A series of anecdotes, such as are included in Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman, shouldn't by rights add up to an autobiography, but that's just one of the many pieces of received wisdom that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (1918-88) cheerfully ignores in this engagingly eccentric book. Fiercely independent (read the chapter entitled "Judging Books by Their Covers"), intolerant of stupidity even when it comes packaged as high intellectualism (check out "Is Electricity Fire?"), unafraid to offend (see "You Just Ask Them?"), Feynman informs by entertaining. It's possible to enjoy Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman, a bestseller ever since its initial publication in 1985, simply as a bunch of hilarious yarns with the author as know-it-all hero. At some point, however, attentive readers realise that underneath all the merriment simmers a running commentary on what constitutes authentic knowledge: learning by understanding, not by rote; refusal to give up on seemingly insoluble problems, and total disrespect for fancy ideas that have no grounding in the real world. Feynman himself had all these qualities in spades, and they come through with vigour and verve in his no-bull prose. No wonder his students--and readers around the world--adored him. --Wendy Smith

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Gently dismantling the myth of medical infallibility, Dr Atul Gawande's Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is essential reading for anyone involved in medicine--on either end of the stethoscope. Medical professionals make mistakes, learn on the job and improvise much of their technique and self-confidence. Gawande's tales are humane and passionate reminders that doctors are people, too. His prose is thoughtful and deeply engaging, shifting from sometimes-painful stories of suffering patients (including his own child) to intriguing suggestions for improving medicine with the same care he expresses in the surgical theatre. Some of his ideas will make health-care providers nervous or even angry, but his disarming style, confessional tone and thoughtful arguments should win over most readers. Complications is a book with heart and an excellent bedside manner, celebrating rather than berating doctors for being merely human. --Rob Lightner

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Highly Reccomended, 24 Mar 2008
While the author occasionally falls into old medical clichés and his conclusions may be predictable this is still an insightful and wonderfully readable book. The author, a surgical resident in America, discusses various topics of relevance to those both in and out of the medical profession. He considers the nature of medical teaching, autonomy, mistakes and mysteries. Particularly thought provoking are his reflections on how doctors learn. Experienced doctors are in society's interest and experience is only gained through practise. However on an individual level it's not in ones interest to have someone practise upon you. The author illustrates this in examples from his own life in discussing the treatment of his young sons congenital heart defect.

The articles are well written and well researched, he has achieved an ideal balance between scholarship and accessibility which means even the seasoned doctor has much to learn and ponder upon after reading the book. After reading this book I'm incredibly eager to read the next volume of his essays.


Absolutely superb, 19 Sep 2007
I have worked in medical devices (implants for orthopaedics (hips and kness) and general surgery (bums and tums)) for over 20 years so know a little about surgery, and saw this book on a browsing trip on Amazon, and impulsively thought I might enjoy it.

If you have the remotest interest in surgery then you must read it. It's written in a very readable style (slight irritation of US spellings!!) and with the use of case studies, I found it almost un-put-downable!

I think Gawande leaves the best till last (I won't spoil it for you) and this case was particularly relevant as one of the products I have worked with has been used successfully in a similar case.

I learned a lot about surgery, medicine, surgeons and the difficulties that exist that I suspect most of us wouldn't consider.

An excellent thought provoking book - loved it!




View from a non medic, 28 May 2007
This is a fascinating book of great insight and honesty.
Everyone should read it!

Complications, 09 Jan 2006
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.

Amazing, 04 Jan 2006
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Highly Reccomended, 24 Mar 2008
While the author occasionally falls into old medical clichés and his conclusions may be predictable this is still an insightful and wonderfully readable book. The author, a surgical resident in America, discusses various topics of relevance to those both in and out of the medical profession. He considers the nature of medical teaching, autonomy, mistakes and mysteries. Particularly thought provoking are his reflections on how doctors learn. Experienced doctors are in society's interest and experience is only gained through practise. However on an individual level it's not in ones interest to have someone practise upon you. The author illustrates this in examples from his own life in discussing the treatment of his young sons congenital heart defect.

The articles are well written and well researched, he has achieved an ideal balance between scholarship and accessibility which means even the seasoned doctor has much to learn and ponder upon after reading the book. After reading this book I'm incredibly eager to read the next volume of his essays.


Absolutely superb, 19 Sep 2007
I have worked in medical devices (implants for orthopaedics (hips and kness) and general surgery (bums and tums)) for over 20 years so know a little about surgery, and saw this book on a browsing trip on Amazon, and impulsively thought I might enjoy it.

If you have the remotest interest in surgery then you must read it. It's written in a very readable style (slight irritation of US spellings!!) and with the use of case studies, I found it almost un-put-downable!

I think Gawande leaves the best till last (I won't spoil it for you) and this case was particularly relevant as one of the products I have worked with has been used successfully in a similar case.

I learned a lot about surgery, medicine, surgeons and the difficulties that exist that I suspect most of us wouldn't consider.

An excellent thought provoking book - loved it!




View from a non medic, 28 May 2007
This is a fascinating book of great insight and honesty.
Everyone should read it!

Complications, 09 Jan 2006
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.

Amazing, 04 Jan 2006
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.

It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc


Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made

Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.

Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.

Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."

If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.

And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)

The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.




Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.

unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.

Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Highly Reccomended, 24 Mar 2008
While the author occasionally falls into old medical clichés and his conclusions may be predictable this is still an insightful and wonderfully readable book. The author, a surgical resident in America, discusses various topics of relevance to those both in and out of the medical profession. He considers the nature of medical teaching, autonomy, mistakes and mysteries. Particularly thought provoking are his reflections on how doctors learn. Experienced doctors are in society's interest and experience is only gained through practise. However on an individual level it's not in ones interest to have someone practise upon you. The author illustrates this in examples from his own life in discussing the treatment of his young sons congenital heart defect.

The articles are well written and well researched, he has achieved an ideal balance between scholarship and accessibility which means even the seasoned doctor has much to learn and ponder upon after reading the book. After reading this book I'm incredibly eager to read the next volume of his essays.


Absolutely superb, 19 Sep 2007
I have worked in medical devices (implants for orthopaedics (hips and kness) and general surgery (bums and tums)) for over 20 years so know a little about surgery, and saw this book on a browsing trip on Amazon, and impulsively thought I might enjoy it.

If you have the remotest interest in surgery then you must read it. It's written in a very readable style (slight irritation of US spellings!!) and with the use of case studies, I found it almost un-put-downable!

I think Gawande leaves the best till last (I won't spoil it for you) and this case was particularly relevant as one of the products I have worked with has been used successfully in a similar case.

I learned a lot about surgery, medicine, surgeons and the difficulties that exist that I suspect most of us wouldn't consider.

An excellent thought provoking book - loved it!




View from a non medic, 28 May 2007
This is a fascinating book of great insight and honesty.
Everyone should read it!

Complications, 09 Jan 2006
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.

Amazing, 04 Jan 2006
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.

It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc


Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made

Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.

Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.

Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."

If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.

And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)

The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.




Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.

unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.

Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.

An incredible adventure and a most enjoyable read, 28 May 2008
One of the amazing things about the voyage of the Beagle is that Darwin survived it! On the voyage south along the eastern coast of South America and then later on the western coast he would frequently take to the land and meet the Beagle at its next port of call further south or north. He would travel the land hiring gauchos or other guides and horses and mules so that he could study the geology and the flora and fauna. The hardships and dangers he encountered and survived would in some ways put Indiana Jones to shame. In Patagonia amidst the constant gaucho and Indian wars, rife with wanton bloodshed and a kind of genocidal determinism, Darwin rode on horseback and slept on the ground and ate mostly animal flesh of all kinds, including mare's flesh. In Tierra del Fuego the cold and barren lands were enormously forbidding, the inhabitants savage and the dangers very real. One senses in the young Charles Darwin a determination to be the kind of naturalist who leaves no stone unturned, no ridge unclimbed and no species uncollected.

What most surprised me was how well and vibrantly he described the many people he met. Here he speaks of the governor of St. Fe: his "favourite occupation is hunting Indians: a short time since he slaughtered forty-eight, and sold the children at the rate of three or four pounds apiece" (from the entry of Oct 3 and 4, 1832). And here is his description of Queen Pomarre of Tahiti: "The queen is a large awkward woman, without any beauty, grace or dignity. She has only one royal attribute: a perfect immovability of expression under all circumstances" (entry of November 25, 1835). Darwin was quite taken with the Tahitians lauding their sobriety (thanks to the temperance movement of the missionaries) while at the same time bringing a flask of spirits on his travels there. He seemed unaware of any inconsistency.

I was also surprised by Darwin's vigor. I had thought that he was prone to being sickly, and indeed at times, he reports that he was confined to his quarters and that he suffered from seasickness and even homesickness; but when one considers all the miles he travelled on foot, on horseback, and all the mountain peaks he obtained, and the deserts he crossed, the many insects bites he endured, and the hard, cold and wet ground on which he often slept, one has to applaud his strength of body and character. Another surprise was the amount of time he devoted to geology and speculations about the how the land came to be the way he found it. When he spoke of how the land had risen and the mountains formed I had the sense of how thrilled he would have been to have had the modern understanding of plate tectonics.

At a couple of points in the narrative, Darwin speaks of how the most luxurious vegetation does not support the greatest number of animals, or the largest. He compares the plains of Africa and Patagonia with the Brazilian rainforest and speculates on why this should be. At no point does he use the term "grasslands," and so I think we can conclude that he didn't have the knowledge we have today about how fertile grasslands can be, nor did he realize that most of the nutrients in the rain forest are contained within the living plants and organisms above ground leaving the soil relatively poor compared to grassland soil. In the entry for September 15, 1832, he writes: "In grassy plains unoccupied by the larger ruminating quadrupeds, it seems necessary to remove the superfluous vegetation by fire, so as to render the new year's growth serviceable."

Another bit of modern knowledge that would have pleased him to know is that the marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands cannot just jump into the very cold water that exists there but must warm themselves first, and even then can only stand the water for a limited period of time (an hour or two, I believe). Darwin kept tossing one of the lizards into the water only to watch it return inexplicably again and again to the land.

I was looking for hints that Darwin was already thinking about natural selection, but the text contains nothing that I could find that is directly specific although at one point he refers to the origin of species as that "mystery of mysteries."

