Customer reviews

Gawande speaks about checklists and many readers could agree with him. However the anecdote-approach limits the use of the book. For instance,, no mention of checklist criteria design before Annexes and, even there, a very short mention.

Interesting to find that one of the cases mentioned -Hudson river landing- had a problem related with a checklist (the manufacturer did not foresee a full power loss below 20000 ft.) losing precious seconds while using a checklist whose design did not fit the situation. The mention of a second Aviation case -Los Rodeos- is simply wrong and, precisely, investigators found that the pilot whose error was the main factor under the accident had been extremely careful following pre-flight procedures...not a good example to show the checklists use.

If someone is interested in checklist design -that was my case- Degani and Wiener still appear to be unsurpassed and the anecdote approach by Gawande does not fit that objective.

28 people found this helpful

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

11 comment

Nice, and simple.

ByAmazon Customeron July 1, 2018

It's a fine book, checklists can useful, but we sort of know that going in. The author tells some interesting stories about skyscrapers airplane pilots, and investors, but his main argument was a little soft.

Should checklists be Read and Do? Or to Confirm that it's been done. Should they cover things that almost never go wrong or should they just hit the frequent gaffes? Are they like a recipe, to be done in order, or like something you might take to the grocery store? Should you actually check items off, for a record, or can someone just go through it verbally. Any and all of that, I see.

So, it's a pleasant easy read and surely was fun to write, but I came away with just a few simple lessons:. Checklists can be get people to talk to one another, and that's often a good thing. And planning ahead is often a good idea.

if you never heard of a checklist....

0Comment

ByNicholas J Meyeron January 11, 2014

The author seems urgently compelled to teach what many technical people know (and utilize) routinely - we use checklists. It is an interesting read, he has some skill in presenting stories to support his somewhat banal cause - but ultimately, if you understand the importance of tracking complex processes with a checklist... don't bother reading this. While it was far from well laid out, there are some interesting insights on brevity, list structure and the like. I wish he would have made this information more clear. Regardless, it was far from earth shattering.
Not a "how to", more the astonished account of a slightly arrogant man learning that using checklists are important. Welcome to our world Mr. Gawande. You are smart and have great accomplishments to boast about, true. Now you let us know that using a checklist is important.

Thanks.

2 people found this helpful

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

0Comment

Buy Something Else

ByH.Hon April 27, 2018

Very dry and boring. The Whole idea is just make your own checklist for everything, done, end of book.

One person found this helpful

I bought this book to learn how to make thorough ...

0Comment

ByJeff Crandallon February 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this book to learn how to make thorough checklists for engineering projects and because the book has high ratings. But reading this book gave me the feeling that I was listening to someone who talks too much. The author goes on and on about topics that are common knowledge and also about emergency room stories. "Checklists are good" is all I got out of this book.

7 people found this helpful

Not much hands-on instruction, not much conceptual organization. Narrative content.

0Comment

ByN. Coppedgeon May 23, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I was surprised to find that this text (I think) has been re-written as a narrative, without much hands-on instruction, and without much conceptual organization. Of no use to a philosopher.

One person found this helpful

0Comment

Is this for real?

Byevanon October 16, 2015

What a regretful read. Self-referential, repetitive, badly written and ultimately a bore. This should have been a condensed 30 page autobiography - rather it was an old piece of gum, chewed well beyond it's flavour, drawn out into a faux-Galdwell snoozefest. Particularly for doctors thinking that this might enlighten their practice (as I did) - don't set your expectations too high.

2 people found this helpful

0Comment

Disappointing

ByRobert Baineson January 3, 2016

This book could have been reduced to a 5 to 10 page booklet. All of the stories filled up the rest of the book. I was disappointed.

One person found this helpful

Some interesting ideas, but hard time getting to the point

0Comment

ByAntti Valtokarion May 2, 2014

There were lot of interesting stories about checklists and their benefits, but I was convinced already after 1/4 of them. The whole book was about convincing, I would like to have it rather turn into how to design and implement checklists. Actually after the first 1/4, the only really interesting thing was a one page "checklist for designing checklists" -- I wish the last 50% of the book would have been focusing on that and the techniques!

One person found this helpful