sobering and inflammatory * INDEPENDENT *An inspiring story about living with pain, and not being believed and never giving up -- Natasha Harding * SUN *Buckley's account of her illness is elegant, with apposite literary references. As a welcome bonus, she is bitingly funny in her descriptions of the shortcomings of the medical profession, as well as her unnerving encounters with alternative therapists. Most importantly, she highlights the alarming extent of chronic pain in the UK and the medical establishment's failure to tackle it head on; according to the British Medical Journal, it affects a third of us. Nevertheless, the message from her story is uplifting: however awful your circumstances, there's always hope -- Peter Carty * i paper *A raw and unflinching exploration of chronic pain and the human body, Heal Me documents the desperate psychological and physical journey of chasing a cure for an invisible illness. From leading NHS professionals to faith healers in Haiti, Buckley puts her body on the line all over the world in an attempt to live a 'normal' life again, documenting all in honest and often disarmingly witty prose that creates a moving, compelling and timely reflection on medicine, religion and the business of health -- ROB COWEN, author of Common GroundJulia Buckley applies all her considerable journalistic skill to telling the story of her own quest for a miracle - freedom from the chronic pain that she knows is real but so few doctors believe in. It's painfully honest but far from painful reading -- DAMIAN BARRGripped me from start to finish. At times hilarious, at times heartbreaking and always relatable -- HOLLY BAXTERHeal Me is a wonderful book, vibrant, lively and searching. Julia Buckley weighs the price of hope against desperation, exploring with humour, research and compassion the need that pain patients have for healing. Her quest will take you around the world and through the ether as she crosses light and darkness for a cure -- SONYA HUBERAs her pained and broken body is pushed, poked, prodded, measured, X-rayed, medicated, massaged and, more often than not, declared fine, Julia Buckley takes us on a worldwide journey in search of a cure for the devastating pain which rages through her, the legacy of an assortment of ailments and diagnoses and misdiagnoses and guesswork. In prose which glitters with anger, Buckley frequently invokes The Yellow Wallpaper, an important predecessor to her book and one which sets up the theme: women's illness, women's pain, is frequently disparaged, disbelieved and belittled, with deadly results. In the age of rape culture and #metoo, Buckley's memoir is an important and devastating reminder that the oppression and objectification of women exists in many other insidious forms, with just as profound impacts -- RUTH FOWLERThis book shouldn't be entertaining and yet, as Buckley recounts her global odyssey in search of a miracle, her rollercoaster journey turns out to be as compulsive as any thriller ... her brave book is a reminder to never give up hope -- Stephanie Cross * THE LADY *Buckley's eloquently angry Heal Me: In Search of a Cure homes in on the insidious gender politics that often determine the treatment of female patients -- Anna Katharina Schaffner * TLS *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Sensational'' SUNDAY TIMES NO. BESTSELLER''Extraordinary...both exhilarating and alarming...fascinating'' DAILY MAIL''Wonderful...a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit'' FINANCIAL TIMESHenry Marsh has spent four decades operating on the human brain. In this searing and provocative memoir following his retirement from the NHS, he reflects on the experiences that have shaped his career and life, gaining a deeper understanding of what matters to us all in the end.Trade ReviewSensational...Marsh is curmudgeonly, unflinching, clinical, competitive, often contemptuous and consistently curious. In Admissions he scrubs up just as well the second time around and continues to revel in his joyous candour * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Superb...a eulogy to surgery and a study of living. I didn't want this book to end. Henry Marsh is part of a growing canon of superb modern medical writers...whose storytelling and prose are transportative...His timing is also impeccable...His sentences, too, feel like works of the finest craftmanship, made with the love that goes into both his woodwork and surgery -- Jessamy Calkin * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Marsh is, given his profession, a surprisingly emotional man, likably so. His account of his younger self that threads through this compulsive book is a Bildungsroman in itself. He is also a fine writer and storyteller, and a nuanced observer -- Tim Adams * OBSERVER *The maverick is back, even more blunt and irascible, with tales of thrilling, high-wire operations at medicine's unconquered frontier, woven through with personal memoir...Marsh in full spate