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Rätselhafte Fälle der Medizingeschichte, Teil 1
Jede Krankheit und jeder Mensch haben das Potential, Medizingeschichte zu schreiben.
Seit Hunderten von Jahren ergründen Ärzte und Ärztinnen auf der ganzen Welt die Geheimnisse der Medizin, indem sie sich echte Fälle ansehen.
Autor und Arzt Roy Benaroch hat für uns spannende Fälle der Medizingeschichte gesammelt, in denen bekannte Persönlichkeiten der Weltgeschichte als mysteriöser Patient oder Patientin vor uns stehen. Und während wir rätseln, welche Musikerin, welcher König oder welche Wissenschaftlerin hier erkrankt ist, erfahren wir fast nebenbei, wie Ärzte und Ärztinnen im Laufe der Zeit Krankheiten diagnostiziert und entdeckt haben, wie man heute Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen oder Alkoholismus erkennt, wie sich eine Schwermetallvergiftung zeigt und welche sogenannten „modernen“ Krankheiten schon in der Antike dokumentiert wurden.
Die Lösungen dieser historischen Fälle ermöglichen ein neues Verständnis darüber, wie der menschliche Körper funktioniert. Wir erhalten faszinierende Einblicke in die Medizin von damals bis heute und sehen bekannte Persönlichkeiten der Weltgeschichte in einem ganz neuen Licht.
Seit Hunderten von Jahren ergründen Ärzte und Ärztinnen auf der ganzen Welt die Geheimnisse der Medizin, indem sie sich echte Fälle ansehen.
Autor und Arzt Roy Benaroch hat für uns spannende Fälle der Medizingeschichte gesammelt, in denen bekannte Persönlichkeiten der Weltgeschichte als mysteriöser Patient oder Patientin vor uns stehen. Und während wir rätseln, welche Musikerin, welcher König oder welche Wissenschaftlerin hier erkrankt ist, erfahren wir fast nebenbei, wie Ärzte und Ärztinnen im Laufe der Zeit Krankheiten diagnostiziert und entdeckt haben, wie man heute Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen oder Alkoholismus erkennt, wie sich eine Schwermetallvergiftung zeigt und welche sogenannten „modernen“ Krankheiten schon in der Antike dokumentiert wurden.
Die Lösungen dieser historischen Fälle ermöglichen ein neues Verständnis darüber, wie der menschliche Körper funktioniert. Wir erhalten faszinierende Einblicke in die Medizin von damals bis heute und sehen bekannte Persönlichkeiten der Weltgeschichte in einem ganz neuen Licht.
7 pages, Audiobook
Published June 1, 2023
19 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 8, 2023
Spannender als so mancher Thriller! Dieses Hörbuch hat mich wirklich gepackt. Man kann hier wunderbar miträtseln, um welche Persönlichkeit es geht, denn das wird erst am Ende verraten. Dabei wird auf die Medizingeschichte eingegangen und das in sehr spannender und faszinierender Art und Weise. Gerne mehr davon!
November 22, 2021
I was highly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't think that learning about certain medical mysteries from history would be so fun. Part of what made it so fun was that you don't know right away which famous person the case is about until a little bit later into the lecture so I had a really great time figures out who it would be about with each lecture while getting little hints from the narrator who's also an actual doctor so he knows what he's talking about.
I did figure out with maybe half of the ten cases which historical figure it was about which I thought was pretty good of me. I hadn't really expected to discover many of them. I also enjoyed learning a little more about the medical problems these people were dealing with and their history in general. It was also pretty great how Roy Benaroch went about things to figure out what it was that they were most likely dealing with, just like any other doctor would in real life.
I also saw theres a Medical Mysteries Across History part two so I plan on listening to that one right away. I'm already looking forward to trying to find out which historical figures the cases are going to be about. Will I be able to do better than with part one? We'll see!
I did figure out with maybe half of the ten cases which historical figure it was about which I thought was pretty good of me. I hadn't really expected to discover many of them. I also enjoyed learning a little more about the medical problems these people were dealing with and their history in general. It was also pretty great how Roy Benaroch went about things to figure out what it was that they were most likely dealing with, just like any other doctor would in real life.
