Profound, beautiful, and often poetic. In this alternate anatomy, we're led on a tour of the living body, not the cold, toxin-filled version as is typical. We should all be in constant wonder of what our bodies, ourselves really, are doing just outside of our consciousness.

Dr. Gabriel Weston is a noted British doctor who has written a few books and presented a series of medically oriented television programs on BBC Two’s “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.” Unfortunately for those of us who live in the United States, these programs are only available to those in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Weston didn’t initially start out wanting to be a doctor. Instead, she received a master’s degree in English, only to be bitten by the medical bug, enter medical school, graduate, and become a surgeon specializing in “Ear, Nose, and Throat” (ENT).

Her background in English is evident in her latest book, “Alive: An Alternative Anatomy,” as she takes the reader through the awesomeness that is the human body, interweaving her historical commentary with her own story.

The book starts off with a rather graphic description of an autopsy. Those who have watched the U.S. series “Dr G.: Medical Examiner” know what to expect, but the autopsy is quite graphic for those not ready for it. This procedure sets up the rest of the book, where Dr. Weston is the observer of various procedures rather than a participant, giving her and the readers a unique perspective. I really appreciated her time with the gynecologist, where twins were delivered as Dr. Weston herself has also done.

While I appreciate any effort to explain how amazing the human body is to a more lay audience, I felt that sometimes the author’s background in English overwhelmed the point she was trying to make. Despite this, I really enjoyed the book and would probably enjoy a re-read.

I feel there is enough interesting history in “Alive: An Alternative Anatomy” even for those overly familiar with the subject matter. I highly recommend it for anyone with even a passing interest in this field of study.

4/5 stars

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]

Alive by Gabriel Weston gives a unique perspective on the human body. I was squeamish at first at the mention of bone cutters and slicing bodies open but I powered through. I appreciate Gabriel's combination of personal experience and research. She took the time to observe Doctors in each specialty and used her personal stories to help tie everything together. This book made me feel in awe of how our bodies function. There were a good deal of medical terms I wasn't familiar with but overall I walked away with more knowledge than when I started. Thank you NetGalley, Vintage Digital and Daniel Weston for an ARC of this book.

#NetGalley
#AliveGabrielWeston

4.25⭐️

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the published from netgalley. thank you!]

this book took me a second to get into, but i found the content to be fascinating and enlightening, if a little confronting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of the book.

In the introduction to the book, the author makes it clear that during its writing, personal situations occurred that led her to change her attitude about the book's development. There are differences when one compares the first chapters to the rest of the book, as those first ones have too strong descriptions of surgeries being performed. Those with a weak stomach and susceptible to having problems with such graphic scenes may have difficulty navigating these pages. I confess that whenever a description of a surgery was about to be performed in those pages, I skipped the entire episode. Dr. Gabriel Weston's experience as a surgeon does not necessarily need to be transformed into detailed descriptions of surgeries being performed, except in medical books, since here the aim is to reach the general public.

In the other chapters, I believe the author had already gone through the difficult medical moments she tells us about, concerning her son and another related to herself. Here, I noticed a very positive change in her approach, as she looked forward to understanding other nuances and interactions in professional life, with a greater focus on the process of empathy that may be lacking in the medical daily routine. Doctors should remember that they are in front of human beings, not clinical cases; a person can bring valuable information when a doctor is willing to listen more attentively. That is when the book makes a great difference, which I believe is necessary.

Compelling science writing, but I was left wanting more of the personal reflections, particularly about how being a physician shapes the experience of being a patient.

Though the book has quite some interesting insights, such as explanations of how both our bodies and the healthcare system works, I had a hard time to focus just on that (positive) note. Nearly every chapter, while discussing different body parts, also includes detailed descriptions of surgeries, that was somewhat too outrageous to me.

The books begins with the author being part of an autopsy procedure at a morgue. She describes the different instruments, what type of scalpel they use to cut through different tissues, when to apply rib shears, and how to remove intestines. The storytelling is very casual, at some point she compares the tray of instruments with the breakfast tray at her grandmothers place, or an oscillating saw with a pizza cutter. As someone without a proper medical background, it was so bizarre. They were cutting into a woman’s body, after all… So, I didn’t expect that level of detail, but I thought - okay, maybe this is a weird intro to the book. Well, I was wrong. In the latter chapters you can also learn about sex change surgery, Cesarian section, and many other procedures, some of which I found too intense to read thoroughly and decided to keep some parts as a mystery for myself.

Nevertheless, I have to say that the storytelling in this book is very engaging, personal input makes a big difference compared to a usual science book, however I do think that it should have had a clearer disclaimer on what exactly ‘alternative’ anatomy means. A typical reader like myself might expect a more theoretical discussion on how body parts function, but this is definitely not that kind of book.

An interesting read which takes us on a journey through the human body. The author presents the anatomy of our remarkable bodies in a thought provoking and reflective way. Drawing on science as well as her own experiences the book was moving at times. I enjoyed it.

This book marries medical inquiry with medical humanities in a personal manner. Using professional anecdotes, observed clinical experiences, personal experience, and explorations of the world of art and expression, Dr. Weston writes a in depth expose and vivisection of our humanity. It was a gift and delight to be able to read about the anatomical, physiological, and clinical responsibilities of many of the organs of our bodies, in a way that made my medical school curriculum come together. But strung along with it are examples from a life well lived by herself and others, to speak to the richness of human experience, emotion, and resilience. I truly enjoyed with book and recommend it as a lovely read for all healthcare providers to marry medical humanities seamlessly into clinical practice.

My thanks to NetGalley, Godine, and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

"Alive" is a thought-provoking exploration of the medical system, viewed through both professional and personal lenses. Weston offers us a heartfelt and intimate look at her experiences as a healthcare provider, the mother of a patient, and eventually, as a patient herself. This blend of factual analysis and deeply emotional reflection creates a nuanced narrative about what it means to exist in a body — both physically and emotionally.

The book is rich in insights and opened my eyes to many aspects of healthcare that I hadn't fully considered before. Weston’s writing is beautiful, and she effortlessly weaves together her own story with larger societal issues, making the personal universal. There were moments when I was deeply moved, even brought to tears.

That being said, while I appreciated the knowledge and emotion Weston brought to the table, I found the pace a bit slow at times, which left me feeling disconnected in parts. Overall, though, it’s an impactful and moving read, and I’m grateful for the lessons it imparted.

I'm giving this book decent 3 ⭐.

I just finished a great book. Alive by Gabriel Wilson was a good read. Pick this one up on publication day.