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Mind That Child: A Medical Memoir
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.
‘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.
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2018
27 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 20, 2019
A really interesting memoir by a leading New Zealand paediatrician, that I found to be a valuable read. I enjoyed his insights into the aspects of medical care he practices especially the complicated cases of extremely premature babies they encounter, the incredible things they can do to help the baby and how the question of whether they should be doing these things (which varies depending on each individual of course) comes into play.
There are many rather inspiring stories and also grueling ones - often of course it's a bit of both. It's a career I could never imagine having, but I really admire the people who do, who dedicate themselves to helping people. As someone who has benefited greatly in my life from medical intervention/care, I am consistently grateful to the people who have been there to provide it, and it's nice to read a book that shows some of it from their perspective.
There are many rather inspiring stories and also grueling ones - often of course it's a bit of both. It's a career I could never imagine having, but I really admire the people who do, who dedicate themselves to helping people. As someone who has benefited greatly in my life from medical intervention/care, I am consistently grateful to the people who have been there to provide it, and it's nice to read a book that shows some of it from their perspective.
November 7, 2018
I am a bit of a sucker for a medical memoir, and this one comes from NZ Dr Simon Rowley, a Consultant Pediatrician working in Auckland,New Zealand. This one works well, combining stories about his own upbringing, his education, marriage and role as a father with stories of his patients and families. He comes across as the type of doctor that we should admire, knowledgeable, sensible and open to learning from the families that he looks after.
February 4, 2019
This was a good, NZ read, with a bunch of background for Braintrust. There is a vast amount of privilege too so there were a few parts I shuddered at his language (which took off a star) but it was really interesting to talk about how medicine has changed especially with NZ developments.
May 10, 2019
A lovely light read into a fascinating and very important issue. Following the story of Dr Simon Rowley - paediatrician, it talks about how to care for children, what are some of the common issues today and gives a lot of stories to illustrate the point. It’s well written, pretty basic but easy to understand. The author obviously has a genuine love of his job along with the babies and parents. It’s what I call a warm fuzzy story. It’s lighthearted and well meaning, and you get a genuine feel of warmth from
the author.
the author.
September 18, 2018
An excellent overview of Dr Rowley's training and involvement with neonatal care, the Brainwave Trust, NICU babies and their families. Very conversational, readable style. Also looked at attachement, ASD, ADHD etc.
June 23, 2020
Informative and moving, all while being incredibly easy to read.
Personally also loved it's relevance to NZ and being able to recognise certain names and places :)
Personally also loved it's relevance to NZ and being able to recognise certain names and places :)
June 9, 2021
We have just had the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours announced, and it thrilled me to see that this man has been recognised for his service to the people of NZ in the field of paediatrics. Having just finished reading his book, I would say such recognition is well overdue. We are so lucky, in this small country of ours, to have such extraordinary people with amazing brains, depth of character, courage, compassion and to keep these skills and talent in this country. He could so easily have been tempted away to more money, greater recognition in some other country's medical system, but no, it is us that have benefitted from his work in both the public and private health sector. Thousands of babies he has seen over the decades including my own new born baby.
This book is a memoir of his life as a medical professional - how he got into medicine, his choice to specialise in paediatrics, in particular neo-natal/premature babies. Nowhere is life more fragile than in keeping alive babies born as early as 23 or 24 weeks gestation. Fascinating, terrifying, expensive, emotional and heart rending. He talks about the families he looks after, the challenges they face with their tiny babies, how years later these now grown up babies turn up to visit him. He touches on other child health issues such as autism, hyperactivity, the long term and harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on the developing baby.
He shares what makes him tick, what keeps him doing this often heart breaking work. The frustrations he feels with the politics of public health care, the lack of understanding by the media in its ignorance dead keen on hanging someone out to burn when things go wrong, his intense talent and desire to share and pass on his knowledge and experience in order to bring this country more brilliant paediatricians. So lucky are we.
This book is a memoir of his life as a medical professional - how he got into medicine, his choice to specialise in paediatrics, in particular neo-natal/premature babies. Nowhere is life more fragile than in keeping alive babies born as early as 23 or 24 weeks gestation. Fascinating, terrifying, expensive, emotional and heart rending. He talks about the families he looks after, the challenges they face with their tiny babies, how years later these now grown up babies turn up to visit him. He touches on other child health issues such as autism, hyperactivity, the long term and harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on the developing baby.
He shares what makes him tick, what keeps him doing this often heart breaking work. The frustrations he feels with the politics of public health care, the lack of understanding by the media in its ignorance dead keen on hanging someone out to burn when things go wrong, his intense talent and desire to share and pass on his knowledge and experience in order to bring this country more brilliant paediatricians. So lucky are we.