is quite magnificent...a master of tar-black, deadpan humour -- Melanie Reid * THE TIMES *Disarmingly frank storytelling. [Marsh] is, in spite of himself, hugely likeable...his reflections on death and dying equal those in Atul Gawande's excellent Being Mortal * ECONOMIST *Epigramatically balanced and almost brutally candid...Admissions offers a reprise of many of [Do No Harm's] virtues, from the elegance of the writing to the undiminished sense of wonder at the complexity of the brain -- Tom Sutcliffe * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Admissions is a humbling read, in which neurosurgeon Henry Marsh shares fascinating facts learnt during his 40-year career as a brain surgeon. He has a deep humanity that resonates throughout * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *Transgressive, wry and confessional, sporadically joyful and occasionally doleful. It is in many ways a more revealing work than Do No Harm, and the revelations it offers are a good deal more personal...Marsh skilfully articulates the subtleties and frustrations of neurosurgery - but there is a deeper examination of death, and an angrier exposition of the shameful betrayal of the NHS by successive generations of politicians...honesty is abundantly apparent here - a quality as rare and commendable in elite surgeons as one suspects it is in memoirists...elegaic but consistently entertaining -- Gavin Francis * GUARDIAN *An enthralling book, unputdownable...it is an exhilarating, even thrilling read, a glimpse into a world we hope we may never have to enter * THE ARTS DESK *Fascinating...Marsh paints a vivid picture of the pressures imposed on a surgeon who is quite literally at the cutting edge of modern medicine -- William Hartston * DAILY EXPRESS *[Marsh] is wise and insightful about the balance and confidence, truth and uncertainty faced by doctors...his insights about life, death and professional purpose are irresistible -- Hannah Beckerman * SUNDAY EXPRESS *I particularly relished his descriptions of the anatomy of the brain itself, as well as his can-do accounts of freeing cancerous masses from their baroque architecture - but I enjoyed (if this is the correct word) still more his willingness to delve as fearlessly into his own, troubled being ... accounts of highly undoctorly behaviour that nonetheless confirms Marsh as the man I would most like to have prying open my skull. Perhaps most disarming of all is Marsh's frankness about his own fears of growing older and dying ... should be distributed to every care home in Britain -- Will Self * NEW STATESMAN *A truly extraordinary account. Henry Marsh's honesty and simple pragmatism underpin an amazing life of tantalising curiosity and contact with the most complex organ in the known universe. I often wonder about the physical structure of my own brain, about the bits that work and the bits that don't. I wonder at the minutiae, those microscopic fronds, the fragile fabric of jelly that defines me, and here is a man who has seen it, tweaked it, repaired it and yet still doesn't know it. It is tempting to try and find a magic in the mystery, but in fact this is a celebration of the magnificence of the brain -- Chris PackhamExtraordinary...both exhilarating and alarming...harrowing but fascinating...It is a privilege to dance with [Marsh] through these engrossing, revealing pages -- Libby Purves * DAILY MAIL *Emerging from his own brusque acceptance of the inevitability of suffering and death is a deep compassion for his patients and their families. It is fascinating to have [the brain] dissected, and with such psychological and clinical penetration, by someone for whom it is horribly untheoretical and immediate -- Jane O'Grady * LITERARY REVIEW *With charm and black humour ... [Marsh] claims that "handling the brain tells you nothing about life - other than to be dismayed by its fragility", yet few memoirs have more sagacity. Admissions forces the reader to confront death, why we fear it and why we cling on -- Rosamund Urwin * INDEPENDENT i paper *Wonderful...eloquent...a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit -- Adrian Woolfson * FINANCIAL TIMES *Marsh is now almost as celebrated a writer as he is a brain surgeon. This, a sequel to his best-selling memoir Do No Harm, is a frank and provocative meditation on failures in living and dying as he approaches the end of his career in medicine * MAIL ON SUNDAY Summer Books *Henry Marsh's Do No Harm was an award-winning and revelatory look at the daily dilemmas of being a neurosurgeon. This follow-up is a humorous, irascible and opinionated look at his early life, his long career in the NHS and his retirement. Candid and curmudgeonly -- Robbie Millen * THE TIMES Summer Books *[Marsh] is clearly a brilliant neurosurgeon, and a wonderful writer -- Helen Thomson * NEW SCIENTIST *This thoughtful account charting retirement and surgical work in Nepal and Ukraine brims with insights - not only on the fraught nexus of scalpel