I also saw theres a Medical Mysteries Across History part two so I plan on listening to that one right away. I'm already looking forward to trying to find out which historical figures the cases are going to be about. Will I be able to do better than with part one? We'll see!
December 10, 2021
Engaging, charming, and enlightening are the words that have come to me after listening to Medical Mysteries Across History by Roy Benaroch MD, The Great Courses Audible audiobook narrated by Roy Benaroch.
May 27, 2022
Fascinating work and hugely entertaining. I would love Proff Benaroch's take on Mozart's fatal illness and Beethoven's deafness.
April 10, 2025
4.5 STARS I am a fan of medical TV shows and have recently been infatuated with The Pitt featuring Noah Wyle (of TV's E.R fame). The man ages like a fine wine *sigh* ... but I digress.
I snapped up this 5-hour Audible Originals freebie that's an interesting blend of medicine, history and mystery with its 'guess the person and the ailment' vibe that also has an interactive feel. There are ten mysteries to solve, each about half an hour in length, that focus on well-known historical figures. Dr. Benaroch outlines the era in which the person lived, general info about the patient and their symptoms, leaving the listener to figure out the ailment and identity of the famous patient. I guessed about half of them!
If your 'medical degree' (like mine) comes from watching seasons of E.R and Grey's Anatomy (a T.V.M.D, if you will), rest assured that the sciency aspect stays well within the 'no medical experience' comfort zone.
Engaging, educational and entertaining, I enjoyed listening to these 10 brief lectures that Benaroch narrates himself. I liked his easy-going lecture style and how he broke down the symptoms and gave a few hints, while still allowing listeners time to puzzle out the mysteries. There is a second volume and I've already downloaded it.
August 30, 2021
Set across ten lectures, Dr. Benaroch provides the reader with clues as to the identity and diagnosis of famous figures in history. The cases were drawn from a span of 2100 years. Originally these lectures were intended for medical students, and while the current form still contains recommendations for diagnostic work, the content is directed toward a general audience, and medical language is explained where needed.
As a frequent reader of popular science, medical mysteries, and biographies, I easily identified at least half of the case studies presented early in the chapter, but the material was fresh enough to keep me engaged. There were also a few cases that were completely new to me. Dr. Benaroch provided a wide variety of possible diagnoses, including recent studies, analyzing each for plausibility.
I was drawn to this book for many reasons: the historical-biographical content, medical mysteries, and the qualifications of the author. I was pleased that it delivered on its promises and honestly could have listened to a book 2 or 3 times as long if the content were all as good.
Dr. Benaroch is a full-time practicing physician but also teaches at Emory University. His voice is well suited for lecturing, and he uses it to advantage to tell engaging stories. I’m sure his courses at Emory have maximum enrollment. This was a gem of a short listen, and I have downloaded Part 2 of this series of lectures and plan to listen to it soon.
As a frequent reader of popular science, medical mysteries, and biographies, I easily identified at least half of the case studies presented early in the chapter, but the material was fresh enough to keep me engaged. There were also a few cases that were completely new to me. Dr. Benaroch provided a wide variety of possible diagnoses, including recent studies, analyzing each for plausibility.
I was drawn to this book for many reasons: the historical-biographical content, medical mysteries, and the qualifications of the author. I was pleased that it delivered on its promises and honestly could have listened to a book 2 or 3 times as long if the content were all as good.
Dr. Benaroch is a full-time practicing physician but also teaches at Emory University. His voice is well suited for lecturing, and he uses it to advantage to tell engaging stories. I’m sure his courses at Emory have maximum enrollment. This was a gem of a short listen, and I have downloaded Part 2 of this series of lectures and plan to listen to it soon.
January 24, 2023
Pretty fun and short course about medical mysteries through the ages. Presented by Dr Roy Benaroch, M.D., the cases in this one are of famous historical figures whose names are obscured so that you can try to guess who it is before Dr Benaroch reveals the answer at the end of the case. It's a simple but interesting gimmick to teach you medical conditions that you never knew these historical figures may have suffered from. Recommended for anybody who enjoys medical information and history!