The book was written (and obviously rewritten and polished many times over) after Darwin returned to England after comparing notes with other naturalists. The advantage of this approach is the scientific rigor with which he is able to describe and evaluate his experiences. As a professional scientist, Darwin wanted to get all the scientific names right and avoid errors. One would expect through this approach that some immediacy would be lost, but if anything I suspect his journal gained in vividness and was made all the more intriguing for the precision of expression. It is, after all these years, still a most engaging and readable account of a most remarkable adventure--one of the best I've ever read, and I am surprised that it took me so many years to get to it!

The Voyage of the Beagle is also a book that will stay in print for many decades if not centuries to come, partly because it is so well written, and partly because Darwin is Darwin, but also because he was so precise in his descriptions of the animals and the people and the lands that he visited. By reading this we and future generations can learn of the changes that have taken place.

In short I was thoroughly dazzled at Darwin's enormously wide range of knowledge. But I shouldn't have been. In just reading this journal, one can easily see that young Mr. Darwin was already a superb naturalist and a brilliant thinker and observer.


Poor audio reading of a great book!, 08 May 2008
Let me stress that my criticism is about the audio version (Unabridged Classics) of the book, not about the book itself (I wish Amazon would stop lumping reviews of audio books with the paper versions!). The voice in this recording is not only soporific; it is effete and effeminate to a degree. It would probably sound right in an Oscar Wilde or P.G. Wodehouse play, but it is fully out of character both with Darwin and his subject, ie exploration and scientific field work. In the future I will only buy abridged audio versions. Because they require some investment in reworking the original, abridged versions stand a better chance of turning out good than cover-to-cover readings, which can be produced just by "outsourcing" the book to anyone willing to read it aloud in front of a microphone.

Darwin and the Beagle Journey!, 31 Jul 2007
Charles Darwin's travels around the world as a 'gentleman' naturalist on HMS Beagle between 1831 and 1836 impressed upon him a sense of the natural world's beauty which he captures in a superlative descriptive narrative. He takes you on a journey along the coasts and interiors of South America and through the Pacific to the South Sea Islands. It displays Darwin's highly intuitive mind at work as he conceptualises the complex relations between our earth's life forms and its environment that leads him to his hypothesis of natural selection.

Whilst I enjoyed Darwin's descriptive narrative immensely I feel quite disappointed overall. I did not particularly like the journal layout of the book and the lack of detail about the actual sailing journey...though this was to be expected. In addition I read this as a layman naturalist and wish my entry level knowledge could have done the book better justice. Overall though a satisfying read.


a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and anumals and plants), 24 Feb 2007
a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and animals and plants)

This book is great.
I bought this book because I remembered the old TV series of the eighties. I expected a book with the aventures of the journey, but it is much more. It is more than the obervations of zoology and geology, it is mainly about the people, about the cultures that Darwin finds in South America and how he, as a modern European perceived the new independent South-American and native indians, their culture, their customs. With great objectivity, more than what would have today an ordinary tourist, Darwin depicts the way people live, the political and social issues, their superstitions, their food, their missery. And little by little Darwin gives his personal thoughts on everything from social to science issues.

Darwin's writing is clear and modern, full of wisdom and very personal. This edition of the ModernLibrary is very nice, the text has a decent size, the paper is fine and the cover too. Enjoy.

You can't tell me he wasn't having fun, 27 Nov 2003
Remember this says "Journal" and that is what it is. It is his first parson adventures on and off the Beagle. He even includes stories about the people on the ship, the ship's life, and maintenance. He is always going ashore and venturing beyond the ship charter to go where no Englishman has gone before. He makes friends with tyrants and the down trodden. Once, to get an animal to come to him, he lay on his back and waved his arms and legs in the air. Whatever you do, do not turn your back on him. He is always knocking something on the head and taking it back for study. It is fun trying to match the old names for places with the new.

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Highly Reccomended, 24 Mar 2008
While the author occasionally falls into old medical clichés and his conclusions may be predictable this is still an insightful and wonderfully readable book. The author, a surgical resident in America, discusses various topics of relevance to those both in and out of the medical profession. He considers the nature of medical teaching, autonomy, mistakes and mysteries. Particularly thought provoking are his reflections on how doctors learn. Experienced doctors are in society's interest and experience is only gained through practise. However on an individual level it's not in ones interest to have someone practise upon you. The author illustrates this in examples from his own life in discussing the treatment of his young sons congenital heart defect.

The articles are well written and well researched, he has achieved an ideal balance between scholarship and accessibility which means even the seasoned doctor has much to learn and ponder upon after reading the book. After reading this book I'm incredibly eager to read the next volume of his essays.


Absolutely superb, 19 Sep 2007
I have worked in medical devices (implants for orthopaedics (hips and kness) and general surgery (bums and tums)) for over 20 years so know a little about surgery, and saw this book on a browsing trip on Amazon, and impulsively thought I might enjoy it.

If you have the remotest interest in surgery then you must read it. It's written in a very readable style (slight irritation of US spellings!!) and with the use of case studies, I found it almost un-put-downable!

