B O O K R E V I E WS Book reviews Our pick of the best flight-related tomes this issue Eject! Eject! by John Nichol (published by Simon & Schuster UK, Waterstones, 16.99) Most in the aviation industry will no doubt be very familiar with the author, John Nichol, and his ordeal at the hands of the Iraqis during the first Gulf War. A familiar face in the media during, and since, that period, he is a respected author, with a wealth of aviation writing under his belt. His most recent book, Eject! Eject!, may well be the best yet. That his own survival is thanks to such a seat is reflected in the passion with which Eject! Eject! is infused. Telling the story of the history of the ejection seat, from its first tenuous iterations in the 1940s through to the technical marvels of today, the book combines history with personal accounts from those pilots and engineers involved in the seats development, all bound together with some superb storytelling. The difference that this one piece of technology has made to the safety levels of aircraft is astounding, with Martin-Baker seats alone having saved more than 7,600 lives in that period. Nichols interviews with ejectees, insight from manufacturers, and recollections from loved ones of those less lucky in their experiences, make the book varied, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable to read. Nichol combines an eye-opening educational story with thrilling accounts from those involved in ejections of the past 80 years in a book thats hard to put down. Highly recommended, and without doubt, a fantastic present for aviation enthusiasts. Review by Katy Lee, Log Board member This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay (published by Pan Macmillan, Waterstones, 9.99) This is Going to Hurt is a straightforward and amusing book about the experience of a junior doctor in training. He works the graveyard shifts, coping with basic and extreme medical issues under the pressure of gruelling working hours with some testing patients (and colleagues). He is underpaid and works in a stressful environment. However, he is perceived to be highly paid with the world at his feet similar to a pilot. That may be the case for a few, but not most in the Noughties low-cost model of life. The reality of long hours, weekend and last-minute callouts will be familiar. Dr Kay, who specialised as a gynaecologist and obstetrician, recounts many hilarious anecdotes, but he also looks back at his career and notes that what he felt was expected of him was extreme and unreasonable. While legal, it was not safe, and makes type rating training look simple: medical school calls for five years of study, followed by 90hour working weeks, before becoming a consultant. A junior doctor is similar to a first officer inasmuch as they often have up to nine years work experience after training. In an increasingly polarised society, the sheer hard work and determination that doctors and pilots need to reach their chosen career is often taken for granted. I thoroughly recommend this book. No wonder it has sold more than three million copies worldwide. Review by Matthew Martin, Log Board member Would you like to review a book for The Log? If so, wed love to hear from you. Simply email TheLog@balpa.org 57 THE LOG Win 24 pp57 Book Reviews.indd 57 01/12/2023 15:00