Ten Drugs: How Plants, Powders, and Pills Have Shaped the History of Medicine
Who Would Like This Book:
This is an engaging and accessible tour through the wild history of the medicines we rely on, packed with quirky stories and fascinating facts. Thomas Hager has a knack for explaining complex science in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to read - even if you’re not a science buff. If you’re curious about medical history, love learning about how everyday things came to be, or enjoyed books like "Napoleon's Buttons" or "Stuff Matters," this one will be right up your alley.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the opening chapters (especially on ancient history) a bit slow and not as gripping as the rest, and a few wished for more technical depth or up-to-date info. If you prefer in-depth, academic-level analysis or want a more critical take on the pharmaceutical industry, this breezy, narrative style might feel too light. The book is also less about groundbreaking experiments and more about people and stories behind the drugs.
About:
'Ten Drugs: How Plants, Powders, and Pills Have Shaped the History of Medicine' by Thomas Hager traces the history and development of drugs that have had a significant impact on humanity. From antibiotics to opioids, the book delves into the evolution of these medications and their effects on healthcare and society. Hager's writing style is engaging, making complex scientific concepts easy to understand for readers. covers a wide range of drugs, providing insights into their discovery, development, and impact on modern medicine.
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From The Publisher:
Behind every landmark drug is a story. It could be an oddball researcher's genius insight, a catalyzing moment in geopolitical history, a new breakthrough technology, or an unexpected but welcome side effect discovered during clinical trials. Piece together these stories, as Thomas Hager does in this remarkable, century-spanning history, and you can trace the evolution of our culture and the practice of medicine.
Beginning with opium, the "joy plant," which has been used for 10,000 years, Hager tells a captivating story of medicine. His subjects include the largely forgotten female pioneer who introduced smallpox inoculation to Britain, the infamous knockout drops, the first antibiotic, which saved countless lives, the first antipsychotic, which helped empty public mental hospitals, Viagra, statins, and the new frontier of monoclonal antibodies. This is a deep, wide-ranging, and wildly entertaining book.
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