Fighting for Life
The Twelve Battles that Made Our NHS, and the Struggle for Its Future
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:8th Feb '24
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£20.00(9780241504345)
This book offers an insightful exploration of the NHS, revealing its significance in British identity and the ongoing political challenges it faces. Fighting for Life is essential reading.
In Fighting for Life, bestselling journalist Isabel Hardman explores the intricate workings of the National Health Service (NHS) and its profound impact on British society. Since its establishment in 1948, the NHS has been a cornerstone of national identity, making headlines with groundbreaking achievements like the first 'test tube baby' and its formidable response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, this revered institution has also been a focal point of intense political debate, with opinions divided on its efficacy and future direction.
Hardman delves into the narratives of those directly involved with the NHS, including nurses, doctors, patients, and policymakers. By sharing their experiences and insights, she presents a comprehensive view of the challenges and triumphs faced by the NHS. The book aims to move beyond the rhetoric surrounding healthcare, offering readers a grounded understanding of what the NHS represents and the ongoing battles it faces in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Fighting for Life serves as a vital resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the complexities of the NHS, its role in shaping national identity, and the ongoing struggles to preserve its foundational values. With a blend of storytelling and analysis, Hardman invites readers to consider not just the state of the NHS today, but also its future and what it means for the nation as a whole.
A compelling, deftly constructed and powerfully told narrative . . . Hardman is a meticulous journalist with a gift for storytelling. Necessary reading -- Rafael Behr * Guardian *
Terrific . . . Every aspect of this history is informed and beautifully written -- Alan Johnson * Observer, Book of the Week *
Vivid and fascinating, this is a beautifully cogent, balanced and human biography of a health service haunted by its own mythology . . . Hardman is impressively even-handed and unsentimental -- Melanie Reid * The Times, Book of the Week *
It has by far the best analysis of where the health service came from, and where it's going . . . full of excellent stories -- Karol Sikora * The Telegraph *
Brilliant -- Adam Kay * author of This is Going to Hurt and Undoctored *
Passionate, deeply researched and page-turningly full of good stories, this is so good one is tempted to say it is the book the NHS has always deserved -- Andrew Marr
This is a sensational and much-needed book: funny, intelligent and so beautifully written that it doesn't read like normal non-fiction . . . thorough, scholarly and above all readable -- Chris van Tulleken
A kaleidoscopic history of the NHS -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman *
Hardman's writing is breezily accessible, and her deeply researched book is full of colourful vignettes and an enjoyable spice of gossip . . . she is particularly good at locating the NHS within the wider social movements that have changed British life over the 75 years of its existence -- Sarah Neville * Financial Times *
A brilliantly written and engrossing biography of the NHS . . . compelling and even-handed -- Kate Womersley * The Spectator *
ISBN: 9780241991862
Dimensions: 192mm x 128mm x 40mm
Weight: 260g
384 pages