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This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Adam Kay (Author, Narrator), Picador (Publisher)
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Read by the author, Adam Kay.

The multi-million copy bestseller
Book of the Year at The National Book Awards

‘Painfully funny. The pain and the funniness somehow add up to something entirely good, entirely noble and entirely loveable.' - Stephen Fry

Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you.

Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, Adam Kay's This is Going to Hurt provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, this diary is everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn't – about life on and off the hospital ward.

Sunday Times Number One Bestseller for over eight months and winner of a record FOUR National Book Awards: Book of the Year, Non-Fiction Book of the Year, New Writer of the Year and Zoe Ball Book Club Book of the Year.

This edition includes extra diary entries and a new afterword by the author.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    5 hours and 47 minutes
  2. Author
    Adam Kay
  3. Narrator
    Adam Kay
  4. Audible release date
    7 Sept. 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Picador
  7. ASIN
    B071GLW3TZ
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 47 minutes
Author Adam Kay
Narrator Adam Kay
Audible.co.uk Release Date 07 September 2017
Publisher Picador
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B071GLW3TZ
Best Sellers Rank 938 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
1 in Health Care Education
2 in Biographies of Medical Professionals

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
103,817 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the writing quality well-written, approachable, and honest. They also describe the humor as very funny, shocking, and disturbing. Readers describe the emotional tone as warm, heart-rending, and amazing. They describe the reading level as amazing. Customers also mention the content as eye-opening, providing insight into what it's like to work for the NHS. They appreciate the medical terms explained in footnotes. Customers describe the truthfulness as spot-on and honest in describing the life of a doctor.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
HumorReading levelContentEmotional toneWriting qualityTruthfulnessReadabilityPlot
4,780 customers mention ‘Humor’4,632 positive148 negative

Customers find the book hilarious, witty, and adds medical jargon with added humor. They also say it's face ache funny, but also moving and sensitive.

"...Often horrifying, shocking and disturbing, but written with such wit and large doses of gallows humour, making even the most difficult stories..." Read more

"...Thank you Adam for a enjoyable funny and at times heartbreaking read." Read more

"...Utterly hilarious, educational and heartbreaking. I've shed tears of both laughter and sadness reading this book...." Read more

"...It was very amusing, I soon got into the style of it. I liked his humour-l laughed out loud (just a couple of cringey bits, hence the 4 stars)...." Read more

3,922 customers mention ‘Reading level’3,867 positive55 negative

Customers find the book an amazing read, brilliant, and sugar-coated entertainment. They also say the NHS is an amazing institution and should be cherished and looked after.

"...As is often the case, the book is even better!..." Read more

"...It's really unpleasant I can assure you! The NHS is an amazing institution and should be cherished and looked after...." Read more

"...What a great read!" Read more

"...This book was a joy to read although had me in tears at the end and not from the wit...." Read more

2,190 customers mention ‘Content’2,082 positive108 negative

Customers find the book eye-opening, relatable, and truthful. They appreciate the clear message and footnotes. Readers also mention that the book does not preach or whine, but paints a realistic picture of the NHS.

"...Often horrifying, shocking and disturbing, but written with such wit and large doses of gallows humour, making even the most difficult stories..." Read more

"...Utterly hilarious, educational and heartbreaking. I've shed tears of both laughter and sadness reading this book...." Read more

"...Lots of footnotes too-and I absolutely read them all, because, as well as info, these were often so funny too...." Read more

"...Adam Kay has a very personable style and is highly humorous. Humor is used to cope through some very stressful situations...." Read more

1,720 customers mention ‘Emotional tone’1,527 positive193 negative

Customers find the emotional tone of the book heart-rending, ugly cry heartbreaking, and devastating. They also say it's a cracking read and an eye-opener about the health service.

"...Thank you Adam for a enjoyable funny and at times heartbreaking read." Read more

"...Utterly hilarious, educational and heartbreaking. I've shed tears of both laughter and sadness reading this book...." Read more

"Book arrived on time and in excellent condition. Story wise - funny and eye opening...." Read more

"Engaging - funny - sad - interesting…...." Read more

1,312 customers mention ‘Writing quality’1,211 positive101 negative

Customers find the book well written, easy to read, and approachable. They also say it's written in diary format, which they love. Readers also say the book spares the reader nothing and is too detailed.

