Mind That Child

An unforgettable, insightful and deeply humane memoir from a New Zealand paediatrician who has committed his life to the care and wellbeing of young people.

‘There is always a baby for whom you can feel happy at what they have achieved, or sad when things go wrong. There are always parents to help through an incredible journey . . . I am, I know, a very lucky man.’

Leading paediatrician Dr Simon Rowley has committed almost all of his working life to the care and wellbeing of children.

In Mind That Child, Rowley provides a rare glimpse into what it means to be entrusted with the most precious of responsibilities - a young human life. Charting his decades of medical experience, Rowley touches on an array of issues, from the high-stakes management of tiny pre-term babies to the serious impacts of drugs, alcohol and technology on developing minds. Real-life cases and practical advice are interwoven throughout a candid, compassionate narrative.

What's revealed is a tender and profound portrait of a medical professional at the very centre of what matters - a doctor who always adopts a humane, holistic view and who writes openly about the personal impact of a career in medicine.

A must-read for any parent and a wonderful insight into the high-pressure medical world.