February 13, 2021
The presentation is great—utilizing historical examples to walk through differential diagnoses. I also thought each example was the right length. Last, the author could simply eliminate a diagnosis that did not fit the symptoms and move on but he does a fantastic job of telling “why” each diagnosis does not fit. This approach sets the book apart from other medical themed books.
August 11, 2021
I love medical history, and these books absolutely satiate my desire for them, in gaps between Sawbones episodes. The author presents the cases as little mysteries to solve, and when explaining the medicine behind them, he keeps the topic approachable to the novice. Light, informative, and intersting.
January 16, 2024
Audiobook, gelesen von Joe Bausch.
Das Hörbuch bietet eine kurzweilige und spannende Reise durch die Jahrhunderte der Medizingeschichte. Es erzählt von unglaublichen Behandlungsmethoden aber auch von erstaunlichen Errungenschaften.
Mir hat es richtig viel Spaß gemacht mitzurätseln, um welche Krankheit oder um welchen Patienten es bei dem vorgestellten Fall geht.
Einige Dinge waren mir bekannt, vieles war mir aber völlig neu und ich habe so einiges beim zuhören gelernt.
So ein Geschichtsunterricht hätte mir damals zu Schulzeiten definitiv auch Spaß gemacht.
Das Hörbuch bietet eine kurzweilige und spannende Reise durch die Jahrhunderte der Medizingeschichte. Es erzählt von unglaublichen Behandlungsmethoden aber auch von erstaunlichen Errungenschaften.
Mir hat es richtig viel Spaß gemacht mitzurätseln, um welche Krankheit oder um welchen Patienten es bei dem vorgestellten Fall geht.
Einige Dinge waren mir bekannt, vieles war mir aber völlig neu und ich habe so einiges beim zuhören gelernt.
So ein Geschichtsunterricht hätte mir damals zu Schulzeiten definitiv auch Spaß gemacht.
March 18, 2023
Really engaging, i liked the easy approach, i was put right at ease and it made it easier to really focus on the mysteries. It didnt dig suuuper deep but it felt like a healthy, honest way to tackle those mysteries. The current day notes (stuff on vaccines, CPR etc) were well presented too. All in all i had a great time!
October 24, 2025
I’m not a medical student, but I did have a lot of fun guessing famous people in history and their maladies! It was also neat learning more about their lives, seeing the doctor process in action, and learn the meaning of words I’ve heard before like “lesion” and “dropsy”. Very fun to listen to going to and from work.
July 26, 2021
Very enjoyable. I liked that he made you guess who the patients where he uses as case studies. Fun little extra for historians.
January 12, 2022
New idea but was boring in some parts, too many details sometimes, a nice read overall
April 24, 2020
A fun Audible Original! I was able to guess the identities of several cases as described before the big reveal which made me feel smart. Dr. Benaroch leads through each case as if you were a medical student in a learning style that teaches a way to think and not what to think which I like very much.
July 2, 2022
Ten lecture series about medical mysteries of historical figures most people have heard of. It’s especially interesting because the author, a medical professor and practicing physician, walks the reader through each case - their history and any known details, and then using modern information to guess at reasons for death. The process that physicians follow (then and now) to diagnose the problem. In all but one case the patient is not revealed right away. But instead it is presented along with hints (e.g., time period information, including terminology differences, and accomplishments) to see if you can guess who the case is.
Changes in medical science for diagnosis and treatment are addressed, including the history of inoculation (i.e., vaccines) are interesting but the history and individual stories are fascinating. In the end though, the best point made is whether we, as a human developed society will ever be able to fully knock out a disease with the modern-day anti-vaccine movement. There are always risks but does this mistrust in science hurt the human race overall? This was written in January of 2020. So after the start of COVID which makes me wonder if the author simply held back or if he would ever amend or extend his prediction.
Overall, very interesting and fun to listen to.
