Matt McAvoy Book Review

I should immediately disclose that I helped Arthur Williams in producing this book, but that has no bearing whatsoever on my review, which I submit freely and honestly.  In a nutshell, this is an excellent book, and Arthur is a fantastic author, who knows his subject matter very well.  As the book’s protagonist, surgeon Ben Anderson, undergoes his own routine heart procedures, what starts off as a mind-bending trip on the powerful, hallucinogenic sedative ketamine turns into a wondrous expedition through different times in history.  As the intensity of and messaging in these visions becomes more profound, it becomes increasingly clear to Ben that they are somehow metaphorical in nature - if only he could figure out what they are trying to tell him.  So, just as Ben addresses his own racism, his own misogyny, his anthropology, his political beliefs and common traits with his ancestors, he also finds himself questioning the very meaning of man’s evolution.

This book is crafted superbly, and I know that Wiliams has worked incredibly hard to ensure its structure is perfect – he has certainly achieved this, perfectly balancing all aspects of the book: its seriousness, drama, poignancy, humour, moral and ethical issues, and not to mention its narrative components.  It is the best book you’ll read in quite some time, I assure you.  The real star is the author’s general knowledge and also his specialist knowledge.  I believe he is a professional surgeon by trade, but he also appears to have a passion for history, particularly American history.  He studies the subject of anthropology from a scientific and a humanist point of view; indeed, much of the book is spent debating this with Darwin himself.

It is hard for me to explain too much about this book without giving away its best aspects.  Suffice to say, read it; if you are a smart, thoughtful reader I don’t doubt you’ll enjoy it.