Alive: Our Bodies and the Richness and Brevity of Existence
Gabriel Weston

Dr. Gabriel Weston is a noted British doctor who has written a few books and presented a series of medically oriented television programs on BBC Two’s “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.” Unfortunately for those of us who live in the United States, these programs are only available to those in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Weston didn’t initially start out wanting to be a doctor. Instead, she received a master’s degree in English, only to be bitten by the medical bug, enter medical school, graduate, and become a surgeon specializing in “Ear, Nose, and Throat” (ENT).

Her background in English is evident in her latest book, Alive: Our Bodies and the Richness and Brevity of Existence as she takes the reader through the awesomeness that is the human body, interweaving her historical commentary with her own story.

The book starts off with a rather graphic description of an autopsy. Those who have watched the U.S. series “Dr G.: Medical Examiner” know what to expect, but the autopsy is quite graphic for those not ready for it. This procedure sets up the rest of the book, where Dr. Weston is the observer of various procedures rather than a participant, giving her and the readers a unique perspective. I really appreciated her time with the gynecologist, where twins were delivered as Dr. Weston herself has also done.

While I appreciate any effort to explain how amazing the human body is to a more lay audience, I felt that sometimes the author’s background in English overwhelmed the point she was trying to make. Despite this, I really enjoyed the book and would probably enjoy a re-read.

I feel there is enough interesting history in Alive: Our Bodies and the Richness and Brevity of Existence even for those overly familiar with the subject matter. I highly recommend it for anyone with even a passing interest in this field of study.

4/5 stars

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]

NOTE: This book was reviewed under the original title of Alive: An Alternative Anatomy

Completed Reading Book: March 2025