Alive is one of those books that takes you beyond science and into experience. I loved the flow of the book as we focus on the different organs, it was like travelling through the body on an exploration. There are some more scientific parts, with my basic knowledge
I felt I understood everything and at the same time expanded my mind. If you are on the more squeamish side then be prepared for detailed passages. Be this is an intimate examination after all and the brutal reality of the sciences. I loved the incorporation of art and also of the authors real life experiences. We all have a body yet we don’t know even half of what it does and how that’s achieved. If you want a personalised story and a fascinating read then this book is for you. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

If you don’t like detailed description of body parts, this title may not be for you. In a former life, I was involved with observing post mortem examinations, which I initially dreaded. However, the pathologist was an articulate and gentle man who talked the whole way through, explaining what he was doing, why, and what he found. It was fascinating and he always treated the individuals with respect and as people rather than a corpse.

Gabriel Weston’s book reminded me very much of some of those examinations. She personalises the story and packs in huge amounts of medical and physiological information, but at a very human level. Absolutely fascinating. Easy to read, albeit in small chunks and although a lay person, I’d think this would be of interest to those considering medicine.

An interesting book about the human body. It looks at the wonders of each organ but is interspersed with personal experiences that really bring it to life. Recommended.

'Alive - an Alternative Anatomy' by the surgeon Gabriel Weston is looking at the body through a more human prism.

It starts with the observation of an autopsy which is not for the fainthearted. The following chapters center around different organs like the gut, the brain and the lungs. The book is very informative and even though I never had anatomy lessons in college I've learned a lot which will help me in my medical profession. I like the way Gabriel Weston humanises the body and adds her personal experience and observations to the scientific facts.

The human body is amazing and this book manages to convey exactly that. It is a great read for anybody interested in science and medicine.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC.

I was approached and asked if I wanted to read this pre publication as it seemed up.my street. They were correct, it was right up my street.
A fascinating exploration of the human bodily functions with great explanations. Flipping between anatomy and personal experiences this book gripped me.
The book throws you straight into the deepend with a description of an autopsy but I love this. I am so fascinated with the human body. I was much like Gabriel when I was a student. I was always asking if I can observe theater and surgery and I have been lucky enough to observe and help in many situations.

I adore medical books/memoirs and this one was a lovely combination of them both. Alongside personal anecdotes about her own medical training as well as her experience as both a patient and the parent of a patient, this is a brilliant and highly accessible account of the wonder of the human body and how it works. I loved it.

Alive by Gabriel Weston is a profound and intimate exploration of the human body, looking beyond the scientific details of anatomy to delve into the lived experience of inhabiting a body. Weston, a surgeon herself, brings a unique perspective, having navigated both the knowledge gained from her medical training and the personal journey of becoming a patient. The book reflects on the tension between the clinical understanding of the body and the deeper, more complex reality of how we experience life through our physical selves.

In Alive, Weston takes us through a deeply personal and meditative examination of various organs, considering them not just as structures to be studied or operated upon, but as integral parts of the stories that make up our lives. She brings the clinical into the realm of the human, blending her professional expertise with the vulnerability and fragility that come with being a living, breathing person. The narrative goes beyond the surface to explore how our bodies shape our experiences, both physically and emotionally, and the tension between the body’s fragility and its capacity for resilience.

The book touches on themes of mortality, connection, and the transient nature of existence, offering readers a holistic view of life that is as much about the inner workings of the body as it is about the moments, relationships, and stories that define us. Alive presents an anatomy like no other, one that acknowledges the fears, beauty, and miracles of living. It’s a book that draws attention to the complexity of being human—both as an individual with a body and as part of a shared human experience.

If the exploration of the human body and its deeper significance resonates with you, this is a truly captivating and thought-provoking read that will leave you reflecting on the miraculous, fragile nature of life.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a really great read and such an interesting and informative take on the human body and anatomy.
Given the subject matter and that the author is a surgeon this is a very descriptive book with plenty of graphic insights into surgery & technical/medical language used.
What makes this a very different read is that the author doesn't just look at the scientific side of anatomy but also the personal, emotional and spiritual side and the importance of empathy.
Not for the queasy or faint-hearted but a great informative read for the strong stomached.

I really enjoyed this book and the story it told and I wish the author all the best with this book

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book

Alice by Gabriel Weston

A great & very informative book .
The author takes us on a journey of our body and tells us the story of gets as well . Some may struggle with certain chapter due to the content.

I have always thought of the human body as a wonderous machine; so complex that it is little wonder that it sometimes goes awry.
Gabriel Weston reaches out to non-medical people with this book which some, admittedly, may find rather gruesome when reading the first few chapters as graphic descriptions of surgeries and autopsies are described in vivid detail.
Then as she goes through her own experiences and I can see the empathy there. The machine malfunctions.
The book is very technical and it depends whether that fascinates you or you want a straightforward book on someone’s path through their training and career. If the latter then I do not believe this is for you.
For me, someone who enjoys medical programmes showing how surgeons try to fix what was once thought to be unfixable, it was fascinating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for the ARC.

I think the title is misleading. I really don't get how this anatomy book, which is not an anatomy book, is an alternative to an anatomy book understood stereotypically. Is it because it's more personal? The personal bit I find creepy and bizarre, frankly.
The author tries to make anatomy more familiar and less scary. This is supposed to be achieved by inserting glimpses from personal daily life, history, biology, and culture. Some parts are interesting, and I made some notes, but overall, it doesn't work. In my opinion, there's too much of an author.
The writing style is a bit heavy and chaotic. We jump constantly from one thing to another, and often, it's hard to spot the connection. In the beginning, the book is packed with medical jargon, which is way too much for an average reader to digest. Later on, there's less and less science, more personal life and thoughts.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

An extraordinary well written novel from Gabriel. I found it very interesting and very informative as he gives excellent descriptions and facts about the human body. Some parts were so descriptive and sensitive I felt nauseous and had to skip sections- more suited to a medical person.

