The core of this book is to provide an insight into the lives of junior doctors within the NHS (UK) through the author’s eyes and his experiences.

Kay kept diaries from 2004 until 2010 that explore the long days, sleepless nights and almost no weekends. His diaries are funny, scary and heart breaking. A devastating experience caused him to reconsider his future.

The author Adam Kay is an award-winning writer and this offering is being adapted into a comedy drama to be aired soon on TV.

In Kay’s own words “So I told them the truth: the hours are terrible, the pay is terrible, the conditions are terrible; you’re underappreciated, unsupported, disrespected and frequently physically endangered. But there’s no better job in the world.”

This book is full of happy and sad moments and can be emotional at times and I found it hard to put down. There are many British references in the book but don’t let that put you off reading it.

Kay includes a letter to the National Health Service with changes he feels need to be made so there are less mistakes by doctors. There has been some criticism that the author should not discuss client’s conditions/cases, but I think that is not what the book is about.

This is an honest memoir of the challenges doctors face and this affords us an insight into that world and as a result an interesting glimpse into the stressful life of a junior doctor.