The Checklist Manifesto

How to Get Things Right

By: Atul Gawande

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist.

We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies - neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the US Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple 90-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third.

In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from homeland security to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds.

An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential listening for anyone working to get things right.

©2009 Atul Gawande (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Great business read

Not only is this great for your business this book ensures I will ask anyone operating on me or a loved one if they have a checklist. Details are the difference between life and death and success or failure. I really enjoyed this and will be reviewing my personal business checklists.

Started using checklist for my employees now

What made the experience of listening to The Checklist Manifesto the most enjoyable?

Started using checklist for my employees now and it works! It seems so easy, but saves so many headaches down the road. In the book he substantiates why it works and explains how to do it.

Excellent read!

All in healthcare should read this book. Other fields would also benefit. Healthcare has been slow to adopt proven methods from other industries of safety. Gaining more traction over the recent years.

Revolutionary but not new

This engaging story takes you through what should be a fairly simple sell. Use checklists like pilots and avoid disaster (actual or metaphorical).
This tells of how a simple concept can be pushed back from areas that need it most. If doctors, lawyers and engineers can use them to prevent catastrophic failures then why can't we use them in our jobs or lives.
Well read and inspiring, this is a book that I will be recommending to many of my colleagues.

A message that the surgical team should listen!

Any additional comments?

The fact that we can decrease the mortaliti in 45% and the morbidity in 39% just by investing one minute is amazing

A fascinating read

The only concern would be with sudden voice changes during the recording, but it doesn't affect the excellent content in the slightest

Not a self help book..not much how to

this is a good book especially if you're a medical professional however it holds a lot of stories about the experiences of using the checklist which are great but not if you're looking to how to make a great checklist for your business. the basic principles are there but could have been handled in 30 to 45 minutes the rest of the book is about how he got there and the results

My CIO recommended this book

I am so glad he did, it's been a really rewarding and life changing in the things that we do and making sure we don't miss steps. Learned a lot that I can apply to my job and leadership.

Great book for any professional

What other book might you compare The Checklist Manifesto to and why?

This book helps understand how we can build better business and work procedures. Also it has some GREAT stories.

Insightful

An insightful book, and with practical applications for everyday life. Long live and love the checklist.