I think Gawande leaves the best till last (I won't spoil it for you) and this case was particularly relevant as one of the products I have worked with has been used successfully in a similar case.

I learned a lot about surgery, medicine, surgeons and the difficulties that exist that I suspect most of us wouldn't consider.

An excellent thought provoking book - loved it!




View from a non medic, 28 May 2007
This is a fascinating book of great insight and honesty.
Everyone should read it!

Complications, 09 Jan 2006
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.

Amazing, 04 Jan 2006
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.

It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc


Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made

Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.

Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.

Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."

If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.

And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)

The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.




Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.

unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.

Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.

An incredible adventure and a most enjoyable read, 28 May 2008
One of the amazing things about the voyage of the Beagle is that Darwin survived it! On the voyage south along the eastern coast of South America and then later on the western coast he would frequently take to the land and meet the Beagle at its next port of call further south or north. He would travel the land hiring gauchos or other guides and horses and mules so that he could study the geology and the flora and fauna. The hardships and dangers he encountered and survived would in some ways put Indiana Jones to shame. In Patagonia amidst the constant gaucho and Indian wars, rife with wanton bloodshed and a kind of genocidal determinism, Darwin rode on horseback and slept on the ground and ate mostly animal flesh of all kinds, including mare's flesh. In Tierra del Fuego the cold and barren lands were enormously forbidding, the inhabitants savage and the dangers very real. One senses in the young Charles Darwin a determination to be the kind of naturalist who leaves no stone unturned, no ridge unclimbed and no species uncollected.

What most surprised me was how well and vibrantly he described the many people he met. Here he speaks of the governor of St. Fe: his "favourite occupation is hunting Indians: a short time since he slaughtered forty-eight, and sold the children at the rate of three or four pounds apiece" (from the entry of Oct 3 and 4, 1832). And here is his description of Queen Pomarre of Tahiti: "The queen is a large awkward woman, without any beauty, grace or dignity. She has only one royal attribute: a perfect immovability of expression under all circumstances" (entry of November 25, 1835). Darwin was quite taken with the Tahitians lauding their sobriety (thanks to the temperance movement of the missionaries) while at the same time bringing a flask of spirits on his travels there. He seemed unaware of any inconsistency.

I was also surprised by Darwin's vigor. I had thought that he was prone to being sickly, and indeed at times, he reports that he was confined to his quarters and that he suffered from seasickness and even homesickness; but when one considers all the miles he travelled on foot, on horseback, and all the mountain peaks he obtained, and the deserts he crossed, the many insects bites he endured, and the hard, cold and wet ground on which he often slept, one has to applaud his strength of body and character. Another surprise was the amount of time he devoted to geology and speculations about the how the land came to be the way he found it. When he spoke of how the land had risen and the mountains formed I had the sense of how thrilled he would have been to have had the modern understanding of plate tectonics.

At a couple of points in the narrative, Darwin speaks of how the most luxurious vegetation does not support the greatest number of animals, or the largest. He compares the plains of Africa and Patagonia with the Brazilian rainforest and speculates on why this should be. At no point does he use the term "grasslands," and so I think we can conclude that he didn't have the knowledge we have today about how fertile grasslands can be, nor did he realize that most of the nutrients in the rain forest are contained within the living plants and organisms above ground leaving the soil relatively poor compared to grassland soil. In the entry for September 15, 1832, he writes: "In grassy plains unoccupied by the larger ruminating quadrupeds, it seems necessary to remove the superfluous vegetation by fire, so as to render the new year's growth serviceable."

Another bit of modern knowledge that would have pleased him to know is that the marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands cannot just jump into the very cold water that exists there but must warm themselves first, and even then can only stand the water for a limited period of time (an hour or two, I believe). Darwin kept tossing one of the lizards into the water only to watch it return inexplicably again and again to the land.

I was looking for hints that Darwin was already thinking about natural selection, but the text contains nothing that I could find that is directly specific although at one point he refers to the origin of species as that "mystery of mysteries."

The book was written (and obviously rewritten and polished many times over) after Darwin returned to England after comparing notes with other naturalists. The advantage of this approach is the scientific rigor with which he is able to describe and evaluate his experiences. As a professional scientist, Darwin wanted to get all the scientific names right and avoid errors. One would expect through this approach that some immediacy would be lost, but if anything I suspect his journal gained in vividness and was made all the more intriguing for the precision of expression. It is, after all these years, still a most engaging and readable account of a most remarkable adventure--one of the best I've ever read, and I am surprised that it took me so many years to get to it!

The Voyage of the Beagle is also a book that will stay in print for many decades if not centuries to come, partly because it is so well written, and partly because Darwin is Darwin, but also because he was so precise in his descriptions of the animals and the people and the lands that he visited. By reading this we and future generations can learn of the changes that have taken place.

In short I was thoroughly dazzled at Darwin's enormously wide range of knowledge. But I shouldn't have been. In just reading this journal, one can easily see that young Mr. Darwin was already a superb naturalist and a brilliant thinker and observer.


