The New York Times Book of Medicine: More than 150 Years of Reporting on the Evolution of Medicine

by Gina Kolata, Abraham Verghese (Foreword)

Today we live longer, healthier lives than ever before in history—a transformation due almost entirely to tremendous advances in medicine. This change is so profound, with many major illnesses nearly wiped out, that it's hard now to imagine what the world was like in 1851, when the New York Times began publishing. Treatments for depression, blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and diabetes came later; antibiotics were nonexistent, viruses unheard of, and no one realized yet that DNA carried blueprints for life or the importance of stem cells. Edited by award-winning writer Gina Kolata, this eye-opening collection of 150 articles from the New York Times archive charts the developing scientific insights and breakthroughs into diagnosing and treating conditions like typhoid, tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and AIDS, and chronicles the struggles to treat mental illness and the enormous success of vaccines. It also reveals medical mistakes, lapses in ethics, and wrong paths taken in hopes of curing disease. Every illness, every landmark has a tale, and the newspaper's top reporters tell each one with perceptiveness and skill.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medicine, Medical, Science, Health

552 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2015

About the author

Kolata graduated from the University of Maryland and studied molecular biology at the graduate level at MIT for a year and a half. Then she returned to the University of Maryland and obtained a master’s degree in applied mathematics. Kolata has taught writing as a visiting professor at Princeton University and frequently gives lectures across the country. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with her family.

Reviews

[Tkheynah]

So far it's a really interesting read. It is definitely taking me longer to read simply bc I'm reading to understand and looking for take aways in the medical history. Not so much like a fiction novel I'm used to.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the book "The New York Times Book of Medicine: More than 150 Years of Reporting on the Evolution of Medicine." for free through Goodreads First Reads.

If you or a loved one has health issues (and who doesn't?), if you follow developments in treatment of those conditions, then this is an excellent book for you. The ability to read reports of developments in health care during the past century and a half gives perspective. I have had Type 1 Diabetes for 50 years. I now use the latest technology to manage my Diabetes - insulin pump, continuous glucose monitoring and carbohydrate counting. We've come so far as exhibited by page 155 of "The New York Times Book of Medicine." There is a reprint of an article from July 20, 1913 "Diabetes Cure Confirmed by Treatment of 176 Cases." That 'cure' was the starvation diet.

Other articles herald advances in treatment for many of the diseases that have plagued mankind. Twenty two chapters report published history for the following areas: AIDS Alzheimer's Disease, Antibiotics, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Cloning/Stem Cells, Diabetes, Diagnostics, Diet and Obesity, Ethics, The Flu, Genomes, Germ Therapy, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Mental Health, Public Health, Reproductive Medicine, Surgery, Transplants, Ulcers, and Vaccines.

Through intelligence, patience and perseverance, our medical profession has brought about improvements to our health care that were unimaginable 150 ago. The reprinted articles in this book give a succinct overview of the progress we have made. Truly a worthwhile read.

[Michelle Scott Roark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting medical updates through the years on various illnesses and other medical breakthroughs. Some topics more interesting than others. Early news stories have far more editorializing than later. Women are practically considered a different species in some of the older items.

[eli windsor]

im not about to review non fiction books especially not these kinds but dang it took me a year to finish???? did not notice that im sorry

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, with one exception, which is simply my personal preference. I wish that the dates of the medical discoveries were listed different then they are, as when you are reading at first you don't know if what you are reading is current or from the early nineteen hundreds until you are done reading the segment. I did like the history and how we have medically progressed in many different areas though. It did give some interesting information. Thanks for allowing me to win this book through Goodreads, and allow me to evaluate the content.

[The Advocate]

"A fascinating read for both the medical professional and the layperson."
Read more here.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://theadvocate.com/entertainment/...