A profound and provocative journey through the human body.

‘Gripping…bold, humane’ Guardian

‘Sings from the page’ Rachel Clarke, author of THE STORY OF A HEART

For Gabriel Weston, there was always something missing from the anatomy she was taught at medical school. As she became a surgeon, a mother, and ultimately a patient herself, she found herself grappling with the gap between the body she understood as a doctor, and the reality of living in one.

In this captivating exploration of our bodily organs, a fuller and more human picture of our bodies emerges: more fragile, frightening and miraculous than we could have imagined.

‘An exceptional, absorbing tour of human life and bodies’
Chris van Tulleken, author of ULTRA-PROCESSED PEOPLE

‘Filled with fascinating facts’ Daily Telegraph

‘A pitch-perfect book’ Christie Watson, author of THE LANGUAGE OF KINDNESS

‘A book of wonder’ Sarah Moss, author of SUMMERWATER

"Weston interweaves anatomy with medical history, public health, anecdotes from her surgical practice, and, above all, the warm, pulsing, personal experience of her own living body… What sings from the page is Weston’s intoxication with the human form" - Lancet

"Unusual and gripping... as much about what our bodies mean to us, how they feel to us, as what they do... This bold, humane yet unsettling book...will make you see your own body a bit differently, perhaps change how you feel in your skin." - Guardian

"Change relies on people pushing against the heavy door of tradition – which Alive brilliantly persuades us all to do more forcefully – finding new ways to imagine and inhabit the space beneath our skin" - Observer

"Gabriel Weston is an extraordinary writer … The book is a powerful read… Her descriptions really make the human body come alive." - The Spectator

"Refreshingly accessible... Alive comes heartily recommended to anyone wishing to better acquaint themselves with their own fluids" - New Statesman