Poor audio reading of a great book!, 08 May 2008
Let me stress that my criticism is about the audio version (Unabridged Classics) of the book, not about the book itself (I wish Amazon would stop lumping reviews of audio books with the paper versions!). The voice in this recording is not only soporific; it is effete and effeminate to a degree. It would probably sound right in an Oscar Wilde or P.G. Wodehouse play, but it is fully out of character both with Darwin and his subject, ie exploration and scientific field work. In the future I will only buy abridged audio versions. Because they require some investment in reworking the original, abridged versions stand a better chance of turning out good than cover-to-cover readings, which can be produced just by "outsourcing" the book to anyone willing to read it aloud in front of a microphone.

Darwin and the Beagle Journey!, 31 Jul 2007
Charles Darwin's travels around the world as a 'gentleman' naturalist on HMS Beagle between 1831 and 1836 impressed upon him a sense of the natural world's beauty which he captures in a superlative descriptive narrative. He takes you on a journey along the coasts and interiors of South America and through the Pacific to the South Sea Islands. It displays Darwin's highly intuitive mind at work as he conceptualises the complex relations between our earth's life forms and its environment that leads him to his hypothesis of natural selection.

Whilst I enjoyed Darwin's descriptive narrative immensely I feel quite disappointed overall. I did not particularly like the journal layout of the book and the lack of detail about the actual sailing journey...though this was to be expected. In addition I read this as a layman naturalist and wish my entry level knowledge could have done the book better justice. Overall though a satisfying read.


a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and anumals and plants), 24 Feb 2007
a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and animals and plants)

This book is great.
I bought this book because I remembered the old TV series of the eighties. I expected a book with the aventures of the journey, but it is much more. It is more than the obervations of zoology and geology, it is mainly about the people, about the cultures that Darwin finds in South America and how he, as a modern European perceived the new independent South-American and native indians, their culture, their customs. With great objectivity, more than what would have today an ordinary tourist, Darwin depicts the way people live, the political and social issues, their superstitions, their food, their missery. And little by little Darwin gives his personal thoughts on everything from social to science issues.

Darwin's writing is clear and modern, full of wisdom and very personal. This edition of the ModernLibrary is very nice, the text has a decent size, the paper is fine and the cover too. Enjoy.

You can't tell me he wasn't having fun, 27 Nov 2003
Remember this says "Journal" and that is what it is. It is his first parson adventures on and off the Beagle. He even includes stories about the people on the ship, the ship's life, and maintenance. He is always going ashore and venturing beyond the ship charter to go where no Englishman has gone before. He makes friends with tyrants and the down trodden. Once, to get an animal to come to him, he lay on his back and waved his arms and legs in the air. Whatever you do, do not turn your back on him. He is always knocking something on the head and taking it back for study. It is fun trying to match the old names for places with the new.

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Values', with the resultant (extravagant) soliloquy on the 'Value' of 'Quality', when the author can't even work out how to relate to his own child (who having spent the majority of his formative years in apparent mental turmoil - brought on by the behaviour of the author, as described in this book - was murdered in San Francisco 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday)?

This book is just another example of self-indulgence sold off as enlightenment...

What's the point? There is NO point.


I need 7 stars!!! ----->-->--,--'--@, 11 Jul 2008
Yeah, I am not very good at writting reviews but there you go...

This book is the kind that you borrow, read almost twice, slowly, and then you have to buy it to finish reading it the second time! The adventure, the trip is not just any trip, sprinkled with philosophy, sense of humour, and mechanics. I must say, that I never owned a cycle, and I probably never will, they scare me to death! Although I secretly love see them go past, and I would have so much enjoyed a trip like this with this guy in a classic Harley!! Oh yeah! hehe

Also, the amount of laughter and food for thought in it, and the glow of the main character made me love him dearly very early in the book, is a very caring, sometimes moody character, but his heart is real gold in powder.
I needed to have this book with me, besides my bed at night, or wherever; it is a reminder of how good is to be human after all (with or without greasy hands) ;-P

Summarising LOL, is entertaining, relaxing, and very well written. It is not only a book, for me it has become a friend.




A "Da Vinci Code " for the 1970s, 07 Jul 2008
I read this years ago, when I was studying Greek and Latin literature and Philosophy at university, and dismissed it more or less out of hand.

Coming back to it as a 40 year old father (the same age as Pirsig was when he made the journey depicted in the novel with his son)I found much more to enjoy and be affected by in the story itself. There is no doubt that the theme of the alienated son and father being reunited recalls that of the Odyssey and is genuinely moving, if clumsily resolved.

As for the philosophy, well, Pirsig admits without any embarrassment in his 1999 introduction to the book that, at the time of writing, he thought, quite incorrectly, that Phaedrus means wolf in Classical Greek. If you can't deal with a word like wolf, you won't exaclty handle mythos, logos or the technical terms in philosophical writing. If someone who clearly has no Greek at all wishes to pass himself off as an authority on the Pre-Socratics, or Plato, or Aristotle, that is just a bit embarrassing, really, and tells you all you need to know about how seriously to take his views.

Therefore the book strikes me as a (very superior, admittedly) Da Vinci Code for its day - a good story ornamented with some specious learning, and none the worse for that, as long as it is not taken seriously.

If Pirsig wants us to walk away thinking we should apply ourselves to our work a bit more and generally try harder, that is no bad thing, and as he admits himself, nobody would disagree with the message, but don't go looking for any great secret of life here. It is just a nice book.

