Recovery (Paperback)

The Lost Art of Convalescence

Gavin Francis

A short, uplifting account of hope and healing by the author of Adventures in Human Being

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: an uplifting account of hope and healing by GP Gavin Francis

'I cannot think of anybody - patient or doctor - who will not be helped by reading this short and profound book' - Henry Marsh

'Such a wise, gentle, quietly hopeful book. Exactly what I needed' - Rachel Clarke

'A lovely little book' - Michael Rosen

When it comes to illness, sometimes the end is just the beginning. Recovery and convalescence are words that exist at the periphery of our lives - until we are forced to contend with what they really mean.

Here, GP and writer Gavin Francis explores how - and why - we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes, its shifting history and the frequent failure of our modern lives to make adequate space for it.

Characterised by Francis's beautiful prose and his view of medicine as 'the alliance of science and kindness', Recovery is a book about a journey that most of us never intend to make. Along the way, he unfolds a story of hope, transformation, and the everyday miracle of healing.

Publication date: 13/01/2022

£5.99

ISBN: 9781800810488

Imprint: Wellcome Collection

Subject: Health & Wellbeing, Science & Mathematics

Recovery (Ebook)

The Lost Art of Convalescence

Gavin Francis

A short, uplifting account of hope and healing by the author of Adventures in Human Being

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: an uplifting account of hope and healing by GP Gavin Francis

'I cannot think of anybody - patient or doctor - who will not be helped by reading this short and profound book' - Henry Marsh

'Such a wise, gentle, quietly hopeful book. Exactly what I needed' - Rachel Clarke

'A lovely little book' - Michael Rosen

When it comes to illness, sometimes the end is just the beginning. Recovery and convalescence are words that exist at the periphery of our lives - until we are forced to contend with what they really mean.

Here, GP and writer Gavin Francis explores how - and why - we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes, its shifting history and the frequent failure of our modern lives to make adequate space for it.

Characterised by Francis's beautiful prose and his view of medicine as 'the alliance of science and kindness', Recovery is a book about a journey that most of us never intend to make. Along the way, he unfolds a story of hope, transformation, and the everyday miracle of healing.

Publication date: 13/01/2022

£3.99

ISBN: 9781782839835

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B099BVT2VH

Imprint: Wellcome Collection

Subject: Health & Wellbeing, Science & Mathematics

Recovery (Audiobook)

The Lost Art of Convalescence

Gavin Francis

A short, uplifting account of hope and healing by the author of Adventures in Human Being

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: an uplifting account of hope and healing by GP Gavin Francis

'I cannot think of anybody – patient or doctor – who will not be helped by reading this short and profound book' Henry Marsh

'Such a wise, gentle, quietly hopeful book. Exactly what I needed' – Rachel Clarke

'A lovely little book' – Michael Rosen

When it comes to illness, sometimes the end is just the beginning. Recovery and convalescence are words that exist at the periphery of our lives – until we are forced to contend with what they really mean.

Here, GP and writer Gavin Francis explores how – and why – we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes, its shifting history and the frequent failure of our modern lives to make adequate space for it.

Characterised by Francis's beautiful prose and his view of medicine as 'the alliance of science and kindness', Recovery is a book about a journey that most of us never intend to make. Along the way, he unfolds a story of hope, transformation, and the everyday miracle of healing.

Publication date: 31/03/2022

£12.99

ISBN: 9781800814707

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B09VLH9HFN

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Health & Wellbeing, Science & Mathematics

Read by: Gavin Francis

Reviews for Recovery

'Wise and thoughtful ... this book is a practical guide to recovery from illness as well as a meditation on the practice of medicine ... I cannot think of anybody - patient or doctor - who will not be helped by reading this short and profound book'

Henry Marsh New Statesman

'A lovely little book'

Michael Rosen Front Row

'Wonderful'

Anil Seth, author Being You

'Massively healing'

Sara Sheridan Scottish Field

'Such a wise, gentle, quietly hopeful book. Exactly what I needed'

Rachel Clarke, author of Breathtaking and Your Life In My Hands 

'Francis offers hope and a rare and precious quiet form of consolation'

Emily Mayhew Observer

'Heartfelt and persuasively argued ... Filled with compassion and warmth, the book provides both insight and succour'

Ian Critchley Sunday Times

'Excellent ... could not be more timely ... even if you are not at present ill, it is worth reading this book because the gentle guidance it gives is actually applicable to being healthy. There are things we can do that make life, even a life without pain or fatigue or anxiety, richer'

Stuart Kelly Scotsman

'Humane and thoughtful. Combining personal reminiscence, hard science and history, it explores the architecture of convalescence, rest, treatments and placebos, the healing power of nature and the transformative impact a sick note can have'

Emma Beddington Observer

'Sparkling ... uplifting'

 Independent

'A concise and deeply felt treatise on how, faced with inevitable illness and finitude, we might better live and how medicine might help others better life'

 The Lancet

'The book really shines ... it is worth reading this book because the gentle guidance it gives is actually applicable to being healthy'

 Yorkshire Post

'Short but sagacious ... never has the publication of a book been more timely and welcome'

 On-Magazine

Gavin Francis

Gavin Francis

Gavin Francis has worked across four continents as a surgeon, emergency physician, medical officer with the British Antarctic Survey and latterly as a GP. He's the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Adventures in Human Being, which was a BMA Book of the Year, and Shapeshifters. His books have won the SMIT Scottish Book of the Year Award, the Saltire Award for Non-Fiction and been shortlisted for the Ondaatje and Costa Prizes. He also writes for the Guardian, The Times, the London Review of Books and Granta. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and children.

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