PositiveThe Sunday Times (UK)The first thing that comes across from the stories is David’s obvious compassion for his patients. This is typified not just by his thoughtful medical interventions and the doctor-patient conversations he recounts in vivid detail, but also by his willingness to raise hell with the relevant bureaucrats when pointless rules get in the way of his charges receiving the treatment they need. The second thing, though, is an uncomfortable sense of uncertainty—that abyss again. More than one patient is described as feeling like a human guinea pig as their treatments and medications are shuffled around in (often vain) attempts to pinpoint what might work ... David is an academic as well as a clinician and I found myself wanting to hear more from the former side. Although he does discuss research relevant to each of his patients’ disorders, I wanted a final, resounding consideration of what it all means for science ... David’s case studies are illuminating and benefit considerably from his warm, self-deprecating style. He would be the first to admit, though, that his stories raise many more scientific questions than they answer.