The hallmarks of a good read, but...., 25 May 2008
This appears to have all the hallmarks of a good read for me: I'm very interested in philosophy, psychology, travel (plus a bit of a hippie so I'm sure there's a latent Buddhist in me somewhere). However, after trying this twice - and putting it down both times, never to be picked up again - I just can't see what the hype is about and am left wondering who this book actually appeals to. There doesn't seem to be anything vivid, interesting, or gripping about it. One of those books that I wanted to like so much, but found incredibly disappointing. Over-rated.

Over Rated., 18 Jan 2008
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one!, 25 Aug 2008
Part physicist, part prankster, part musician, part teacher, part genius, part story teller, part little boy and all human being, this is the true story of Richard Feynman. He was a man with an insatiable curiosity, and had a zest to explore the world of physics, human nature and himself.

The stories in the book are funny, entertaining and enlightening. Feynman never got out of his box, because he never had one. From the gifted young boy who fixed radios by thinking to the top notch physicist who could explain concepts to laymen like no one else, Feynman was one of a kind.

Well worth the read!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide To: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I just don't understand, 31 Jul 2008
I just don't understand why this book recieves such good reviews? I found it a boring read - the type of stories that boring people try to regale you with whilst stuck on a train or other public places where escape from their witterings is hard.



hilarious and bizarre anecdotes, 31 Jul 2008
hilarious annotation of improbably bizarre but somehow believable happenings in the life of this extraordinary man

Mr Feynman, you are awful...but I like you!, 22 Jan 2008
What an interesting book! Richard Feynman was an acknowledged genius and this is not an autobiography in the normal sense. Compiled from a series of interviews set up for the purpose, Feynman's sense of fun and sheer joy of physics, maths and life in general shines through.

He is not shy in taking credit where it is due - he certainly "gets" things really quickly where others struggle - but is also surprisingly honest when describing his relationships for example and is quite happy to acknowledge the efforts made by others. This is an easy book to "dip" into and one can also sit down and devote significant time to it. Not only is this one of the best science books I have read it is one of the best biographies I have read full stop.

I can't help feeling that if you were to happen acros RF in a bar (and that would not be an unusual occurrence) you would find him a pleasant and interesting companion.


Clarity and Class, 07 Dec 2007
Reading this book is like suddenly being best friends with one of the most talented and inspiring personalities of the last century. The preface points out a very relevant fact--Feynman's remarkable observations and adventures enough to add colour to a hundred lives, and we are only given occasional glimpses of his day job. The depth of his personality and the fluidity of his mind shine through in this book, hopefully to help clear some cobwebs from within our own heads.

Very informative and entertaining, 31 Jul 2008
Great for car journeys, well produced, and lots of interesting stuff. Recommended for children 8 plus. My 10, 14 and 18 year old all enjoy these Naxos books, and so do their parents.
Well done naxos.

Excellent purchase, 06 Feb 2008
This audio CD book, alongside with other Naxos educational CDs for children, is absolutely fantastic. It contains loads of information, so adults' interest is guaranteed as well as children's fascination. It's a must for curious little minds. Presented in an easy listening format, it educates and enterntains at the same time. Boring car journeys became a highly enjoyable and educational experiences in our family since Naxos CDs were purchased. Being non-fiction, they can be listened to over and over again, offering a chance for the child to remember and/or understand more details each time.

Highly Reccomended, 24 Mar 2008
While the author occasionally falls into old medical clichés and his conclusions may be predictable this is still an insightful and wonderfully readable book. The author, a surgical resident in America, discusses various topics of relevance to those both in and out of the medical profession. He considers the nature of medical teaching, autonomy, mistakes and mysteries. Particularly thought provoking are his reflections on how doctors learn. Experienced doctors are in society's interest and experience is only gained through practise. However on an individual level it's not in ones interest to have someone practise upon you. The author illustrates this in examples from his own life in discussing the treatment of his young sons congenital heart defect.

The articles are well written and well researched, he has achieved an ideal balance between scholarship and accessibility which means even the seasoned doctor has much to learn and ponder upon after reading the book. After reading this book I'm incredibly eager to read the next volume of his essays.


Absolutely superb, 19 Sep 2007
I have worked in medical devices (implants for orthopaedics (hips and kness) and general surgery (bums and tums)) for over 20 years so know a little about surgery, and saw this book on a browsing trip on Amazon, and impulsively thought I might enjoy it.

If you have the remotest interest in surgery then you must read it. It's written in a very readable style (slight irritation of US spellings!!) and with the use of case studies, I found it almost un-put-downable!

I think Gawande leaves the best till last (I won't spoil it for you) and this case was particularly relevant as one of the products I have worked with has been used successfully in a similar case.

I learned a lot about surgery, medicine, surgeons and the difficulties that exist that I suspect most of us wouldn't consider.

An excellent thought provoking book - loved it!




View from a non medic, 28 May 2007
This is a fascinating book of great insight and honesty.
Everyone should read it!

