A very accurate (tragically so) description of the problems faced by doctors and all healthcare professionals. Be prepared to be transported out of your comfort zone and projected into the ‘uncomfortable truth.’ As a friend and colleague, I was impressed by his ability to put into words the mix of feelings I have always had while working as an NHS doctor. A must-read for all the managers seeking to hear a different perspective from the inside with a vision that some of his proposed actions could become reality soon before it is too late.

A very accurate (tragically so) description of the problems faced by doctors and all healthcare professionals. Be prepared to be transported out of your comfort zone and projected into the ‘uncomfortable truth.’ As a friend and colleague, I was impressed by his ability to put into words the mix of feelings I have always had while working as an NHS doctor. A must-read for all the managers seeking to hear a different perspective from the inside with a vision that some of his proposed actions could become reality soon before it is too late.

A very accurate (tragically so) description of the problems faced by doctors and all healthcare professionals. Be prepared to be transported out of your comfort zone and projected into the ‘uncomfortable truth.’ As a friend and colleague, I was impressed by his ability to put into words the mix of feelings I have always had while working as an NHS doctor. A must-read for all the managers seeking to hear a different perspective from the inside with a vision that some of his proposed actions could become reality soon before it is too late.

As doctors, most of us become good at hiding our feelings and insecurities from others, including patients, their relatives, and our own nearest and dearest. Striving for the best outcome, we often ignore our personal (and family) frustrations while providing empathy to our patients. In this long-awaited doctor’s manual, Dr. Pietro teaches us the importance of self-care and self-empowerment and how not to just survive but [also] thrive in a way only someone working at the coalface can!

Much-needed book which is inspiring, positive, realistic, thorough, daring … and simply magnificent! Finally, the frustration of doctors dissected and precisely described. It gives back to us doctors the dignity of human beings who deserve to have a work environment that can allow us to be fulfilled, not only professionally, but also mentally and emotionally. I trust this will be a source of reflection for all the healthcare players, especially those who can make positive changes. I’m lacking in words to say how happy I am that finally I found a book where I can see my true reflection and that inspires me to face my frustrations head on. Grazie, Emanuele!

This book is refreshing. It is current and heartfeltly honest. I found each chapter captivating, easy to relate to what the author calls ‘most beautiful profession in the world.’ For a doctor like me, it was liberating to find thoughts and feeling discussed in the book that are very real and a testimony for many doctors: the passion of the calling, the daily struggles and frustrations, as well as the victories that keep us going. I found this book to be a positive motivating force, affirmation of why we want to address our frustrations, be good doctors, and remain in our profession as thought leaders. It is an empowering tool that drives the desire to make positive change in self and beyond, encourage us to have necessary conversations to ‘heal the health of the system we work in’ and nurture our minds. I recommend this as a must-read for every doctor and anyone interested in medicine, be it a medical stakeholder, a young person entertaining a career in medicine, or a service user. You are left with a feeling how powerful it would be for this material to be taught at medical school. I simply love it! Thank you, Dr. Pietro, for writing this much-needed book and for sharing your wisdom for the benefit of us all.

A fascinating book exploring the challenges doctors and other healthcare professionals face in today’s healthcare system. Dr. Garbelli is clear, concise, and reflective, demonstrating a deep understanding of self-development, communication, and emotional well-being, while offering practical solutions. He also highlights the importance of these issues in relation to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. An extremely engaging read from start to finish.

As a nurse and director of governance, I have seen my colleague nurses and doctors physically and mentally suffer in their very demanding roles. It’s lovely to see that finally someone is writing about the struggles, and I can only highly praise Dr. Garbelli’s openness when writing this book about the real struggles we face in healthcare. If we do not openly recognize these problems, we won’t be able to tackle them, and they will stay hidden. Thank you for this amazing book, which hopefully will help many of our colleagues in their career paths.

As a cardiologist, I know the mechanics of the heart and how to perform a variety of cardiac procedures. However, when personal and work frustrations take over, they can impact our well-being, competence, patient care, and overall healthcare efficiency. Each chapter of this magnificent book makes you realize how the same devotion and commitment to growth and transformation is required at every level of the healthcare system. This God-sent and must-have guide creates a unique sublime fusion between subtle holism and modern conventional medical strategies as a brain booster to every doctor who is eager to transmute the frustrations into opportunities, create a nurturing medical environment, and be able to excel in our medical competence confidently.