We don't know what heartbreak feels like. Does it manifest itself in a Kelly Clarkson playlist? Or a rom-com where the protagonist finds hope a few minutes before the end credits? But Dr Nikki Stamp, one of the few female heart and lung surgeons from Australia probes into a consequence that most don't take seriously. Death. There's no way to find out how that feels like either. In her debut book Can You Die Of A Broken Heart? [Murdoch Books/Bloomsbury], Stamp's answer delves into varied topics that range from understanding biology and mental health to maintaining heart health and explaining gender differences. All this, she manages to accomplish without being jargon heavy, so, it isn't a throwback to the biology textbooks we read in school. And maybe that's the problem — romanticising the idea of a heartbreak without giving due consideration to the heart for what it essentially is — a pump. Excerpts from an interview.

Early on in the book, you detail your experience of falling in love with the heart as a child. Did you always think of writing a book about it?
I think as a child, I always wanted a career in medicine but I never imagined that I would write a book about it. However, as my career evolved, it became very important to me to be able to teach people about themselves. I really believe that if we educate people and empower them, they can look after their health.