The Ricky Gervais Guide to Medicine

The self-proclaimed comedy genius that is Ricky Gervais returns – aided and abetted by two erstwhile cohorts, Stephen Merchant, co-writer of The Office and Karl Pilkington, producer of The Ricky Gervais Show – for this first in a new “Ricky Gervais Guide to…” series of audio books. “Medicine” is an in-depth, frank – in the sense that it is liberally interspersed with expletives – discussion of the history of medicine and medical practices from prehistory to the modern day, presented by the layman for the layman, as it were. Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington turn their thoughts to trepanning, the eradication of smallpox – including the possibility of marked yoghurt pots in long-forgotten fridges – and, more controversially still, the politics of treating obesity in the modern world, amongst other illuminating topics.

Ricky Gervais caused a stir amongst those who seem to have failed to notice that he, himself, is not a slim man, when he said, “I really don’t know why a doctor under a Hippocratic oath takes the risk of something going badly wrong, sometimes with general anaesthetic, because someone can’t be bothered to go for a f**king run.” Much of the content of “Medicine” is adult in nature and therefore not for the easily offended – particularly not for anyone sensitive about their weight – but those familiar with Gervais’ deliberately naive, ill-informed style of delivery should find it an hilarious experience all the same.

The Ricky Gervais Guide to Medicine audio book (53 minutes in duration) is available to download now to your iPod, Mp3 Player, Computer or CD.