War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line

Written by David Nott

Narrated by David Nott

For more than twenty-five years, David Nott has taken unpaid leave from his job as a general and vascular
surgeon with the NHS to volunteer in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. From Sarajevo under siege
in 1993, to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out life-saving operations in the most
challenging conditions.

Driven both by the desire to help others and the thrill of extreme personal danger, he is widely acknowledged to
be the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world, experience he now passes on to other doctors, so that they too
can save lives threatened by bombs and bullets.

War Doctor is his extraordinary story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980054634

David Nott

Dr. David Nott is Associate Professor of Statistics at the National University of Singapore. His research focuses on Bayesian likelihood-free inference and other approximate inference methods, and on complex Bayesian nonparametric models.

Reviews for War Doctor

[aadyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very enthralling ana well written account of a consultant surgeons battles, not only with others, but within himself, in areas of conflict and catastrophe. Gripping and discursive, patient discussing and technically not too challenging this is a great memoir. Advised for medics, surgeons and the general public.

[breic-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A bit over the top and very self congratulatory (the epilogue, written by his admiring wife, really should have been cut out). While we learn Nott's inner thoughts, there are almost no conversations. We learn almost nothing about Nott's coworkers, usually not even their names. Instead we get clinical, and to me largely incomprehensible, descriptions of surgery after surgery. It isn't terrible, but it could have been much stronger. > I felt elated, exhilarated, euphoric. I had never felt more alive; it was as if I had been reborn. I had come close to being killed, but that only made it more exciting. If I could cope with this, I thought, I could cope with anything. Sarajevo was my first taste of this, and I knew I wanted more. It was a strange mix of altruism, wanting to help others, and pure selfishness – chasing the high of intervening to save lives, but also of living my own life closer to the edge.> The taxi-drivers in Yemen were lunatics. It was only really safe to take a taxi first thing in the morning, because after mid-morning they'd all be high as kites on khat, a leaf that when chewed releases chemicals similar to amphetamines. They'd take a wad of khat and tuck it into their cheek, chewing on it for hours on end. By lunchtime their driving was completely erratic and twice as fast as it had been earlier.> I was on my own in the world, with no parents, no siblings, no wife, no children and no dependents. In the grand scheme of things, it didn't much matter whether I lived or died; at least I would be doing something that I loved, and I might even save this girl in the process. I made a conscious decision to stay.> David embodies the truly heroic, if we will but allow our heroes the vulnerability and humanity that make them real people.

[celerydog_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting insight into what made Nott the man he is. He was brought up by traditional, Welsh-speaking grandparents, who gave him the love and care he needed to flourish. His precocious intelligence and a love of living on the edge: his hobbies of flying and fast cars as well as his work in war zones clearly illustrated his roots and his almost addictive adrenaline rushes. Some detailed explanations of surgery that I skimmed over. Great portrayal of the close friendships Nott forms with the Syrian medics. Improves after the first few chapters which exposed minimal empathy with anyone he came across. I salute the work he has done in improving knowledge and sharing of work practice in war zones and the establishment of his charity.Highly enjoyable discussion at book club. Recommended.