About Me
I’m a historian of medicine, author of Spare Parts (a history of transplant surgery from the sixteenth century to the present day, published by Penguin in 2021). The New York Times described it as ‘a thrilling and often terrifying ride’, the TLS as ‘unique’, and The Times as ‘compelling’. It was a Daily Mail Book of the Week, was given a special commendation by the Royal Society of Literature, and lots of people said very nice things about it.
I’m Honorary Professor of the History of Surgery & Society at UCL’s Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, and Senior Research Associate at the Science Museum, London.
I’m also one half of Common Films, a film production (and co-production!) company that combines disciplinary expertise in science, medicine and the arts with high-end film production.
What is Common Knowledge?
As a writer and film maker, I have the best job in the world. I get to make my living by being creative, giving lectures, teaching, speaking, and working closely with clever and interesting professionals from the worlds of science, medicine, and culture.
I also happen to be working class – brought up by a disabled single mother, helped by heroic grandparents. I don’t always want to write about class, though, and I just don’t have it in me to make everything into a class issue. It’s just that you can’t escape your background, and I want to write candidly on Substack.
‘Common Knowledge’, then, refers to my working-class background. At least partly. It also expresses my fundamental belief that science and culture belongs to everyone in common, and I want to be a positive, accepting voice – to celebrate a diversity of people and ways of thinking.
Here’s what you get for coming on board:
FREE SUBSCRIBERS
Newsletters delivered to your inbox or Substack app. I’ll aim for once per week, but this might slip when I’m working to a deadline or something!
My profound thanks!
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PAID SUBSCRIBERS
If enjoy my work and have the means, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
I plan to offer more to paid subscribers if Common Knowledge grows. If you want to support my writing from the start, though, I’d be incredibly grateful!
I have the ambition of commissioning other writers to write things … if, that is, enough people subscribe to make that a possibility (because I need to pay them!)
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