The New York Times bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist.
We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies-neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third.
In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from disaster response to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds.
An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyone working to get things right.
Industry Reviews
"I read The Checklist Manifesto in one sitting yesterday, which is an amazing tribute to the book that Gawande has crafted. Not only is the book loaded with fascinating stories, but it honestly changed the way I think about the world. It is the best book I've read in ages."-Steven Levitt, author of "Freakonomics" "Few medical writers working today can transmit the gore-drenched terror of an operation that suddenly goes wrong-a terror that has a special resonance when it is Dr. Gawande himself who makes the initial horrifying mistake. And few can make it as clear as he can what exactly is at stake in the effort to minimize calamities."-"The New York Times" "Even skeptical readers will find the evidence staggering. . . . Thoughtfully written and soundly defended, this book calls for medical professionals to improve patient care by adopting a basic, common-sense approach."-"The Washington Post" "A persu "I read The Checklist Manifesto in one sitting yesterday, which is an amazing tribute to the book that Gawande has crafted. Not only is the book loaded with fascinating stories, but it honestly changed the way I think about the world. It is the best book I've read in ages." --Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics
"Few medical writers working today can transmit the gore-drenched terror of an operation that suddenly goes wrong--a terror that has a special resonance when it is Dr. Gawande himself who makes the initial horrifying mistake. And few can make it as clear as he can what exactly is at stake in the effort to minimize calamities." --The New York Times
"Even skeptical readers will find the evidence staggering. . . . Thoughtfully written and soundly defended, this book calls for medical professionals to improve patient care by adopting a basic, common-sense approach." --The Washington Post
"A persuasive champion of his cause." --The Economist
"The Checklist Manifesto is beautifully written, engaging, and convincingly makes the case for adopting checklists in medicine, a project to which Gawande has devoted significant time over the last several years. . . . It is in many ways the most personal of his books, a direct call to action to change the way health care is delivered through straightforward and simple, yet proven, means. It is a call that deserves to be heard and heeded." --Journal of the American Medical Association
"Gawande deftly weaves in examples of checklist successes in diverse fields like aviation and skyscraper construction. . . . Fascinating reading." --New York Times Book Review
"This is a brilliant book about an idea so simple it sounds dumb until you hear the case for it. Atul Gawande presents an argument so strong that I challenge anyone to go away from this book unconvinced." --The Seattle Times
"Fascinating . . . presents a convincing case that adopting more checklists will surely help." --Bloomberg News
"Gawande argues convincingly and eloquently." --San Francisco Chronicle
"The scope goes well beyond medicine. . . Read this book and you might find yourself making checklists for the most mundane tasks--and be better off for it." --BusinessWeek
"A vivid, punchy exposition of an intriguing idea: that by-the-book routine trumps individual prowess." --Publishers Weekly
"Maintains the balance between accessibility and precision. He manages to be vivid without being gruesome. . . ." --The Guardian (UK)
"Riveting and thought-provoking." --The Times (UK)
"Eye-popping. . . Gawande writes with vigor and clarity." --New Haven Advocate I read The Checklist Manifesto in one sitting yesterday, which is an amazing tribute to the book that Gawande has crafted. Not only is the book loaded with fascinating stories, but it honestly changed the way I think about the world. It is the best book I've read in ages. Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics
Few medical writers working today can transmit the gore-drenched terror of an operation that suddenly goes wrong--a terror that has a special resonance when it is Dr. Gawande himself who makes the initial horrifying mistake. And few can make it as clear as he can what exactly is at stake in the effort to minimize calamities. The New York Times
Even skeptical readers will find the evidence staggering. . . . Thoughtfully written and soundly defended, this book calls for medical professionals to improve patient care by adopting a basic, common-sense approach. The Washington Post
A persuasive champion of his cause. The Economist
The Checklist Manifesto is beautifully written, engaging, and convincingly makes the case for adopting checklists in medicine, a project to which Gawande has devoted significant time over the last several years. . . . It is in many ways the most personal of his books, a direct call to action to change the way health care is delivered through straightforward and simple, yet proven, means. It is a call that deserves to be heard and heeded. Journal of the American Medical Association
Gawande deftly weaves in examples of checklist successes in diverse fields like aviation and skyscraper construction. . . . Fascinating reading. New York Times Book Review
This is a brilliant book about an idea so simple it sounds dumb until you hear the case for it. Atul Gawande presents an argument so strong that I challenge anyone to go away from this book unconvinced. The Seattle Times
Fascinating . . . presents a convincing case that adopting more checklists will surely help. Bloomberg News
