I first heard about Prescription: Ice Cream last year when I had the privilege of listening to Alastair McAlpine speak at the Franshoek Literary Festival. 

I was intrigued, but time passed, and it wasn’t until recently—while searching for something uplifting in difficult times—that I sat down to read it.

And I am so glad I did.

This book is a delight. Witty, brave, and unflinchingly honest, Prescription Ice Cream is both a memoir and a reflection on medicine, childhood, and personal struggle.

I laughed out loud at McAlpine’s account of his first day at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital—particularly at his sheer terror of appearing incompetent. Those of us who have walked the same hospital corridors will instantly recognise that all-too-familiar panic. His descriptions of the relentless hours, the exhaustion, and the camaraderie of internship are strikingly real. Yet, even in the darkest moments, hope shines through. 

His depiction of the early morning prayer sung at Baragwanath is hauntingly beautiful, a reminder of the small moments that sustain us in medicine.

McAlpine’s journey as a paediatrician—and later, a palliative care specialist—brought him into the public eye. His viral 2018 tweet sharing insights from terminally ill children captured global attention. In the book, these stories are just as poignant, offering a glimpse into the wisdom and resilience of young patients facing life’s most profound realities. His reflections on working in paediatric palliative care are deeply moving and highlight an often-overlooked field in medicine.

But for me, the most powerful part of Prescription:Ice Cream is McAlpine’s raw and deeply personal account of his battle with alcohol addiction. His honesty is breathtaking—so much so that I found myself wondering what it took for him to put these words on the page. Addiction and mental health struggles remain some of the most stigmatised issues in medicine. In our profession, admitting vulnerability can mean risking everything. You are either pitied or vilified—rarely understood. This silence needs to be broken, and McAlpine’s book is a courageous step in that direction.

Despite its serious themes, this book is not heavy—it is beautifully written, effortlessly readable, and often laugh-out-loud funny. I found myself reluctant to put it down, eager to turn the next page.

And that is why Prescription:Ice Cream  is our Book of the Month.

Linda Ravenhill, Editor
 

“An uplifting read about the endurance of the human spirit, the soothing love of family and friends and one doctors journey to redemption."— Redi Thlapi