Small by Small

As he works his way through his medical training, Ike Anya’s grandmother reassures him,

Everything worthwhile is achieved small by small.

Ike’s story charts the triumphs and failures of his student days through to his first demanding year as a house officer. A medical memoir unlike any from the West, this is filled with the colour and vibrancy of tempestuous 1990s Nigeria, where political unrest, social change and a worsening economy make a doctor’s life particularly challenging.

Reviews of Small by Small

‘A small miracle of a book. It entertains with delicious storytelling, and leaves us feeling moved and satisfied, and all in a beautifully unhurried way.’ – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

‘An uplifting story of hope and ambition vividly recalled. Filled with fascinating characters and insights.’ -Tendai Huchu

‘I raced to the end of this richly evocative memoir of the challenges of training as a doctor in 90s Nigeria. It’s a good corrective to This is Going to Hurt.’ – Patrick Gale