"One of the most terrifying experiences of a medics’ life is making the transition from student to doctor. This book brilliantly articulates and demystifies that stage, providing reassurance that the many years of training were, actually, hugely useful, along with tips and pointers to make new doctors safer and more effective. I genuinely wish I had been able to access such a resource when I took my first tentative steps as Dr Helen, but I also believe there is great wisdom and insight herein that will have applicability to all of us on the frontline of clinical care."

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Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard

Chair of Council, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

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"A remarkable book. Luke Austen writes beautifully, sharing real-life stories to illustrate many of the key issues that will face doctors throughout their careers. His wisdom and compassion come shining through. Highly recommended."

 

Professor Sir David Haslam

Past President of the BMA, Past Chair of NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), author of Side Effects: How Our Healthcare Lost its Way - And How We Fix It

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"The Bleep Test is easy to read and almost like a novel. It is scattered with useful diagrams and very well referenced. There are many other similar books on the market but none quite like this one. I would certainly recommend this book to all young doctors but also to medical students to give them an understanding of what is ahead for them. Senior doctors should read this to remember what they went through themselves, making them even more understanding and supportive to their juniors. The book is written without medical jargon and therefore would be of great interest to the general public for an insight into our profession." 

 

Professor Dame Parveen Kumar

Emerita Professor of Medicine and Education

Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

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"The Bleep Test is an honest, insightful and compassionate book. It’s a guide to, and a guide through, the hidden curriculum of untaught competencies without which a new doctor’s life can become a Kafka-esque nightmare of self-doubt. Austen is not afraid to draw upon his own vulnerabilities and fallibilities, which confirms that he knows what he is talking about at first hand. He fleshes out each topic with relevant research and ideas from psychology, anthropology, business and economics. Young doctors will find his ‘been there, felt that, try this’ message all the more reassuring for coming from someone who was – is – one of their contemporaries. Despite its origins in adversity, The Bleep Test is an upbeat and eminently practical survival guide."

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Professor Roger Neighbour

Past President of The Royal College of General Practitioners

Visiting Professor of Medical Education

Brunel Medical School, Brunel University of London

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"I predict I will soon be reading reflections on this book in the personal statements of 6th formers applying to read medicine. It may (and probably should) replace Atul Gawande’s ‘Being Mortal’ as the most quoted tome in the personal statement! The Bleep Test contains valuable learning for senior doctors, medical educationalists and policymakers. With its depth and breadth, drawing on anthropology, psychology, philosophy and educational theory, it has the potential to be instrumental in a systemic culture-shift."

 

Dr Lois Brand

Associate Director of Clinical Studies, The University of Oxford

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"Few books tackle mental health and wellbeing in doctors and being able to recognise and cope with mistakes - one of the biggest fears of new doctors - is a poorly discussed and explored topic. The Bleep Test tackles this head on."

 

Dr Darryl Braganza Menezes

Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine

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