Changes in medical science for diagnosis and treatment are addressed, including the history of inoculation (i.e., vaccines) are interesting but the history and individual stories are fascinating. In the end though, the best point made is whether we, as a human developed society will ever be able to fully knock out a disease with the modern-day anti-vaccine movement. There are always risks but does this mistrust in science hurt the human race overall? This was written in January of 2020. So after the start of COVID which makes me wonder if the author simply held back or if he would ever amend or extend his prediction.
Overall, very interesting and fun to listen to.
May 29, 2021
*
*
*
Audiobook
Story: A-, Narration: A
Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference. Spoilers.
I enjoyed this audio. As advertised, it was a great mix of medical of medical mysteries and history. As a history buff, I guessed all of the patients (some right off the bat, others not as quickly but before the reveal) except the basketball player. Even when told his name, I didn't have a clue who he was. The only person I could think of was Len Bias, but knew that didn't fit. Newton and Holliday were ones I was a bit slower with--the non-medical clues made me think of them, but I wasn't familiar with their medical histories.
This was a short work but was probably about right for my attention span these days. I listened in one sitting and was left wanting more, but I also wasn't bored or got the feeling that the chapters started to merge together as I might have if it had been longer. At any rate, there's a part 2 and I'm looking forward to it.
Dr. Benaroch did a good job. You can tell he's an experienced lecturer--he was smooth, no tics, and enthusiastic (but not overly so). Production quality was good--better than a lot of GCs.
Note: This was a free listen for Audible members.
*
*
Audiobook
Story: A-, Narration: A
Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference. Spoilers.
I enjoyed this audio. As advertised, it was a great mix of medical of medical mysteries and history. As a history buff, I guessed all of the patients (some right off the bat, others not as quickly but before the reveal) except the basketball player. Even when told his name, I didn't have a clue who he was. The only person I could think of was Len Bias, but knew that didn't fit. Newton and Holliday were ones I was a bit slower with--the non-medical clues made me think of them, but I wasn't familiar with their medical histories.
This was a short work but was probably about right for my attention span these days. I listened in one sitting and was left wanting more, but I also wasn't bored or got the feeling that the chapters started to merge together as I might have if it had been longer. At any rate, there's a part 2 and I'm looking forward to it.
Dr. Benaroch did a good job. You can tell he's an experienced lecturer--he was smooth, no tics, and enthusiastic (but not overly so). Production quality was good--better than a lot of GCs.
Note: This was a free listen for Audible members.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
4+
Almost all of the Great Courses offerings are excellent! I have had very good experiences with every one I have chosen in the fields of history and science. I especially enjoy those presented by Roy Benaroch who is a medical doctor. He has an engaging tone and clearly explains complex material to laymen. By presenting case studies, he invites listeners to join in examining the evidence in order to arrive at a tentative diagnosis and possible treatment. Rather than acting as the "distinguished authority with exclusive exoteric knowledge," he encourages us to use these techniques in becoming active participants in our own health care.
Medical Mysteries Across History especially interested me because Dr. Benarch combines medical science with historical figures whose documented illnesses have remained mysteries over the centuries. He explains the structure of his lectures at the beginning of this series: he introduces an anonymous patient, gives some of their life story and medical history, and finally asks the listener who the person was and what might be a plausible explanation for their malady.
It was fun! I was usually able to correctly identify the person under review from previous knowledge. However, occasionaly the medical conclusion Dr. Benaroch reaches is different from that of many historians. He is always careful to point out that we lack critical information such as physical data. We depend primarily upon accounts from contemporaries who may have had limited knowledge or personal agendas to promote. Therefore we can never know with certainty.
I remained engaged with this audiobook throughout and plan to listen to the second part of this audio.com offering. As a bonus, both are free to members. I learned some new things and had a good time in the process. Recommended.
Almost all of the Great Courses offerings are excellent! I have had very good experiences with every one I have chosen in the fields of history and science. I especially enjoy those presented by Roy Benaroch who is a medical doctor. He has an engaging tone and clearly explains complex material to laymen. By presenting case studies, he invites listeners to join in examining the evidence in order to arrive at a tentative diagnosis and possible treatment. Rather than acting as the "distinguished authority with exclusive exoteric knowledge," he encourages us to use these techniques in becoming active participants in our own health care.