and brain, but on the complexities of ageing and the pleasures of beekeeping, tree-planting and carpentry -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *Marsh's second book is a fine undertaking... More reflective than Do No Harm... Admissions is an attempt to place in context the professional life of that first book. He is, at times, disarmingly honest... There are deeply moving moments... On end-of-life care and euthanasia, Marsh is measured and convincing -- George Berridge * TLS *Marsh's commitment to truth-telling makes this a genuinely humbling as well as fascinating read. And, like Do No Harm, it leaves a deep and permanent impression -- Stephanie Cross * THE LADY *The eloquent author of Do No Harm pulls no punches in this moving memoir, in which he reflects candidly on his life, experiences in medicine at home and in impoverished countries, the prospect of retirement ... and death * HUMAN GIVENS JOURNAL *His descriptions of his work there [in Nepal and Ukraine] demonstrate again his gift with both scalpel and pen ... disarmingly self-effacing and honest * WASHINGTON POST *It feels like a privilege to spend time with Marsh, an exemplary person with lambent emotions whose fearsome skills and hidden fears are a reminder of how exultant, sad, ardent, and swift life really is -- Joshua Rothman * New Yorker *In this unflinchingly honest memoir, retired neurosurgeon Henry Marsh seamlessly intertwines his life experiences and surgical career. He reflects on both what he has learned by probing the brain, and our limited knowledge of mind, from emotions to consciousness -- Mary Craig * NATURE *Despite the human suffering, it is all heroic, strangely uplifting stuff -- Arifa Akbar * THE OBSERVER *Another superb book on brain surgery by Henry Marsh who has psnt his professional life cutting people's heads open...The prose sparkles with wit and intelligence -- William Leith * EVENING STANDARD *[Marsh] interleaves visceral details of brain surgery with childhood memories and moments of impeccably timed comedy * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAstonishing insight into the life of a humanitarian psychiatrist working in war and disaster zones around the world - from Bosnia and 'mission-accomplished' Iraq, to tsunami-affected Aceh, post-earthquake Haiti and 'the Jungle' in Calais.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A profound memoir'' Daily Telegraph''As revealing as the writing of Oliver Sacks'' Mark CousinsOutside the Asylum is Lynne Jones''s personal and highly acclaimed exploration of humanitarian psychiatry and the changing world of international relief. Her memoir graphically describes her experiences in war zones and disasters around the world, from the Balkans and ''mission-accomplished'' Iraq, to tsunami-affected Indonesia, post-earthquake Haiti and ''the Jungle'' in Calais.Trade ReviewLynne Jones is a world expert on the psychiatric consequences of the trauma of war. She has not shied away from providing care to people in the heart of conflict zones, where such mental health resources are virtually non-existent. Her first hand observations will open readers' eyes to the awful connections between the neglected relationship of war and mental illness, and of what can be provided at relatively low cost, with the right planning and vision. This is essential reading for those training in mental health, to consider the broader picture of the causes of mental illness that one may not see in the routine hospital clinic. An outstanding piece of work -- Professor Simon Baron-CohenAs revealing as the writing of Oliver Sacks. Outside the Asylum joins the dots of mental health and conflict of the last four decades, resulting in a moving frontline account of geographical and mental borders. Jones's quest is lucid and questioning. She introduces us to a gallery of astonishing and brave people, and her work has surely made the world a better place. Inspiring -- Mark CousinsHer blazingly frank account is as enlightening on shifts in psychiatric treatment as it is on local implications of humanitarian-aid policy. Brilliantly insightful -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *A profound memoir ... Her compassion is clear sighted, and she explains complex geopolitical and psychological issues in plain prose -- Helen Brown * DAILY TELEGRAPH *A passionate account ... Her portrayal of human suffering and the human response is vividly described -- Emma Williams * THE SPECTATOR *It will fill you with soaring admiration for those who dedicate their lives to help those who need it, fired by a strong belief in humanity -- Caroline Sanderson * THE BOOKSELLER *[Jones'] beautifully weft stories of a lone psychiatrist bearing children's unbearable burdens are beacons of hope to their bomb-shattered childhoods and to our broken world. -- Sabina Dosani * BJPsych Bulletin *

Read more less