Complications, 09 Jan 2006
I read this book the week before I started as a Consultant Surgeon in the UK. It is just the book for surgeons and their patients to read. The book inspires and at the same time shows man and medicine are not as realiable as machines but today until technology changes they are all we have and things do not always go as surgeons and their patients would wish and that is not necessarily anyones fault. The important word to describe the surgeon and his book is 'honest'.

Amazing, 04 Jan 2006
I am currently a medical student and we were recomended this book in one of our lectures and it is one of the most interesting books that I have read this last year. It has enough medical facts to keep someone who has some (though not a lot) of knowledge into medicine but not to much that it becomes unreadable to people without the medical back ground. It raises ethical issues aswell. I really enjoyed this book and will be recomending it to all my friends.

It is really like this....., 31 May 2007
Although it may be unpalatable to many, this is exactly what it was ( ?is) like to be junior doctor...I know i was one.
I'm now a consultant and things haven't changed much (other than for the worse)
Read it if you want to get a true perspective as opposed to the nonsense in Holby City, Casualty etc


Whilst you're at it take a look at the Cardiac Arrest series from the 90's now on DVD -- probaly the best hospital TV series ever made

Important reading for doctors in training, 20 Feb 2007
As a medical teacher I was keen to add my thoughts having
just read this book. Like other reviewers I found aspects of this book
negative, missing out a lot of the positive
points out about being a junior doctor.

Having said that there are some parts of the book which were very valuable.

Suicide among doctors is a real issue and it is vital all
doctors, particularly junior doctors, read the section on
pages 80-82; "Suicide is Painless". He writes; "So if
you're a doctor and you think it it's all over and your
whole world has gone irretrievably pear-shaped, I say
this: Bail out. Don't kill yourself. Leave your job. .....
Reclaim your life: have it over again. You're young.
You'll make new friends."

If you have issues relating to views on health service
managers, then read page 118.

And finally, a useful
quotation; "Accident and Emergency is the random anecdote
generator of the NHS, the strange attractor to which all
ridiculousness will gravitate." (Page 68)

The book is well worth a read, particularly for doctors in training.




Hilarious, 12 Dec 2005
This is the only book that tells it like it is about being a junior doctor in the UK. It's funny and dark. A must-read for all doctors and would-be doctors out there.

unrelentless ranting, 22 Mar 2005
This book is more or less a long, bitter rant. Now there are times when I like that kind of thing, but the negativity is overwhelming here, and incessant! There are some insights into life as a junior doctor to be gleaned if you are not a doctor and there is some (I think almost accidental) comment on real issues about the downsides of medical training. However I am in two minds as to whether I really learnt anything new or indeed if I enjoyed the read. This is a book to borrow from a friend or take out of the library, I don't think I'd buy it again though I am glad I read it.

Humorous to Cynical in 60 seconds, 30 Oct 2004
This book started out as an entertaining and humorous account about life as a junior doctor, and quickly disintegrated into a cynical and negative assault on nurses and patients - the very people vital to Foxton's success and employment. Do your health a favour and give it a miss.

An incredible adventure and a most enjoyable read, 28 May 2008
One of the amazing things about the voyage of the Beagle is that Darwin survived it! On the voyage south along the eastern coast of South America and then later on the western coast he would frequently take to the land and meet the Beagle at its next port of call further south or north. He would travel the land hiring gauchos or other guides and horses and mules so that he could study the geology and the flora and fauna. The hardships and dangers he encountered and survived would in some ways put Indiana Jones to shame. In Patagonia amidst the constant gaucho and Indian wars, rife with wanton bloodshed and a kind of genocidal determinism, Darwin rode on horseback and slept on the ground and ate mostly animal flesh of all kinds, including mare's flesh. In Tierra del Fuego the cold and barren lands were enormously forbidding, the inhabitants savage and the dangers very real. One senses in the young Charles Darwin a determination to be the kind of naturalist who leaves no stone unturned, no ridge unclimbed and no species uncollected.

What most surprised me was how well and vibrantly he described the many people he met. Here he speaks of the governor of St. Fe: his "favourite occupation is hunting Indians: a short time since he slaughtered forty-eight, and sold the children at the rate of three or four pounds apiece" (from the entry of Oct 3 and 4, 1832). And here is his description of Queen Pomarre of Tahiti: "The queen is a large awkward woman, without any beauty, grace or dignity. She has only one royal attribute: a perfect immovability of expression under all circumstances" (entry of November 25, 1835). Darwin was quite taken with the Tahitians lauding their sobriety (thanks to the temperance movement of the missionaries) while at the same time bringing a flask of spirits on his travels there. He seemed unaware of any inconsistency.

I was also surprised by Darwin's vigor. I had thought that he was prone to being sickly, and indeed at times, he reports that he was confined to his quarters and that he suffered from seasickness and even homesickness; but when one considers all the miles he travelled on foot, on horseback, and all the mountain peaks he obtained, and the deserts he crossed, the many insects bites he endured, and the hard, cold and wet ground on which he often slept, one has to applaud his strength of body and character. Another surprise was the amount of time he devoted to geology and speculations about the how the land came to be the way he found it. When he spoke of how the land had risen and the mountains formed I had the sense of how thrilled he would have been to have had the modern understanding of plate tectonics.