Medical Mysteries Across History especially interested me because Dr. Benarch combines medical science with historical figures whose documented illnesses have remained mysteries over the centuries. He explains the structure of his lectures at the beginning of this series: he introduces an anonymous patient, gives some of their life story and medical history, and finally asks the listener who the person was and what might be a plausible explanation for their malady.
It was fun! I was usually able to correctly identify the person under review from previous knowledge. However, occasionaly the medical conclusion Dr. Benaroch reaches is different from that of many historians. He is always careful to point out that we lack critical information such as physical data. We depend primarily upon accounts from contemporaries who may have had limited knowledge or personal agendas to promote. Therefore we can never know with certainty.
I remained engaged with this audiobook throughout and plan to listen to the second part of this audio.com offering. As a bonus, both are free to members. I learned some new things and had a good time in the process. Recommended.
February 22, 2022
Medical Mysteries Across History by Roy Benaroch is inoffensive, podcasty speculation and fluff. Roy is informed and capable, but the limitations of this "course" is such that we never really have the opportunity to explore anything in heft. Half the time the mystery of the subject is counting down how long it will take before you recognize the person he's talking about, because there's a little game he plays to obscure their identity. If you're like me, you'll get it within the first couple minutes. Frank married to someone named Eleanor fell off a boat while Yachting... nice to meet you FDR. A guy named Harry had an older brother named Arthur and married his widow in order to take over the family business... Hello Henry VIII.
Mildly informative, fluffy pop medical science history.
78/100
Mildly informative, fluffy pop medical science history.
78/100
March 20, 2025
Roy is the kind of teacher I wish I had for science when I was in school. I had a few that made the classes interesting but, Roy kept me interested the whole time. It was fascinating how he uses the modern language to look back on famous medical cases from the past and treating each lecture like a doctors appointment while not telling the listener outright who he's speaking about until about halfway through, though he does provide clues as to who he's talking about so the listener can play detective and try to figure out who before Roy tells us. Medicinal terminology can go over most of our heads but Roy takes the time to explain them in simplified terms while still keeping the listener engaged in the topic. Do I want to go into the medical field after this, no. But I will be looking into other lectures Roy has done because of the way he teaches.
March 29, 2021
This is a great idea for a Great Courses book. Roy Benaroch presents ten sets of medical symptoms, each taken from a different historical figure, then slowly fills in details that doctors would seek out regarding the patients’ lives on his way to making a diagnosis. In addition, the reader also gets to guess who the historical figure is. (I got 7 out of 10, which naturally made me feel good, especially when I had never heard of one of the three I missed.)
So this book teaches you a bit about modern medicine, historical medical practice, and a bit of history on top of everything else. A very pleasant way to spend your afternoon.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
So this book teaches you a bit about modern medicine, historical medical practice, and a bit of history on top of everything else. A very pleasant way to spend your afternoon.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
November 14, 2022
Well, it wasn't quite what I expected, but it was still a pretty good book. It was a series of case histories of several famous historic figures.
I learned more about some famous misconceptions of several people. For instance, I had long believed that Helen Keller's blindness and deafness was caused by measles, but it was probably meningitis. Furthermore, there appears to be some question as to whether FDR actually had polio or GBD, although it's still a question not a certainty. He talked about some well known mis-practices in early radiation studies (witness the Curies) and in (theoretical) healing practices.
I own the second audiobook/set of lessons (it is "Great Courses" , after all), but I'm not sure that I'm ready for more at the moment.
I learned more about some famous misconceptions of several people. For instance, I had long believed that Helen Keller's blindness and deafness was caused by measles, but it was probably meningitis. Furthermore, there appears to be some question as to whether FDR actually had polio or GBD, although it's still a question not a certainty. He talked about some well known mis-practices in early radiation studies (witness the Curies) and in (theoretical) healing practices.
I own the second audiobook/set of lessons (it is "Great Courses" , after all), but I'm not sure that I'm ready for more at the moment.
