This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay

As someone who’s familiar with the American healthcare industry, I have always been drawn to stories that pull back the curtain on the inner workings of medicine. There’s something I find intrinsically fascinating about the delicate line between life and death, and the deeply human stories that unfold in between.

However, I was not prepared for how funny this memoir would be. This is Going to Hurt was chock full of ER confessions, baffling patient encounters, and the type of stories that you just can’t make up - with a surprising number of instances where something was lodged in a place it didn’t belong. Then there are the moments so grotesque they’re almost poetic; moments that may have you wanting an actual shot of penicillin instead of just the drink.

What makes Kay’s writing style so inviting is it’s smoothness, like a classic blended scotch. You don’t even realize how strong it is until it’s already going down. The man just knows how to use a footnote to his advantage. Often the funniest punchlines and most insightful explanations were in small print at the bottom of the page. This certainly does not mean the bigger font is not worth reading though. 

And yet, I found the riotously funny anecdotes to be interspersed with moments of unsuspecting tenderness and heartbreak. This is Going to Hurt will take you on a quiet turn to unveil some of the more painful dysfunctions in the modern healthcare system. Kay doesn’t just point out the usual suspects: long shifts, short staffing, or missed holidays. He exposes the deeper fractures: emotional burnout, caregiver PTSD, and the public’s often dismissive view of medical professionals' wellbeing. It’s the kind of book that will leave you feeling floored by a gut-punch of truth long after the laughter subsides.

So, why the Penicillin?

This cocktail (and its zero-proof distant cousin, Code Brew) is the perfect companion to Kay’s memoir. Both drinks have that bite from the citrus (or cold brew) that will make you feel ready for a 3 AM page to the ER. But both drinks are also soothing, like the honeyed humor Kay uses to numb the bruises beneath the surface. And the smoky scotch? That’s the slow burn; the seriousness behind the laughter that sneaks in and stays with you long after the last sip—or the last page.