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  • Gas Man

  • By: Colin Black
  • Narrated by: Colin Black
  • Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (146 ratings)
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Gas Man

By: Colin Black
Narrated by: Colin Black
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Summary

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.

©2021 Colin Black (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

What listeners say about Gas Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A gas book!

A wonderful insight into the world of an Irish pediatric hospital from a highly intelligent, humorous and compassion doctor. Definitely would recommend to anyone with a medical interest (I'm an Irish veterinary nurse so also an anaesthetist for our patients) or those with children who have to attend hospital.

After reading another review about Dr. Black's notions of grandure and self importance - I do believe the Irish humour in this book has gone over your head, sorry. He is self deprecating and sarcastic, the corner stomes of Irish humour. If anything, he should give himself a bit more credit!

Huge thank you to all the health care workers in Ireland, you are all fantastic!

This book has a great sense humour (despite the gravity of the situations being described) and you're bound to learn something from Dr. Black.

Fair play Colin, you're a gas man!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this but...

This is an enjoyable read in general. Having spent a considerable time in the hospital the author recounts the experiences of, I really wanted to love this book. But I don't think he did his profession justice. The author comes across as kind and clearly great at his job but modesty is certainly not his strong point. The author feels that his role in this hospital is so crucial and critical (which of course it is but this also applies to the other specialties and staff) that he is single handedly the most important person in the entire hospital. This notion of gradure and self praise is just so evident throughout this book that it shadows the entire read. I'd wonder how other fellow anesthesiologists would feel reading it, I'm sure many would cringe. He jumps from being the trying to be funny, regular guy to this vessel of absolute and utter importance. It annoyed me so much I was sure it was my mood when I had read it first so gave it another read. No, unfortunately I stick by my first thoughts.
Thank you to the many many hardworking staff in the paediatric hospital he is working in, you really are amazing and don't get half the recognition because of other people shadowing the absolute importance of their own role, a ridiculous notion anyway when part of a team.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Gas man review

Parts of this book were great. A really interesting insight into the work of anesthetists. That said, the author seems to vacillate between ‘I’m a regular guy’ and ‘do you know how prestigious the fellowship I got was?’ Some very funny parts, but overall the humour was fairly cringe and not many of the jokes landed. He definitely isn’t as genuinely funny as Adam Kay 🤣

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Difficult to stop myself laughing outloud

Thoroughly enjoyed this 365 day journey, the comparisons literally had me laughing outloud. Highly Recommend

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

a tonic

A lovely human insight into the operating theatre. I laughed out loud many times.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Colin (what the effing f&£k)Gas man great listen

Heard interview on Pat Kenny Newstalk. Took a chance having read 'This won't hurt'. worth the gamble. Great to have a smidgen of an idea what he does, get an understanding of the running of a busy surgery, and the daily joys, terrors, humourous events, and tragedies that unfold therein.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A bit dull

Well written and very well narrated, but the anecdotes were all just a bit dull.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • JC
  • 15-09-21

First review I’ve left, because it’s so good!

Colin is a fantastic storyteller, who has an engaging way of explaining what he does, what he’s seen and what needs to improve within the healthcare system. I’m not a nurse/doctor etc but I still loved it.
The whole book was a joy to listen to, I usually have a book on when I go to sleep but I couldn’t do that with this one as I stayed awake too late listening to it.

Highly recommend if you enjoyed books like “This is going to hurt” or “‘Twas the night shift before Christmas”.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Colin Black is hilarious, smart and very witty!

This book made me laugh all the way through. I love anything comical about the medical world being in that line of work myself it’s nice when someone adds humour!
I enjoy books where the author also narrates but doesn’t speak in a monotone boring voice.. Colin Blacks accent compliments the book in a wonderful way!
Thoroughly enjoyable! Highly recommended

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Gas Man book

A very informative read into this area of medicine. Following surgery I very inspired to read up what the role involved. Highly recommended.

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