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Critical
- Science and Stories from the Brink of Human Life
- Narrated by: Dr Matt Morgan
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs
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Summary
Following in the wake of hugely successful medical memoirs such as Do No Harm and Fragile Lives, Critical is an intelligent, compelling and profoundly insightful journey into the world of intensive care medicine and the lives of people who have forever been changed by it.
Being critically ill means one or more of your vital organs have failed - this could be your lungs, your heart, your kidneys, your gut or even your brain. Starting with the first recognised case in which a little girl was saved by intensive care in 1952 in Copenhagen, Matt writes brilliantly about the fascinating history, practices and technology in this newest of all the major medical specialties. Matt guides us around the ICU by guiding us around the body and the different organs, and in this way, we learn not only the stories of many of the patients he’s treated over the years but also about the various functions different parts of the body.
He draws on his time spent with real patients, on the brink of death, and explains how he and his colleagues fight against the odds to help them live. Happily many of his cases have happy endings, but Matt also writes movingly about those cases which will always remain with him - the cases where the mysteries of the body proved too hard to solve, or diagnoses came too late or made no difference to the outcome.
What listeners say about Critical
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- lisa lewis
- 03-07-19
Makes me proud to work in ITU
From a critical care nurse with over 20years experience I loved this book.
Honest, sincere and easy to understand. Reflects so much of what we all feel.
We are privileged to work in Critical care and be part of such amazing teams and touch peoples lives when they are most vulnerable.
17 people found this helpful
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- Ferrariss
- 05-08-19
A Masterpiece
Dr Matt Morgan has produced a wonderful wonderful book. Listening to him tell me these stories has been very special.
As he narrates these accounts his sincerity humanity and humility is obvious.
Thank you Dr Matt, primarily for doing your job, with such skill and care but I also thank you for giving us a window Into the world of ICU.
ICU can seem cold, clinical, jammed full of complex kit, I remember spending 2 weeks in one with my father. Your book reminds me of how I felt during that time. All the machines are really only props, albeit very important props. At heart of these places are people, the staff, the patients and their loved ones.
16 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 12-05-20
Excellent insight
Some heart warming and heart wrenching patient stories. Fantastic detail into the world of critical care and how allied health professionals are key to the successful ICU team!
8 people found this helpful
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- Losinen
- 18-11-20
A great introduction to the inside world of ICU
An insightful and interesting glimpse into the world of ICU. Well read with a good blend of technical terms and simple wording.
7 people found this helpful
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- james harvey
- 23-10-20
Don't bother
I have downloaded and listened to many Audible's similar to this, and while the others are full of enthusiasm and emotion, the narrator really has let this one down.
7 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 14-11-20
absolutely exceptional book
Absolutely exceptional book and essential reading for any patient, patient to be, relative or friend of anyone who will one day suffer from severe illness, I.e. everyone. Moving, important, inspiring and even funny at times. Read it, it may save a life.
5 people found this helpful
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- Liam
- 23-05-20
Thought provoking
makes you realise that death is better than living with the large amount of disability that treatment the ICU often lead to. And to treat these people who should have obviously died is really the inhumane thing to do.
5 people found this helpful
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- Carla-Ella
- 21-08-19
story was ok but something's missing .
the narrator didn't make me feel engaged with this story at all. his voice was drab and monotone which made me switch off quite a bit. if the narrator could make the story come to life, then the book would have been enjoyable and I could empathise with the patients and doctor himself.
5 people found this helpful
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- Annonomous
- 14-10-20
absolutely loved it!
very interesting and a great listen! 100% reccomend. Made me think about a career in intensive care medicine and the personal stories made it applicable to real life :)
4 people found this helpful
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- Catherine Mchomvu
- 04-01-20
Great story but really, really dull narrator.
Really dull narrator. Great story that read by someone else would be amazing. It seemed that he was so focused on hiding his accent he lost enthusiasm and emotion.
3 people found this helpful
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- Max of the north
- 27-03-20
A brilliant read.
The book is a well balanced story. Blending knowledge, skills, history and close personal experiences. It is as gripping as a good crime novel, still thoughtfull about life and death.