A little unusually I imagine Gabriel Weston studied to be a doctor after leaving an Art degree course. This has probably given her a rather different perspective on the understanding of the profession. It looks as though this book was quite a while in the making but was something she wanted to make a statement about. It is her view of the human body as a doctor, a surgeon and a person. Her take on the reproductive side of anatomy is coloured not simple by being a doctor but also because she is a mother for example.

The book has chapters on a number of the main parts of the body from Bone and Skin through to Brain and Heart. The first chapter had me wondering if this book was really for me. It was an autopsy, fairly graphic, and not really my kind of thing. The following chapter on bones seemed a little too technical at times and I found myself wondering who this book was really for. Then I started to get drawn in!

The next two chapters were on Genitals and Gut and I became increasingly fascinated. In particular the chapter on the gut was based on fairly modern ideas reflecting new understanding of the gut biome for example. The issues with C Diff were really interesting and showed the author's fairly modern approach to medicine. The simple fact that, in general, our bodies actually work and keep us alive is remarkable given the complexities of our bodies and came over well in this book. Some parts of this I probably had a rough idea about, others left me enlightened and amazed. Despite breathing regularly for many years now I had no real idea how my lungs worked!

I have to say that this is at times quite a technical book though probably OK for the technical person in the street. Not all chapters worked as well for me and I would have welcomed more about the author's and her family's medical issues for example. There's no question that these colour this book as does simply being human. I loved the fact that doctors can be like that and there are certainly hints in this that doctors are getting it. However the book also makes clear that all is not well with aspects of the treatment of patients too.

All in all an extremely interesting read if the basic idea of this appeals to you. 4.5/5

As you might expect from a book about anatomy, written by a practising surgeon, there are descriptions of surgeries that might be a sensitive for some people. However Gabriel brings her arts background to the descriptions. You can feel her enthusiasm and awe of the human body in her writing.
With chapters focusing on different aspects of the body, from liver, to heart via an excellent explanation about how sex develops in utero and why its not as simple as male and female, which is a timely reminder about sex and gender theory.
I do not have a medical background, though many of my immediate family work for the NHS, so I would say I probably have a good knowledge of anatomy for a layperson. I found it interesting and engaging.
I think it would be a tricky read for those of a sensitive nature, or those with health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder.
With thanks to Netgalley and Vintage, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

For Gabriel Weston, there was always something missing from the anatomy she was taught at medical school. Medicine teaches us how a body functions, but it doesn't help us navigate the reality of living in one/. As she became a surgeon, a mother, and ultimately a patient herself, Weston found herself grappling with the gap between scientific knowledge and unfathomable complexity of human experience.

This book is not for the faint of heart as there are graphic scenes of surgery and autopsies.. There was also a bit of medical terminology that I wasn't sure about. The first chapter is about an autopsy that has been descriptively written and I felt I was standing at the sideline watching. She also tells us about her own and her son's ailments. This is a fascinating and intriguing read.

Published 6th March 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Vintage and the author #GabrielWeston for my ARC of #Alive in exchange for an honest review.

This book explores the anatomy of the human body in a way that is philosophical, abstract and meaningful. In a world where science is separated from the spiritual, this book is a breath of fresh air. Readers will find that the human body is not just a sum of parts, but a place where physical matter ultimately makes up a person's spirit, being and personality - essentially, it is what makes us 'Alive' and human. There is a lot of medical jargon involved, but hopefully this shouldn't put the reader off from understanding the perspective that the author is putting forward in the book. Overall, I would give this book 3/5 stars.

I’ll admit this took me a bit to get into but once I did….wow. I found this book so interesting. And eye opening. I wasn’t sure if I was the right audience for this until about a third of the way into it so I advise anyone who’s thinking if they should continue DEFINITELY do. This book has incredible knowledge but also has a lot of heart and I would recommend this to anyone interested in health, medicine and their own body and the health system.

Thank you to the publisher for reaching out and giving me the opportunity to read this. Thank you to the author for their work and as always thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

How I would have loved the author to have taught me anatomy during my nurse training years ago. As it was presented to me then, it felt as lifeless, dull and dry as the skeleton that rattled its way into the room.

Dr Gabriel Weston describes the intricacies of human anatomy in lyrically descriptive, and creative ways that ignite a fire of enthusiasm in the reader. We see and feel and are enthralled by it too.

She brings the bare bones of anatomy alive as only a medical professional can, especially one who has retained her early fascination and love for the wondrous design it really is, and has the literary talent to describe it so compellingly.

We see her switch from being a trainee to becoming a competent surgeon, and a vulnerable, (less willing, perhaps) patient-participant herself, while always maintaining the role of interested observer.

Even if its anatomy can seem daunting and difficult to comprehend, the human body is an intriguing thing to study at any level. It becomes a thing of awe, wonder and beauty in Dr Weston’s skilful hands.

Part scientific research, part sharing of vast experiential knowledge, and part memoir, this deeply personal, beautiful book has much to teach us. Grateful thanks to Vintage, Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for the eARC.

There is a fair bit of interesting information in this book but I personally found the writing style difficult to follow as it jumps around, for example it might be explaining about a body part and then jumps to an operation scene and it's not immediately clear how they connect. There's also a lot of medical terminology which I'm not familiar with. This would be interesting for those interested in medicine though with a lot of detail on surgery in particular.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review