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 *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn example of highly efficient, warm, human communication, achieved in times of stress, emerges in the remarkable series of letters that constitutes the bulk of this book. Dr C.J. Mackenzie was acting president of the National Research Council from 1939 to 1943 while General A.G.L. McNaughton, the president, was on leave of absence as commander of Canada’s field forces. During this time Mackenzie wrote regular secret letters to the General reporting on the progress being made in the council’s laboratories. These letters cover exciting and stimulating years of scientific discovery and development. The council’s programs, most of which paid off, included uses of radar for land, sea and air, the first Canadian optical glass industry, a new process for producing metallic magnesium (ending dependence on imports), the pressure suit and other advances in aviation medicine, degaussing and other defences against ingenious varieties of destructive German mines, the

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristopher A. Roosa grew up the eldest son of Apollo 14 astronaut and command module pilot Stuart A. Roosa. As a child of the space program, Christopher had a ringside seat at the dinner table of one of twenty-four Americans who had either entered lunar orbit or landed on the moon. The first book written by an offspring of an Apollo astronaut to focus on growing up in that era, Son of Apollo tells the inside story of the life of his father, a man who had a remarkable career despite always believing his air force career was off-track, from his initial application to the service to his removal from the prime crew of Apollo 13 and his subsequent assignment to Apollo 14. During the Apollo 13 mission and recovery, Stuart played an integral role in developing the procedures to return the crew to Earth safely. The focus-and the pressure-of the entire Apollo program then shifted to the Apollo 14 mission. If the Apollo program was to continue, Stuart and the Apollo 14 crew would need to get safely to the moon, land, and return. In writing about his father's career, Christopher Roosa also shows us a familial side of the Apollo experience, from the daily struggles of growing up in the shadow of a father who was necessarily away in training most of the year to the expectations involved in being an astronaut's son. Roosa's story shows the Apollo era was the result not only of thousands of scientists and engineers working steadfastly toward achieving an assassinated president's national goal but also the families who supported them and lived the missions in their own way. For more information about the book visit roosa.comTrade Review"Readers will appreciate Christopher Roosa’s memories and walk away from the book with admiration both for him and his father."—Tyler Peterson, H-Sci-Med-Tech"Oklahoman Stuart Roosa would be proud that his son took time to let the world know what it was like in those exciting years to be the son of Apollo."—Bill Moore, Chronicles of Oklahoma“U.S. Marine Corps Reserve colonel Christopher Roosa provides a unique view of the Apollo program from the perspective of an astronaut’s child. This book belongs on the shelf of everyone who revered the space program, as well as the values we seek to emulate from it within our families.”—Stephen M. Ryan, general counsel to Sen. John Glenn, who flew on Friendship 7 and space shuttle Discovery (STS-95)“Australia has played a role in NASA’s programs since Apollo 14, with Phil Chapman on the support team. But space has always been about not only the astronauts but their families. Now a pilot’s son reflects on those heady days from the perspective of the children and the families. A great read.”—Paul Scully-Power, Australia’s first astronaut, who flew on space shuttle Challenger (STS-41-G)“Having had my own children witness what it was like in those days of the Apollo program, it’s great that Christopher Roosa has written a story from the viewpoint of those who had a seat at the table. He shares family stories that only someone growing up during the Apollo program would know. An interesting read for space enthusiasts and those with gun and outdoor interests.”—Maj. Gen. Bill Anders, U.S. Air Force Reserve, lunar module pilot on Apollo 8“Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa was an accomplished test pilot and smoke jumper whose career took him to the moon, where he spent a day and a half completely alone in lunar orbit. He observed and photographed the moon with a detail no human had ever before captured. His early death in the last century robbed us of many firsthand insights. Yet only a family member can tell us what it was truly like to be around a lunar explorer—not only during their NASA glory years but also when faced with the question every moon voyager faced when returning to Earth: what do they do next?”—Francis French, space historian and editor of Apollo Pilot: The Memoir of Astronaut Donn EiseleTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Preface Prologue 1. The Launch of Apollo 14 2. The Roosa Family 3. Growing Up in Claremore 4. Life after Claremore 5. Flight Training 6. The Barrett Family 7. Meeting My Mother 8. Early Family Life 9. Houston, Texas 10. Getting on a Flight 11. Apollo Casualties 12. Pastimes 13. Apollo 11 14. Apollo 13 15. Apollo 14 16. Moon Trees 17. The Country Western Tapes 18. Postflight 19. Tales from the Road 20. Apollo Launches 21. Astronaut Downtime 22. Growing Up after Apollo 14 23. The Apollo Groupie Scene 24. Apollo 17 25. Reflections of an Apollo Command Module Pilot 26. The Last Flight of Apollo 27. Leaving NASA 28. My Father’s Passing Epilogue

