War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line by David Nott Book Review

Title: War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line
Author: David Nott
Publisher: Abrams Press
Release Date: February 21, 2019
Pages: 287

For more than 25 years, surgeon David Nott has volunteered in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. From Sarajevo under siege in 1993 to clandestine hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, he has carried out lifesaving operations in the most challenging conditions, and with none of the resources of a major metropolitan hospital. He is now widely acknowledged as the most experienced trauma surgeon in the world.

War Doctor is his extraordinary story, encompassing his surgeries in nearly every major conflict zone since the end of the Cold War, as well as his struggles to return to a “normal” life and routine after each trip. Culminating in his recent trips to war-torn Syria—and the untold story of his efforts to help secure a humanitarian corridor out of besieged Aleppo to evacuate some 50,000 people—War Doctor is a blend of medical memoir, personal journey, and nonfiction thriller that provides unforgettable, at times raw, insight into the human toll of war.  

Buy it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon    

My Thoughts

To be honest, I don't know where to start. The work that the author has and continues to do is amazing, beyond what one can imagine. It's not something that I can write a review about but anyways I'll try to emphasize points from the memoir. 

Is the practice of medicine a business or is it a vocation? Where does the balance lie between doing well and doing good?

Taking place mostly in the Middle East, Dr. Nott does medical work, kind of like what the Red Cross would do. I thought it was interesting that after a near-death experience, he got addicted to the adrenaline rush that came with it. This led him to continue his work there.

The boy's death turned me into a person marked by war: it was the Sarajevo equivalent of a campaign medal, although not one to wear with pride.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

I loved the details that Dr. Nott writes about. The descriptions of body parts and organs made the book really interesting to read and even though I didn't know some of it. Googling the terms I didn't know helped and I actually understood. It's amazing to me how complex yet simple the human body is as it only takes one little malfunction for something to go wrong.

Overall, War Doctor was a phenomenon read about the trauma surgeries of Dr. Nott. Not only did he receive surgical training from a traditional hospital, but he also received trauma training few doctors get to experience. I think because of this, it makes his surgical skills as a doctor great. 

About the Author

David Nott is a Welsh consultant surgeon, specializing in general and vascular surgery. He works mainly in London hospitals, but for more than twenty-five years he has also volunteered to work in disaster and war zones. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours and in 2016 he received the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award and the Pride of Britain Award. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters. War Doctor is his first book.