Abstract
How would you rate this book? (5 star means excellent book useful for all GPs in training – a must have item; 1 star means poor book that you would not buy yourself)
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From the Descartian pineal body to the delicate functioning of the ophthalmic chambers, this book charts the intricacies of the human condition through the vista of an observant medic and seasoned traveller. Drawing on his experiences from neurosurgery trainee to Antarctic physician, we journey through Dr Gavin Francis’ life and training so far, peppered with beautiful language, quotes and vignettes from patients he has encountered.
Now a GP in Edinburgh, Dr Francis enlightens us as to us how his love of geography blossomed into studies of anatomical landmarks, the roving contours of the body’s blood vessels mirroring the complex network of roads on a map. He marvels at the mastery of both fields, as the in-depth study of our own frames allows us to discover their secrets.
What is good about this book?
From the seemingly ‘mundane’ heart-warming stories, which he admits are some of his favourites, to the excitement of neuro-lobectomy for epilepsy, the anecdotes bring to life what could be a dry subject. We discover his excitement kindled by his university anatomy teaching, ‘I was nineteen years old when I first held a human brain. Its surface was slippery and smooth, like an algae-covered stone pulled from a riverbed. I had a terror of dropping it and seeing its tight contours burst open on the tiled floor.’
Look out for the poetry, quotes, artwork, X-rays and anatomical diagrams interspersed through the book, as well as thorough explanations of phenomena, such as forehead sparing in a ‘beautiful palsy … Frontalis is the exception: both sides of the brain can operate the nerve on each side. If a stroke knocks the function of one hemisphere, victims continue to be able to raise both eyebrows, but if a nerve on one side stops working then the muscle becomes paralysed.’
This book definitely draws you in, leaving you wanting more and asking when the next is to be published. At present, there are two prequels – Empire Antarctica: Ice, Silence & Emperor Penguins, which won the Scottish Book of the Year Award, and True North: Travels in Arctic Europe. The language is fantastic as well, for instance describing a cataract operation, ‘as if rolling a calzone pizza’.
What is bad about this book?
It is probably not for the faint-hearted, with descriptions of a messy suicide, angor animi – the anguish of the soul, the sequelae of sexual abuse and bloody Saturday night-shifts in A&E. Likewise, there are a good share of deaths in the books – not all the tales have happy endings. From serious liver failure and lung tumours, to road traffic accidents and his time in the military, Dr Francis does not shy away from the grittier aspects of living.
The book is rich in erudite background, from the creation of the new psychiatric hospitals to the Greek Iliad and the Biblical story of Jacob. Some may find it leans too heavily towards the historical at the expense of more modern references. Although it is aimed at the general public and is eminently readable, there is perhaps a danger of ‘information overload’. However, despite the references to local characters that some readers may recognise, it is not elitist or inaccessible.
Overall, this is a fascinating book, packed with spellbinding cases (read the descriptions on ‘pump-head’ after cardio-pulmonary bypass in Chapter 7 with the accompanying poem by Robin Robertson), wide-ranging knowledge and palpable passion. It will inspire, educate and entertain you simultaneously – what more could you ask for?