One in Three by Adam Wishart - review by Des Spence

Des Spence

Looking For the Magic Bullet

One in Three

By

Profile 298pp £15
 

I have seen a lot of people die. This isn’t some machismo strutting but merely reflects the nature of being a doctor and of dealing with cancer. Emotional Americana has spawned countless tear-stained books in which celebrities share their experience of cancer; likewise, daytime TV constantly churns out real-life stories. One in Three is a different type of cancer book. It is calm, factual, beautifully written, intelligent and moving.

‘My dad is going to die but I’ve never told him that I love him.’ This sentiment is the key theme of Adam Wishart’s story of his father’s illness and eventual death, and will resonate with a generation of men. Father and son are bound by the expectations of their