{"product_id":"fighting-for-life-9780241504345","title":"Fighting for Life","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the author of \u003ci\u003eWhy We Get the Wrong Politicians\u003c\/i\u003e, a gripping, provocative exploration of the NHS, told through the most critical moments in its 75-year history\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''The book the NHS has always deserved'' \u003c\/b\u003eAndrew Marr\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Funny, intelligent and so beautifully written . . . a much-needed book'' \u003c\/b\u003eChris van Tulleken\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Brilliant'' \u003c\/b\u003eAdam Kay\u003cbr\u003e________________\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince its foundation in 1948, the NHS has come to define our national identity; it even topped the what makes Britain great poll in 2022. It has made history (and the headlines) again and again - from cutting edge discoveries like the first ''test tube baby'', to its heroic response to the Coronavirus crisis. But the NHS has also become a battleground for some of the fiercest political contests of our time, perceived either as a national treasure, or as a lumbering piece of state machinery in need of renovation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eFighting for Life\u003c\/i\u003e, bestselling journalist Isab\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ecompelling, deftly constructed \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003epowerfully told \u003c\/b\u003enarrative . . . Hardman is a \u003cb\u003emeticulous \u003c\/b\u003ejournalist with a \u003cb\u003egift for storytelling. Necessary reading\u003c\/b\u003e -- Rafael Behr * Guardian *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTerrific \u003c\/b\u003e. . . Every aspect of this history is \u003cb\u003einformed and beautifully written\u003c\/b\u003e -- Alan Johnson * Observer, Book of the Week *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eVivid and fascinating\u003c\/b\u003e, this is a \u003cb\u003ebeautifully cogent, balanced and human\u003c\/b\u003e biography of a health service haunted by its own mythology . . . Hardman is \u003cb\u003eimpressively even-handed and unsentimental\u003c\/b\u003e -- Melanie Reid * The Times, Book of the Week *\u003cbr\u003eIt has by far \u003cb\u003ethe best analysis of where the health service came from, and where it's going\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003efull of excellent stories\u003c\/b\u003e -- Karol Sikora * The Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrilliant\u003c\/b\u003e -- Adam Kay * author of This is Going to Hurt and Undoctored *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePassionate, deeply researched and page-turningly full of good stories, this is so good one is tempted to say it is the book the NHS has always deserved\u003c\/b\u003e -- Andrew Marr\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is a sensational and much-needed book: funny, intelligent and so beautifully written that it doesn't read like normal non-fiction . . . thorough, scholarly and above all readable\u003c\/b\u003e -- Chris van Tulleken\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ekaleidoscopic \u003c\/b\u003ehistory of the NHS -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman *\u003cbr\u003eHardman's writing is breezily \u003cb\u003eaccessible\u003c\/b\u003e, and her \u003cb\u003edeeply researched\u003c\/b\u003e book is \u003cb\u003efull of colourful vignettes \u003c\/b\u003eand an \u003cb\u003eenjoyable spice of gossip\u003c\/b\u003e . . . she is particularly good at locating the NHS within the wider social movements that have changed British life over the 75 years of its existence -- Sarah Neville * Financial Times *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ebrilliantly written\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eengrossing \u003c\/b\u003ebiography of the NHS . . . \u003cb\u003ecompelling \u003c\/b\u003eand even-handed -- Kate Womersley * The Spectator *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003esuperb, rollercoaster account \u003c\/b\u003eof the NHS . . . This \u003cb\u003ecompletely riveting and scrupulously researched\u003c\/b\u003e book shows how, just like its patients, the NHS sways precariously between money, morality and mortality, and trust, trauma and triumph -- Juliet Nicolson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA compelling thriller\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003ci\u003eFighting for Life\u003c\/i\u003e provides \u003cb\u003evivid and urgently needed \u003c\/b\u003econtext to the familiar daily news stories about the crises in the NHS -- Steve Richards\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA must-read\u003c\/b\u003e for anyone interested in how the NHS started and why we have ended up where we are. \u003cb\u003eA\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003ethoroughly fascinating, comprehensive and critical analysis\u003c\/b\u003e -- Dr Ranj Singh\u003cbr\u003eA\u003cb\u003e fascinating, insightful and forensic history\u003c\/b\u003e of the NHS by a journalist who understands the politics as well as the policy of the health service. \u003cb\u003eEssential reading\u003c\/b\u003e -- Rachel Sylvester\u003cbr\u003eThis \u003cb\u003eremarkable and immensely readable\u003c\/b\u003e book looks back at the highs and lows of the NHS's first 75 years, and asks critical questions about its future. \u003cb\u003eThought-provoking, despairing, eye-opening, and inspiring \u003c\/b\u003ein equal measure -- Sir David Haslam\u003cbr\u003eHardman provides an \u003cb\u003eadmirable \u003c\/b\u003eaccount of the struggles of the [health service] . . . She is\u003cb\u003e lucid, fair and unpolemical\u003c\/b\u003e -- Andrew Gimson * Conservative Home *\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48864274022743,"sku":"9780241504345","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780241504345.jpg?v=1722271184","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/fighting-for-life-9780241504345","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}