Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right is much more interesting that the title suggests. The scope of this eloquently written work goes beyond medicine–the principles apply to everyday life.
The author is a physician and goes into some detail about how and why checklists are important in treating the complications of modern medicine. In many medical procedures, it takes a team to adequately care for a patient. To have a checklist makes sense, especially when there are cross-over issues between specialists. The importance of checklists within each specialty and as they apply to others can make a difference between life or death.
Dr. Gawande worked with the World Health Organization to develop effective surgical checklists, and today more than twenty countries use these as a standard for care.
Among the first professions to create checklists was the aeronautic industry. With the complexity of airplanes, the necessity of a checklist was recognized. Even the most experienced pilot might overlook a small detail that could result in a fatal crash.
Almost any profession benefits by making checklists. Gawande goes into some detail about building a skyscraper that could withstand an earthquake. The author spent time with a well-known builder and was shown the sixteen intricate trades that go into building a structure. Huge checklists are formed to track and communicate between trades such as basic construction, electrical, plumbing, mechanics, etc.
In the complexity of our everyday lives, checklists can make life more meaningful and organized. Rather than relying on memory to accomplish tasks, making a checklist frees the mind and allows more creativity with less stress.
I immensely enjoyed The Checklist Manifesto. Atul Gawande is a brilliant writer who tells fascinating stories to make his argument for the importance of checklists. The premise of the book may not sound exciting, but it is one of the most compelling books I have read this year.
I have heard of other medicine related books by Atul Gawande, but had not heard of this one. It seems he has done his research well as he had done for Being Mortal. With changing technology and interaction among physicians it is a good idea to follow a checklist. Thank you for the suggestion, Mary.
Atul Gawande is one of my favorite non-fiction authors, Hema. Being Mortal was wonderful (I reviewed it too!). He can make any topic interesting and worthwhile, it seems. I’m a list-maker anyway, so this book was of special interest to me.
Great idea. Looks like a helpful book. Thanks for sharing.
It’s a really worthwhile book, Carmen. I am a list maker anyway, but this book goes into the importance of checklists.