Book Review #117 : Knock Knock…I am Your Anaesthesiologist

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"Knock Knock I Am Your Anaesthesiologist" by Dr. Vidhu Bhatnagar is an inspiring and engaging account of her journey as an anaesthesiologist. The memoir is well drafted and executed, beginning with author's journey commencing to become an anaesthesiologist. The author takes the readers on a ride with her to the medical world, acquainting readers with jargons of medicine while keeping the readers completely engrossed.

I always knew that anaesthesia is a drug that is given to a patient when he/she is going to undergo a surgery. But after having read this book, I came to know that it is a science in itself. The author explains what the anaesthesiologists or the pain fighters usually do. The humor and laughter inculcated in the prose is remarkable, which keeps the reader glued even though it is a non fiction. She brings out various emotions from excitement to frustration, restlessness to exhaustion to surface. The book offers a real insight to medical science.

The language is simple even after the inclusion of medical vocabulary. Description and narration is vivid and relatable. The book is systematically written into 30 different chapters all of them are short in nature so one can read through quite easily.

I found the cover simple and sober, relatable for the memoir. Blurb is concise and could've been elaborated a bit. Title is quirky and appropriate for the book.

And yes it is, right from the time a patient is brought to the hospital and to the time she or he is taken to the operation theatre and brought back out, after successful completion of the operation an anaesthesiologist ought to be there up in arms. The author beautifully explains every aspect of it in detail.

Vidhu trades you through screening, optimisation and its importance, resuscitation, ICU, etc. The author also explains about the quality of life and that death is an inevitable part of our lives. This book sheds light on the myths related to the science of anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists. Wannabe doctors and nurses must surely get in touch with this book and read it. The author describes her journey that was fueled with grit and determination. And one can definitely take motivation!

Because the book contains a lot of medical terminologies, which a layman reader might not be familiar with, I wish there was a glossary or annotated text towards the end or below each page.

Overall, an interesting, entertaining and informative account, bound to engage the readers till the end. Towards the end of the book, the author talks about her growth as a doctor, how her life being changed for betterment. Kudos to Dr. Vidhu Bhatnagar for this book!

Name: Knock Knock…I am Your Anaesthesiologist
Author: Dr Vidhu Bhatnagar
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Quignog; First edition (1 January 2018)
Language: English

Ratings : 4/5