It was released on December 22, 2009 through Metropolitan Books and focuses on the use of checklists in relation to several elements of daily and professional life.[1] The book looks at the use of checklists in the business world and the medical profession,[2] with Gawande examining how it could be used for greater efficiency, consistency and safety.[3] Gawande stated he was inspired to write The Checklist Manifesto after reading a story about a young child who survived a fall into a frozen pond and discovering the physician who saved her relied heavily on checklists.[4]