Gawande argues convincingly and eloquently. San Francisco Chronicle
The scope goes well beyond medicine. . . Read this book and you might find yourself making checklists for the most mundane tasks--and be better off for it. BusinessWeek
A vivid, punchy exposition of an intriguing idea: that by-the-book routine trumps individual prowess. Publishers Weekly
Maintains the balance between accessibility and precision. He manages to be vivid without being gruesome. . . . The Guardian (UK)
Riveting and thought-provoking. The Times (UK)
Eye-popping. . . Gawande writes with vigor and clarity. New Haven Advocate
" I read The Checklist Manifesto in one sitting yesterday, which is an amazing tribute to the book that Gawande has crafted. Not only is the book loaded with fascinating stories, but it honestly changed the way I think about the world. It is the best book I've read in ages. "Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics"
Few medical writers working today can transmit the gore-drenched terror of an operation that suddenly goes wrong--a terror that has a special resonance when it is Dr. Gawande himself who makes the initial horrifying mistake. And few can make it as clear as he can what exactly is at stake in the effort to minimize calamities. "The New York Times"
Even skeptical readers will find the evidence staggering. . . . Thoughtfully written and soundly defended, this book calls for medical professionals to improve patient care by adopting a basic, common-sense approach. "The Washington Post"
A persuasive champion of his cause. "The Economist"
"The Checklist Manifesto "is beautifully written, engaging, and convincingly makes the case for adopting checklists in medicine, a project to which Gawande has devoted significant time over the last several years. . . . It is in many ways the most personal of his books, a direct call to action to change the way health care is delivered through straightforward and simple, yet proven, means. It is a call that deserves to be heard and heeded. "Journal of the American Medical Association"
Gawande deftly weaves in examples of checklist successes in diverse fields like aviation and skyscraper construction. . . . Fascinating reading. "New York Times Book Review"
This is a brilliant book about an idea so simple it sounds dumb until you hear the case for it. Atul Gawande presents an argument so strong that I challenge anyone to go away from this book unconvinced. "The Seattle Times"
Fascinating . . . presents a convincing case that adopting more checklists will surely help. "Bloomberg News"
Gawande argues convincingly and eloquently. "San Francisco Chronicle"
The scope goes well beyond medicine. . . Read this book and you might find yourself making checklists for the most mundane tasks--and be better off for it. "BusinessWeek"
A vivid, punchy exposition of an intriguing idea: that by-the-book routine trumps individual prowess. "Publishers Weekly"
Maintains the balance between accessibility and precision. He manages to be vivid without being gruesome. . . . "The Guardian (UK)"
Riveting and thought-provoking. "The Times (UK)"
Eye-popping. . . Gawande writes with vigor and clarity. "New Haven Advocate"" "I read The Checklist Manifesto in one sitting yesterday, which is an amazing tribute to the book that Gawande has crafted. Not only is the book loaded with fascinating stories, but it honestly changed the way I think about the world. It is the best book I've read in ages."--Steven Levitt, author of "Freakonomics" "Few medical writers working today can transmit the gore-drenched terror of an operation that suddenly goes wrong--a terror that has a special resonance when it is Dr. Gawande himself who makes the initial horrifying mistake. And few can make it as clear as he can what exactly is at stake in the effort to minimize calamities."--"The New York Times" "Even skeptical readers will find the evidence staggering. . . . Thoughtfully written and soundly defended, this book calls for medical professionals to improve patient care by adopting a basic, common-sense approach."--"The Washington Post" "A persuasive champion of his cause."--"The Economist" ""The Checklist Manifesto "is beautifully written, engaging, and convincingly makes the case for adopting checklists in medicine, a project to which Gawande has devoted significant time over the last several years. . . . It is in many ways the most personal of his books, a direct call to action to change the way health care is delivered through straightforward and simple, yet proven, means. It is a call that deserves to be heard and heeded."--"Journal of the American Medical Association" "Gawande deftly weaves in examples of checklist successes in diverse fields like aviation and skyscraper construction. . . . Fascinating reading."--"New York Times Book Review" "This is a brilliant book about an idea so simple it sounds dumb until you hear the case for it. Atul Gawande presents an argument so strong that I challenge anyone to go away from this book unconvinced."--"The Seattle Times" "Fascinating . . . presents a convincing case that adopting more checklists will surely help."--"Bloomberg News" "Gawande argues convincingly and eloquently."--"San Francisco Chronicle" "The scope goes well beyond medicine. . . Read this book and you might find yourself making checklists for the most mundane tasks--and be better off for it."--"BusinessWeek" "A vivid, punchy exposition of an intriguing idea: that by-the-book routine trumps individual prowess."--"Publishers Weekly"
"Maintains the balance between accessibility and precision. He manages to be vivid without being gruesome. . . . --"The Guardian "(UK) "Riveting and thought-provoking."--"The Times "(UK) "Eye-popping. . . Gawande writes with vigor and clarity."--"New Haven Advocate"
