Breathtaking: Inside the NHS in a Time of Pandemic

Rachel Clarke's new book, Breathtaking, is an unflinching insider's account of medicine in the time of coronavirus. It shows the beauty in the worst life can throw at us and the courage of patients and NHS staff. Clarke argues that this age of contagion has inspired a profound attentiveness to and gratitude for what matters most in life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Rachel, a palliative care doctor, has written a new book titled Breathtaking, which provides an unflinching insider's account of medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on testimony from nursing, acute, and intensive care colleagues, as well as her patients, Clarke argues that this age of contagion has inspired a profound attentiveness to and gratitude for what matters most in life. Her words are brimming with love, grace, and kindness, and she writes with a tender, lyrical beauty that is both captivating and inspiring.

The book explores the challenges and uncertainties faced by healthcare workers and patients during the pandemic, including the fear, fatigue, and rising death toll. Rachel provides a firsthand account of the courage and resilience of patients and NHS staff alike in conditions of unprecedented adversity. She also highlights the moments of hope and humanity that emerged amidst the bleakness, such as the people who rose to their best in the face of the worst, as a microbe laid waste to the population.

Through her writing, Rachel encourages readers to reflect on what truly matters in life and to appreciate the small moments of joy and beauty that can be found even in the most difficult circumstances. She emphasizes the importance of kindness, compassion, and empathy, and how these qualities can help us navigate the challenges we face and build stronger communities.

Breathtaking is a powerful and important book that will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. It is a testament to the resilience and humanity of healthcare workers and patients, and to the power of love, grace, and kindness in the face of adversity. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781408713785