"...Often horrifying, shocking and disturbing, but written with such wit and large doses of gallows humour, making even the most difficult stories..." Read more

"...I look forward to reading Adam’s next book as I enjoyed his writing style his honesty and I GET IT I understood what he was aiming to convey to the..." Read more

"...It's written in diary format, which I love. At first, I wasn’t sure it was completely my thing...." Read more

"...those pages that attracted me to the book - perhaps the open, honest fast way he wrote?..." Read more

789 customers mention ‘Truthfulness’756 positive33 negative

Customers find the book very honest, real, and accurate. They also say the writing is sparkling, self-deprecating, and funny. Customers also say it's a realistic portrayal of what the pressure truly feels like.

"...As is often the case, the book is even better! The book is filled with brutal honesty about life as a junior doctor - the despair and joys of their..." Read more

"...but it seems a very realistic portrayal of what the pressure truly feels like regardless and I think, jokes aside, Kay really wanted to celebrate..." Read more

"Quite a honest and at times humorous, insightful read" Read more

"Amazingly accurate" Read more

221 customers mention ‘Readability’163 positive58 negative

Customers find the book easy to pick up and put down, lightweight, and easy to plough through. They also say it's witty, captivating, and unputdownable.

"...Light, short diary entries, easy to read, and hard to put down...." Read more

"...I myself do not do much reading and found it very easy to get into, enjoyed the layout." Read more

"...Addictive and hard to put down, I was reading it late into the night...." Read more

"This book was unputdownable! It is a particularly pertinent read now given the junior doctor's strikes...." Read more

186 customers mention ‘Plot’140 positive46 negative

Customers find the plot engaging, witty, and funny. They say the book flows well, keeps them turning the pages, and is a good book for dipping in and out. Customers also say the story tugs on the heartstrings and has a brilliant turn of phrase. They also mention the narration is engaging throughout and gives a real and personal view.

"Engaging - funny - sad - interesting…...." Read more

"...The book flows very well and it kept me turning the pages until the early hours of the morning...." Read more

"...I felt like adam kay read it to me himself! Really engaging and captivating read !..." Read more

"...It was only halfway through that I realised the time gaps between the events described: from a couple of days upto 6 weeks...." Read more

