Gas Man

10… 9… 8… 7… 6… That’s about as far as you get, counting backwards, as you wait for surgery to begin – and that’s all most people know about what I do. But what happens between you conking out and waking up? And what does the anaesthetist have to do with it all? Do they just sit around playing sudoku while the rest of the team do all the hard work? And why are they so obsessed with what time you ate dinner? Join Colin Black on his journey from accidental medical student to HSE and NHS trainee and, finally, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at the largest children’s hospital in Ireland, where any given day could end in laughter or tears – and that’s just the staff. Razor-sharp and forthright, Gas Man is a disarming and frequently hilarious account of life in one of the most fascinating and thrilling professions at medicine’s frontline, where every day is a heady cocktail of severe pressure, poignancy, and profound social awkwardness. In this top-rated autobiography, Black provides a personal and humorous insight into the world of anesthesiology, specifically within paediatrics. His memoirs are filled with stories of his patients, making Gas Man a must-read for those interested in the medical field. For fans of Ed Patrick (Catch Your Breath), Rachel Clarke (Your Life In My Hands), Matt Morgan (One Medicine), Christie Watson (Quilt on Fire), and Henry Marsh (And Finally).