War Doctor: Surgery on the Frontlines

What happens if a doctor is asked to serve in some of the dangerous places in the world? Ask David Nott and he replies: it’s a humane thing and he must serve those who are torn between war and destruction. Nott’s new book War Doctor talks about how it is to work in the most dangerous war zones, from the war-torn Sarajevo to horrific Aleppo.

Nott, a surgeon and a professor of surgery at Imperial College London took unpaid leave for the last 25 years to volunteer in places of destruction. His book gives readers an unpretentious, unselfconscious account of his work and the reason behind his work.

He begins the book by explaining how he was asked to go to Syria on a mission to treat people who are torn between the calamities of war and life. The chapters that follow are gripping and compelling and are sure to leave a mark even after it is returned to the shelf. At times, it is a harrowing read, but most often it is humane and heart-wrenching.

War Doctor also gives insight into how the international humanitarian agencies like Medecins Sans Frontieres and the International Red Cross have been working generously in these areas.

The book also gives a detailed analysis of what happened in Kabul, Syria, and Aleppo. It makes one think about how humanity still strives and how its transformative power creates wonders in this grief-stricken world.