May 29, 2021
This was a great concept, like an episode of House with an historical twist. Each chapter contains clues of both the patient's identity (they're all famous) and their illness. It's presented by an MD, though designed for those without a medical background. I do have a medical background, but I still missed some of them, as medicine has changed a lot over the millennia! I'd (fortunately) never see most of these conditions in my practice, and some of the illnesses have been eradicated. A rather grim listen (nobody got a truly happily ever after, for obvious reasons) but interesting nevertheless.
July 9, 2021
This was a really fun listen. The author (and narrator) presents 10 different historical figures and uses written accounts/paintings/etc to try to figure out what was really wrong with them/what killed them. He doesn't tell you their identity at first, so half of the fun for me was trying to figure out who they were, and the other half of the fun was figuring out the possible diagnoses. I think the author did a great job in pointing out what we can safely believe in historical accounts and what things are probably inaccurate, often intentionally distorted for political reasons at the time. It was quite enjoyable- I will listen to Volume 2 very soon!
November 9, 2021
This course deserves 3 1/2 stars.
This is an audiobook course that runs similar to the Great Courses series but it is called an Audible Original. The author has selected 10 celebrities/historical figures and presents them as ordinary people with a medical condition. The listener is encouraged to diagnose the disease/condition by listening to the symptoms and also to guess the identity of the celebrity. I was only able to guess one.
I found the idea of making the presentation a mystery interesting. It was a little gimmicky but I was OK with it. The narration was good.
I might listen to this audiobook again.
This is an audiobook course that runs similar to the Great Courses series but it is called an Audible Original. The author has selected 10 celebrities/historical figures and presents them as ordinary people with a medical condition. The listener is encouraged to diagnose the disease/condition by listening to the symptoms and also to guess the identity of the celebrity. I was only able to guess one.
I found the idea of making the presentation a mystery interesting. It was a little gimmicky but I was OK with it. The narration was good.
I might listen to this audiobook again.
August 18, 2022
In Medical Mysteries Across History, Roy Benaroch introduces and explains the conditions of famous people throughout history by first describing their medical symptoms and issues before revealing their identity.
This format is particularly fun, as it keeps you engaged and wondering, "Who is this describing?" He approaches each patient as a doctor would while along the way explaining the significance of each symptom and the possible causes. Every patient is a lesson in both medicine and analysis. Since most of these cases are quite old, we also get a peak into the way medicine has changed over time.
This format is particularly fun, as it keeps you engaged and wondering, "Who is this describing?" He approaches each patient as a doctor would while along the way explaining the significance of each symptom and the possible causes. Every patient is a lesson in both medicine and analysis. Since most of these cases are quite old, we also get a peak into the way medicine has changed over time.
November 5, 2020
Look, I've rewatched House Md (2004-2011) over 5 times, so I just wanted a nice diagnostic challenge to follow. That is not what this book is. I was under the impression they were going to talk about random people, but it was extremely easy to figure out who these historical characters are, even if the author tries to bury the lead. Though this made me feel great about my knowledge of history (I got all of them right except for the basketball player), it didn't improve my knowledge of medicine one bit.
April 6, 2021
Fun! A doctor sits down and walks you through the medical cases of historical figures and explains how you would diagnose them and understand their symptoms. I felt it was the right balance of just technical/informative enough that I learned something, but still light enough for casual listening as I walk my dog.
Also, yes, it does feel weird to mark this down as a book when there's no transcript available. Am I cheating on my "read x books this year" challenge? I don't know, but I sure enjoyed listening to this.
Also, yes, it does feel weird to mark this down as a book when there's no transcript available. Am I cheating on my "read x books this year" challenge? I don't know, but I sure enjoyed listening to this.
July 3, 2023
This Audible Audio was far more enjoyable and interesting than I really thought it was going to be. Each story is presented as a medical case, with the 'patient's' name changed for the sake of obscuring pre-existing notions. Every "patient" and "case" is rather famous, but having it presented as a medical file is a view I have never experienced and I learned new things about historical figures I am quite familiar with. Also, it was quite fun and engaging to have symptoms presented and trying to diagnose the illness or malady as more information is presented.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews