This instructive book is born from the day-to-day experiences of a successful academic surgeon. It is divided into forty-two concise essays containing straight forward pragmatic advice about the development of a surgical career - the topics include 'The life-cycle of a surgeon', 'The half-life of truth' 'Surgical etiquette', and 'Assisting at operations'. The text is easy to read and full of instructive epigrams and parables. It complements the usual surgical texts and details the hurdles that need to be overcome to be become an expert surgeon. It is full of wisdom borne of experience. You will find yourself reading this book again and again as your career progresses.