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War Doctor

Surgery on the Front Line

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War Doctor

By: David Nott
Narrated by: David Nott
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About this listen

The Sunday Times number one best seller

For more than 25 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 lifesaving operations and field surgery in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major London teaching hospital.

The conflicts he has worked in form a chronology of 21st-century combat: Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur, Congo, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Gaza and Syria. But he has also volunteered in areas blighted by natural disasters, such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal.

Driven both by compassion and passion, the desire to help others and the thrill of extreme personal danger, he is now widely acknowledged to be the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world. But as time went on, David Nott began to realise that flying into a catastrophe - whether war or natural disaster - was not enough. Doctors on the ground needed to learn how to treat the appalling injuries that war inflicts upon its victims. Since 2015, the foundation he set up with his wife, Elly, has disseminated the knowledge he has gained, training other doctors in the art of saving lives threatened by bombs and bullets.

War Doctor is his extraordinary story.

This audio edition includes an interview between David and Eleanor Nott.

©2019 David Nott (P)2019 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
Afghan & Iraq Wars Emergency & Critical Care Medicine & Health Care Industry Military Military & War Africa Middle East War Surgery Natural Disaster Medicine

Critic Reviews

"Brave, compassionate and inspiring – it left me in floods of tears." (Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to Hurt)

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A completely enthralling book! Couldn’t “put it down” and had it playing everywhere I went and at every opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed David being the narrator to his own story as it brought every scenario and situation he experience to life in my mind as I could hear his passion and emotion as if he were reliving it as he spoke.
As a emergency nurse myself, his explanation of medical procedures was detailed enough for the novice to picture and myself to understand at a deeper level.
This was my first audio book and I can’t recommend it enough! I’m glad I listened to it and didn’t read as I feel it made the imagination aspect far more real.

War doctor

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I felt I had to write a review which is a rarity. It was informative, shocking and I couldn’t stop listening. The horrors of war and working as a surgeon in these situations was very well portrayed by David. It was well read and the contents which would have been horrific for him were delivered in a calm but sometimes an emotional way. You really must get this book.

This is a must listen book

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David not is a hero along with every doctor who worked in war zones. How lucky we are to have people like the drs who risk everything to help others. Amazing story

Amazing life work

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This is a story of a life spent in the worlds most horrific war zones. Whereby a human being is prepared to put Political and Religious beliefs aside and use his skills (on a Voluntary basis) to help aleviate and better man's inhumanity to man.
It's hard to believe that people like this exist in the world and is the definition of a hero.
A wonderful audio book.

Amazing life story.

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Dr Nott shares his incredible story that just leaves you in awe of the incredibly humble man he is.
He recounts his trips to war zones in vivid detail and the love he has for his colleagues is undeniable. As someone who has also been to some of these war zones, I can finally see on words what I cannot describe.
A must read book.

Heart pounding.

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This is a book that needs to be heard by everyone. While the stories of injustice and war are difficult to comprehend, David’s humanity and commitment to the profession of surgery is extraordinary. I think your hands should be imprinted in concrete outside the Royal College of Surgeons. Thank you David for sharing your experiences with dignity and vulnerability.

Extraordinary

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loved it.. really thought provoking.
a window into another world
a challenge to how one lives their life

confronting

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Incredible story of a surgeon traveling between trouble spots. Riveting, sensitively written drama. Real courage.

Fantastic yet True Story

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this book was a fantastic listen. couldn't stop listening. what an incredible story and man.

great book

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Worth its weight in gold. Inspiring book. I would suggest everyone to read it. Learned alot from it. Its just the best!

Best book I’ve ever listened

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