And you still think you want to be a doctor? (Trust Me, I'm a Junior Doctor - Max Pemberton)

Member Name: ais2

Product:	Trust Me, I'm a Junior Doctor - Max Pemberton
Date:	12/07/09 (6 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Realistic, well-written and to the point

Disadvantages: Can't really think of any.

If you read the back of this book, it gives the impression it's going to be a barrel of laughs but that doesn't really give the full picture. Don't get me wrong, much of it is very funny but a lot of it is actually quite dark and would be terrifying if you were a medical student (or a patient for that matter). Having said that, it's largely this mixture that makes it such a good book because it shows the reality of life as a junior doctor rather than the life or death ER style glamour. This book charts the day to day life of a junior doctor in the first year after qualification. These guys have to work ridiculously hard and it's a job that inevitably takes over your life. A lot of the best bits of the book are the bits outside the hospital that reflect the stupid day-to-day trivial issues that he has to deal with, such as having a dirty washing crisis because you've spent your weekend sleeping off the previous week. It also gives great descriptions of some of the "characters" that you come across in the hospital ecosystem.

All in all, a great if surprisingly depressing book. Hopefully it'll make people more sympathetic to the on-the-verge-of-breakdown juniors they meet next time they're in hospital and I think it's a must for anyone thinking of applying for medicine. The major role of this book though was probably therapy for the author!

Summary: A funny but bleak insight into the life of the dogsbodies of the ward