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Nuila’s storytelling gifts place him alongside colleagues like Atul Gawande.” —Los Angeles Times This “compelling mixture of health care policy and gripping stories from the frontlines of medicine” (The Guardian) explores the question: where does an uninsured person go when turned away by hospitals, clinics, and doctors?Here, we follow the lives of five uninsured Houstonians as their struggle for survival leads them to a hospital that prioritizes people over profit. First, we meet Stephen, the restaurant franchise manager who signed up for his company’s lowest priced plan, only to find himself facing insurmountable costs after a cancer diagnosis. Then Christian—a young college student and retail worker who can’t seem to get an accurate diagnosis, let alone treatment, for his debilitating knee pain. Geronimo, thirty-six years old, has liver failure, but his meager disability check disquali

Read more less

Book Synopsis“An exciting insider’s look at Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo . . . NASA’s internal politics, disasters, glitches and close calls” by a pioneering astronaut (Publishers Weekly). Gordon “Gordo” Cooper was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, pilot for Apollo X, head of flight crew operations for the United States’ first orbiting space station, and the last American to venture into space alone. Stretching from the dawning days of NASA to the far reaches of the unknown, Cooper’s distinguished career as a record-setting astronaut helped shape America’s space program and blazed a trail for generations to come. In this astonishing memoir—written with #1 New York Times bestseller Bruce Henderson—Cooper crosses paths with such aviation luminaries as Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, and German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun; he shares his early days at Edwards Air Force Base and the endeavors that became the basis for The Right Stuff; he takes us inside NASA with candid accounts of his defeats and accomplishments; he reflects on the triumphs and tragedies of his heroic colleagues; and he finally reveals the reasons behind his belief in extraterrestrial intelligence, including the US military’s long-standing UFO cover-ups. Buckle yourself in for a breathtaking ride because in Leap of Faith, Gordon Cooper takes readers to places they’ve never been before. Trade Review“For ages, man had dreamed of traveling to the moon. In Leap of Faith, Gordon Cooper tells the remarkable and interesting story of how it was accomplished.” —Des Moines Register “[Cooper] draws on his background as an astronaut to bolster his persuasively argued position that, whatever UFO’s may actually be, a policy of cover-up and obfuscation isn’t going to help turn them into IFO’s—identified flying objects. Full of tasty nuggets for space and ufology buffs.” —Booklist Table of Contents Dedication Prologue 1 We Seven 2 Liftoff 3 Bringing Her Home 4 “Gordon Cooper’s UFOs” 5 Amelia, Pancho, and Dad 6 Back to Space 7 Cosmonauts and Deepest Africa 8 “Our Germans Are Better Than Their Germans” 9 “There’s a Fire in Here!” 10 Reaching the Moon and Losing Mars 11 Stumbling Across History 12 UFOs at the United Nations 13 Flying Saucers: Made in the USA 14 Help From the Cosmos? 15 The Space Shuttle Transmission 16 Tesla: Twentieth-Century Genius 17 Reservation for an Alien Saucer Ride 18 Windows in Time and Space Epilogue Farewell to a Buddy Image Gallery Index About the Authors

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1857 Henry David Thoreau moved to a small cabin in the woods near Walden Pond where he lived as a recluse from society for just over two years. In his time of self-prescribed isolation, Thoreau recorded his daily routine and reflections in an effort to get away from the noise brought about by a mainstream society. His work became one of the most influential American literary works of all time. Thoreau’s daily journal entries became the foundation for one of the most well-known works of Transcendental philosophy to this day. Published as one title, Walden is a quasi-memoir and naturalist manifesto that has withstood the test of time. The work continues to inspire generations to switch it up, unplug, and revert to the higher calling of nature.

Read more less