Insightful and prevalent read - whilst being very funny.
4 out of 5 stars
Insightful and prevalent read - whilst being very funny.
‘𝙎𝙤 𝙄 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝: 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚; 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.’~Really enjoyed the first one & read it really quickly. I did watch the TV series for this one first - which I never normally do - but it does differ a lot from the book so it didn’t matter. They’re both enjoyable in their own rights too.They’re both a very prevalent read at the moment, as we’re seeing just how stretched the NHS is with its very overworked and underpaid staff. Hilarious and heartbreaking in the same breathe, Kay vividly discusses his experiences working on the front line with raw honestly and quite colourful detail.I think these books almost need to be taken on face value and not overthought too much. They’re an interesting insight into the health service and those working in it, with some humorous and heart wrenching moments along the way.I will just add that I did part of the first on audio and the whole second one on audio. I love that Adam Kay narrates it himself, he’s brilliant at it and I could quite happily have him reading to me all day 😂
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Katherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Searingly honest and hilarious!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 June 2024
Verified Purchase
Read this after watching the TV version. As is often the case, the book is even better! The book is filled with brutal honesty about life as a junior doctor - the despair and joys of their day to day working life. Often horrifying, shocking and disturbing, but written with such wit and large doses of gallows humour, making even the most difficult stories palatable. Couldn’t put it down! A must read.
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Mrs. L. A. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE stars ……from me……Enjoyable, funny, heartbreaking reading……I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2022
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Well…..I have read the reviews.
I have read the book from first page to last. I don’t always leave reviews but in this book I felt compelled to say what I thought…so here goes…
I can relate to Adam’s writing as a former NHS nurse who also dipped her toe into the private sector and the HMP Prison nursing arena. Humour is a necessity in order to survive the NHS it’s humour that gets most of us through the gruelling shifts, the unhappy patients SORRY clients, the angry relatives, the happy outcome we all strive to achieve.
There is a raw truth to Adam’s book that is sadly still a reality of the NHS today…..his writing and description was well written of the topic being discussed. He explained in detail to assist the reader through each scenario/chapter. I do confess to laughing out loud at one part in the book I won’t spoil it for you suffice to say I hope you will also laugh at the sentence “ the thieving little #@# “ I could just picture the scene in my head and yes I admit I laughed and still laugh as I think of it and the way Adam describes it as anyone of us could have been that nurse uttering those words following such a gruelling search to find a “lost swab”
Adam is telling his experience of working in a overworked underpaid NHS but like the rest of us he gets up the next day and goes to work to help others, he stayed the extra hours that were unpaid as he couldn’t walk away from someone in need, so his working day became longer but his patients/clients were looked after most days he like the rest of us would fall into bed and a welcomed sleep knowing that they had done there very best at work.
Adam came across to me as a dedicated caring person doing the best he could under harrowing at times circumstances Adam is a good doctor …..he cared. If you decide to read this book do so with an open mind you will read raw emotions, swear words, feelings and tempers will be raised at times but also the important being is all is controlled by Adam and he does his very best for his patients Ooops clients. I look forward to reading Adam’s next book as I enjoyed his writing style his honesty and I GET IT I understood what he was aiming to convey to the reader he portrayed a reality many of us face daily, but at the end of day the famous words “to thine own self be true” ring out loud and clear for me. Thank you Adam for a enjoyable funny and at times heartbreaking read.
13 people found this helpful
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Min
5.0 out of 5 stars Save the NHS
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2018
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One of the best books I have read in a long time. I don't normally go for non fiction, but in this case truth is waaaaay stranger, funny and sad than fiction. Utterly hilarious, educational and heartbreaking. I've shed tears of both laughter and sadness reading this book. I've also felt my anger escalate to a very uncomfortable level.
What the current uk government is going to the NHS and well intentioned medics is beyond disgusting and they should literally hang their heads in shame. A couple of years back I heard the secretary of health claim that doctors needed to break out of their "9 to 5 mentality." I didn't need to read this book to know he was talking rubbish. I mean, my cat knew he was talking rubbish but then again my cat is more in touch, has more common sense and a higher IQ. But after reading this book I realise what an insult and slap in the face that comment really was. As was the PMs comment (when campaigning) to a tearful nurse who hadn't had a pay rise in 6 that there wasn't a "Magic money tree" - well there is for the things this government feel are important like wespons and the DUP - the NHS however, a socialised health care system for rich, medium or poor, for anyone including MPs, is clearly not one of them.
I've lived in America - I know what it's like to be sick and not be able to afford to pay for treatment. It's really unpleasant I can assure you! The NHS is an amazing institution and should be cherished and looked after. I can promise you this - you'll miss it when it's gone!
Thank you Dr Kay (you don't need the GMC to tell you that you're a doc)
And thank you to all the staff at Pembury Hospital, Kent, who admitted me and looked after me from 28 weeks into my pregnancy with my daughter. I had severe preeclampsia and I lived in hospital until they delivered my daughter at 36 weeks and then safely nursed us both back to health for the next fortnight. I felt like I was part of a family during that time in hospital and I wouldn't have got through that time with out you all - Much love
15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Rafaëlle Demontis
5.0 out of 5 stars Quase uma autobiografia médica.
Reviewed in Brazil on 25 December 2022
Verified Purchase
Como também médica recém-formada, muitas frases lidas até a então metade do livro parecem tiradas da minha cabeça – risada garantida. Está sendo uma leitura muito prazerosa, ainda mais por ter perdido o costume de leitura não-acadêmica após tantos anos entre pré-vestibular e faculdade.
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Moss
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writing
Reviewed in Canada on 10 March 2022
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I have read this book twice, the first time in 2018 when it first came out, and then, having forgotten I had read it, I read it again last week. It’s still struck me as empathetic, funny in parts and a very good read.
4 people found this helpful
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navratan
5.0 out of 5 stars Hillarious
Reviewed in India on 27 April 2024
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Amazing light hearted comedy
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Harry_Hood
5.0 out of 5 stars Not funny … just true
Reviewed in Germany on 4 February 2024
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The blurb and publicity praise the book as an adorably funny satire on the hospital business. Yes, it is funny, it is set in Great Britain, mainly in gynaecology and in the British NHS healthcare system, but it is not (actually) satire. It is an exact description of a doctor's work and, apart from a few deviations (our specialist training does not follow exactly the same pattern), it can be transferred exactly to Germany, to everything that goes wrong, to everything that is a daily burden for all employees in the healthcare system. Even many of the situations that seem very strange or even absurd to outsiders have probably been experienced in the same or a similar way by almost everyone who has worked in a hospital for a few years. I am sure that they happened in exactly the same way and were not invented by the author. In particular - and this is where the book ends - it is an indictment of the complete disregard shown by politicians for the people who work in hospitals or elsewhere on a daily basis. But in the end it doesn't matter. Even our current Minister of Health, Mr Lauterbach, would probably not change anything if he were to devote his precious time to this book at all, and would probably not even feel addressed. In this respect: absolutely worth reading, but also very depressing. Not funny.
One person found this helpful
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Molly
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny
Reviewed in Italy on 7 January 2023
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Such a fun and particularly British book - two thirds are about his time in the gynae department so it might be a difficult read for pregnant women (as myself atm) at times, but fun nonetheless
One person found this helpful
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