Much is covered in this fascinating book, which leaves the reader having simultaneously learned a lot and curious to learn more.

Warship Annual 2021 Edition

As featured by (pg.50)

Waterside, September/October 2020

The author is an obvious admirer of the medical branch and its contribution to the fighting efficiency of the service. He has written before on naval medicine and as curator of the Alexander Fleming Museum at St Mary’s Hospital, does so with authority and has produced a very readable and interesting book. It is strongly recommended to members of the Naval Review with any interest in personnel matters, not just naval medicine.

The Naval Review– reviewed by Robert Muddysley

Welcome addition.

The Northern Mariner / Le marin du nord, XXIX, No. 2 (Summer 2019)

Author article on History Hit

History Hit

The author and publisher are to be commended for providing a study of the much neglected subject of sailors’ fitness. The Royal Navy has long recognized the importance of its sailors maintaining the highest levels of health and morale even if historians have generally neglected this critical area of the ability to wage war – Very Highly Recommended

Read the full review here

Firetrench

This is an informative, well-written and very entertaining book... Medical Professionals with an interest in ‘Things Naval’ may find it worthy of their attention as might (Because it refers to a specific social group and their actions under stress and pressure), Sociologists and Phycologists. Military Historians with an interest in nautical matters and World War II as it affected the Royal Navy could also find it informative. Readers with an interest in the more unusual (and forgotten) aspects of naval warfare may also find it of interest.

Keith Rimmer, NZ Crown Mines

This remarkable book looks at how the Royal Navy coped with keeping the physical and mentl health of recruits in tip top form during the second world war. The Royal Air Force had the reputation for attracting the more glamorous recruits, but it was the Navy that became known as the "Senior Service", and this book, expertly written by Kenvin Brown, explains why that was so. Fascinating.

Books Monthly

Many books have focused on operations and battles conducted by the Royal
Navy, but finally there is a book which sheds light on what it was really like
to serve in the Royal Navy. Fittest of the Fit lets the reader know what it was
like day to day serving in the navy in World War II. I have been asked so many
times if I can provide details about what someone did aboard ship, of course
I am not able to do so. This book however will enlighten the reader as to what
training and every day life was like. It covers virtually every aspect of how the
average rating lived. Covering health, food, those left at home, sex and much
more. For anyone wanting to know what is was like for their relatives serving
in the Grey Funnel Line this is the book that will tell you.

See the full review here

MaritimeQuest

Fittest of the Fit is a very readable book and provides a most comprehensive coverage of the vast Royal Navy in World War 2. As the RAN was organisationally the same as the RN, and had British ships, Australian naval medical staffs and ships’ companies shared many of the same experiences.

This book is a very human story and should interest not only medical professionals and the wider naval and military community, but anyone interested in large and complex organisations operating under extreme conditions and stress. Your humble reviewer can do no less than highly recommend Fittest of the Fit.

Read the full review here

Australian Naval Institute