At a couple of points in the narrative, Darwin speaks of how the most luxurious vegetation does not support the greatest number of animals, or the largest. He compares the plains of Africa and Patagonia with the Brazilian rainforest and speculates on why this should be. At no point does he use the term "grasslands," and so I think we can conclude that he didn't have the knowledge we have today about how fertile grasslands can be, nor did he realize that most of the nutrients in the rain forest are contained within the living plants and organisms above ground leaving the soil relatively poor compared to grassland soil. In the entry for September 15, 1832, he writes: "In grassy plains unoccupied by the larger ruminating quadrupeds, it seems necessary to remove the superfluous vegetation by fire, so as to render the new year's growth serviceable."

Another bit of modern knowledge that would have pleased him to know is that the marine iguanas of the Galapagos Islands cannot just jump into the very cold water that exists there but must warm themselves first, and even then can only stand the water for a limited period of time (an hour or two, I believe). Darwin kept tossing one of the lizards into the water only to watch it return inexplicably again and again to the land.

I was looking for hints that Darwin was already thinking about natural selection, but the text contains nothing that I could find that is directly specific although at one point he refers to the origin of species as that "mystery of mysteries."

The book was written (and obviously rewritten and polished many times over) after Darwin returned to England after comparing notes with other naturalists. The advantage of this approach is the scientific rigor with which he is able to describe and evaluate his experiences. As a professional scientist, Darwin wanted to get all the scientific names right and avoid errors. One would expect through this approach that some immediacy would be lost, but if anything I suspect his journal gained in vividness and was made all the more intriguing for the precision of expression. It is, after all these years, still a most engaging and readable account of a most remarkable adventure--one of the best I've ever read, and I am surprised that it took me so many years to get to it!

The Voyage of the Beagle is also a book that will stay in print for many decades if not centuries to come, partly because it is so well written, and partly because Darwin is Darwin, but also because he was so precise in his descriptions of the animals and the people and the lands that he visited. By reading this we and future generations can learn of the changes that have taken place.

In short I was thoroughly dazzled at Darwin's enormously wide range of knowledge. But I shouldn't have been. In just reading this journal, one can easily see that young Mr. Darwin was already a superb naturalist and a brilliant thinker and observer.


Poor audio reading of a great book!, 08 May 2008
Let me stress that my criticism is about the audio version (Unabridged Classics) of the book, not about the book itself (I wish Amazon would stop lumping reviews of audio books with the paper versions!). The voice in this recording is not only soporific; it is effete and effeminate to a degree. It would probably sound right in an Oscar Wilde or P.G. Wodehouse play, but it is fully out of character both with Darwin and his subject, ie exploration and scientific field work. In the future I will only buy abridged audio versions. Because they require some investment in reworking the original, abridged versions stand a better chance of turning out good than cover-to-cover readings, which can be produced just by "outsourcing" the book to anyone willing to read it aloud in front of a microphone.

Darwin and the Beagle Journey!, 31 Jul 2007
Charles Darwin's travels around the world as a 'gentleman' naturalist on HMS Beagle between 1831 and 1836 impressed upon him a sense of the natural world's beauty which he captures in a superlative descriptive narrative. He takes you on a journey along the coasts and interiors of South America and through the Pacific to the South Sea Islands. It displays Darwin's highly intuitive mind at work as he conceptualises the complex relations between our earth's life forms and its environment that leads him to his hypothesis of natural selection.

Whilst I enjoyed Darwin's descriptive narrative immensely I feel quite disappointed overall. I did not particularly like the journal layout of the book and the lack of detail about the actual sailing journey...though this was to be expected. In addition I read this as a layman naturalist and wish my entry level knowledge could have done the book better justice. Overall though a satisfying read.


a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and anumals and plants), 24 Feb 2007
a book of a trip, a journal of people and places (and animals and plants)

This book is great.
I bought this book because I remembered the old TV series of the eighties. I expected a book with the aventures of the journey, but it is much more. It is more than the obervations of zoology and geology, it is mainly about the people, about the cultures that Darwin finds in South America and how he, as a modern European perceived the new independent South-American and native indians, their culture, their customs. With great objectivity, more than what would have today an ordinary tourist, Darwin depicts the way people live, the political and social issues, their superstitions, their food, their missery. And little by little Darwin gives his personal thoughts on everything from social to science issues.

Darwin's writing is clear and modern, full of wisdom and very personal. This edition of the ModernLibrary is very nice, the text has a decent size, the paper is fine and the cover too. Enjoy.

You can't tell me he wasn't having fun, 27 Nov 2003
Remember this says "Journal" and that is what it is. It is his first parson adventures on and off the Beagle. He even includes stories about the people on the ship, the ship's life, and maintenance. He is always going ashore and venturing beyond the ship charter to go where no Englishman has gone before. He makes friends with tyrants and the down trodden. Once, to get an animal to come to him, he lay on his back and waved his arms and legs in the air. Whatever you do, do not turn your back on him. He is always knocking something on the head and taking it back for study. It is fun trying to match the old names for places with the new.

Isn't life funny?, 19 Sep 2008
I too had to read it more than once...

What's the point of the author indulging in a 'Chautauqua' on 'Romantic' & 'Classic' 'Va