June 2, 2023
Damnnnn pretty goooood!! Should I do paeds? Nah jk ha ha, unless…
July 29, 2023
Such a good read about the career of leading Starship paediatrician Simon Rowley. Had some sad bits that you don’t want to read about while pregnant, but also some happy bits about the leaps and bounds that have been made in neonatal care over the years.
May 6, 2019
Enjoyable read, very accessible and interesting.
September 3, 2018
What an amazing man. He has done so much for medicine in nz. I felt exhausted just reading about all his work! A really good insight into our healthcare system and I loved all the personal stories about the babies he has cared for. He was there on hand when my twins were born early 13 years ago, we spent 8 weeks in NICU so I could really relate to this.
April 10, 2019
This book is an amazing insight into our national health and culture.
Written with great empathy and years of experience and knowledge by a wonderful paediatrician . There were so many things he discussed/ mentioned that I totally agreed with .
A must read for anyone with children / grandchildren/sons or daughters .
Written with great empathy and years of experience and knowledge by a wonderful paediatrician . There were so many things he discussed/ mentioned that I totally agreed with .
A must read for anyone with children / grandchildren/sons or daughters .
August 8, 2018
An easy and pleasurable read offering insight into the front line of paediatrics, including the country's tiniest premature newborns. But there's more - even some guerrilla gardening - from a thoughtful practitioner that we are lucky to have in NZ.
June 21, 2019
Very readable; an interesting and sometimes emotional read. Dr Simon Rowley is truly an inspirational, dedicated specialist who has contributed so much to child health in our country.
July 17, 2019
I picked this memoir up at the post shop at Auckland Hospital and was interested to read about life in the NICU and hospital from the point of view of a paediatrician - particularly one who worked in a hospital where our son had spent considerable time in the PICU. Although personally not known to me, the stories included were very close to home. The memoir included elements of describing what life working in an extremely stressful hospital environment is like, a slight political agenda, a plug for the brainwave trust and then musings mixed with statistics about the effects of poverty on health and its impacts on society. This was interspersed with stories of the authors own journey of traveling and working overseas, which seemed surplus to the real reason I picked up this book. In the end I couldn't help feeling that the tone was just a little patronising and I was left wondering exactly what the motivation for the memoir was. Perhaps I wanted the memoir to give me more of an insight into the feelings and emotions of a pediatrician.
March 13, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which gives so many insights into aspects of paediatric medicine and the NZ system from someone who clearly enjoys his work and the people he cares for. I am sure the people who have worked with him and been taught by him over the years have all appreciated his apparently humble, yet genuine, approach. I would have enjoyed working with a consultant like him in my training and hope he has managed to inspire many more doctors to take his open-minded approach.
A perfect memoir to summarise what seems to have been a satisfying career journey for Dr Rowley.
A perfect memoir to summarise what seems to have been a satisfying career journey for Dr Rowley.
July 10, 2021
Particularly loved the chapter about Autism and ADHD. Enlightening hearing the facts about childhood development from a paediatrician in NZ. Lots of pragmatism within these pages and a good dose of privilege check.
December 27, 2018
Could. Not. Put. Down.
May 10, 2019
I'm glad I read it.
May 3, 2019
I like the occasional medical insight from a professional. Well written.
July 23, 2019
Great book!
February 21, 2020
Interesting read. Made me cry in places.
July 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this book, what an eye opener for the changes over the decades.
September 15, 2020
As a sonographer in New Zealand this book felt completely recognizable as “my world”. I loved his insights and his stories of his career. This book is one of my favourites this year!
February 13, 2025
Enjoyed the NZ context. Writing style was slightly hard to follow at times. Nevertheless a good account of his experiences.
November 19, 2025
I just love medical memoirs and this was especially interesting because the author is a Kiwi and for much of his career was based at Auckland’s Starship hospital, so very close to home and heart.
August 2, 2018
My view is perhaps a little biased, but the work of the doctors and staff at Starship is incredible, and this well-written book manages to convey the complexities of being a paediatric doctor in our national children's hospital in a way that is engaging and honest.
February 3, 2019
Just amazing
such a heartwaeming and brilliant read! Seriously a fantastic book. It's good to know that there are such wonderful and passionate Drs still out there caring for our babies. Thank you.
such a heartwaeming and brilliant read! Seriously a fantastic book. It's good to know that there are such wonderful and passionate Drs still out there caring for our babies. Thank you.
July 21, 2018
Loved this memoir. Such a huge contribution he has made & continues to make to medicine in NZ
October 23, 2018
I think this would be helpful for new parents with premature babies.
It was very informative.
It was very informative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews