See the fascinating history of medicine brought to life, from its rather primitive beginnings, through to the lifesaving technologies of today.Award-winning author Dr Carol Cooper takes you on a unique illustrated journey through the 12 objects that have come to define medicine through the ages – from the barbaric and bizarre to the inventive and impressive, this captivating read is peppered with humorous anecdotes. In this complete history, discover how ill health has been with us for as long as humans have existed, as has the drive to treat and understand it. Over the course of centuries, the ways in which doctors have engaged with sickness has changed drastically, and so too have the tools at their disposal. And as these tools have morphed and evolved, our knowledge of health and disease has expanded. Medical theories have slowly advanced, allowing people to live longer and healthier lives. The groundbreaking tools explored in this illustrated collection The X-Ray Leeches The Microscope The Mask Forceps The Bone Saw The Heart Lung Machine The history of these medical tools is truly astounding, revealing the true extent of human ingenuity, curiosity, and compassion. This is a book for anyone interested in medical history or looking for a fresh and dynamic take on their specialist subject. With her immense knowledge and dry wit, Dr Cooper delivers a history that is not for the faint of heart…
I've been making up stories for as long as I can remember. My first novel ONE NIGHT AT THE JACARANDA, in which a motley group of Londoners look for love, was described by The Sun newspaper as 'a blinder of a tale.'
HAMPSTEAD FEVER tells the story of six intertwined lives one hot summer as emotions reach boiling point. Think ‘Love, Actually’, but in a heatwave.
Now you can also read THE GIRLS FROM ALEXANDRIA, my historical novel set in Egypt. It's the frank and sometimes funny story of a woman searching for her missing sister, her lost memory, and her family origins.
In my other life, I'm a family doctor and the author of a string of health books.
The title says it all. A history of medicine condensated in merely 300 pages. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular medical object. Or rather the object is used as an excuse to tell a part of the history of medicine. Some objects are obvious and expected such as the bone saw, the microscope, and the stethoscope. Some are surprising such as the prosthetic hip or the obstetric forceps, these are probably not so obvious. Then we have a lot of interesting facts, which are probably well-known to those who are passionate about the subject, and a kaleidoscope of names. Lots of names. It feels like a marathon, rushed, speedy mention of so many great people who contributed to the medical world. But if the author tried to cram more details into each chapter, we would probably have a chaotic tangle of names, places, and achievements. So the path chosen by the author seems to be the right one even if it`s not up to everyone's liking. However, there is one thing that needs to be pointed out. The author is using the notation Before Common Era and Common Era. This should not be used. Commonly used and officially used is the Gregorian calendar, which we have been using for centuries with the notation Before Christ and Anno Domini. This has nothing to do with personal feelings or religion. We all should be using what is in official use. Always.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am personally not a huge non fiction reader, but as a fan of medical history, I couldn't resist this. And I'm so glad I got the chance to read it! It's an incredibly interesting read, and full of fantastic anecdotal tidbits. This will be a good choice for anyone who enjoys the more "real" elements of history. This was a thoroughly enjoyable piece of writing, and I can't wait to recommend it to history buffs and med students alike.
Thank you to netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Set out with each instrument getting its own chapter, this book explains the leaps and bounds that moved the medical profession forwards. Not always for the better in the case of electro shock therapy, giving the reader a well rounded view of the pitfalls of medical advances in certain time periods. From the forceps that aided the labour of a Queen of England to the artifical hip, a wide range of people and times are explored through a medical lens. We don't often see such an in depth study of the actual tools, as opposed to the treatments and outcomes so I really appreciated the deep dive. A nuanced and well researched look at the medical events famous to history, the instruments that made them possible and the people who's innovation saved lives.
As someone who has studied biology/medicine for 7 years, there were some things that I learned and found interesting! Chapters are short enough to keep you interested however I did find some information about scientists superfluous. Did make me reflect on all of the crazy things scientist did to themselves for the sake of science and discovery!
This was an interesting look at how the history of medicine progressed over time and the tools that allowed healthcare to improve drastically. Each of the twelve tools had their own chapter, and within that chapter similar tools that came before or after or even other inventions that led to the creation of the tool focused on were also described. There were interesting facts and tidbits speckled throughout, and historical cases/patients were talked about in relation to the tool or progression of medicine itself. If you are at all interested in medicine, I think you would like this book.
Set out in twelve chapters of litanies of medics, inventors and the diseases or medical needs that inspired them, this history skims through thousands of years of written and material history, giving a very brief introduction to each medical breakthrough. I felt frustrated by the speed each chapter whips through the diseases or medical processes being discussed, barely giving an introduction to the man (almost invariably these inventors, researchers of medics were men, excepting the few you probably already know), what drove him to work on improving the field, and what his answer was, before turning to the next man.
I think that any one of these chapters could have made a better book on its own, or even to have focused on particular examples of an instrument or device in an accessible collection, as there are plenty of medical and health collections in international museums. It could have really been a history about objects when in fact it's about the concepts connected to one; for example, in the chapter on the mask, from the Plague Doctor mask to PPE, it's actually about protecting the patient and the doctor or nurse from infection, on defeating septicaemia—which comes up again and again in the rest of the book—on improving survival rates and the concept of bacterial and viral vectors. That is more than enough for a book on its own, when instead it's relegated to a breathless chapter on masks, goggles and scrubs.
What might have lifted the book would have been to retain the personal and witty tone of the introduction, but the chapters are strong on facts and light on personality. I was looking forward to reading about the history of medicine from a practitioner's point of view, not that of an archivist.
The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects is as intriguing as it sounds, starting with inventions 10,000 years ago to the present. Over the centuries people have undoubtedly felt like science experiments, especially when they were treated for their symptoms without anaesthetic and the implements were barbarically fearsome.
I shudder to think of facing the likes of the trephine which was used to treat neurological conditions by drilling holes into skulls, conscious, sometimes with sharpened stones. But even 2,000 years ago the procedure helped and there were survivors. The bone saw must have looked impossibly grim, most frequently used in wartime amputations which had to be performed quickly. Surgeons did not realize the importance of wearing gloves for ages. One of the most brilliant inventions was that of the hypodermic needle, something we take for granted. What a revelation, though! I had no idea why X-rays are called X-rays. Renaissance anatomist Vesalius was intriguing to read about, too.
Not only have instruments become more fine tuned, the materials they are fashioned from has evolved to make them lighter, more flexible and safer. As knowledge increases, so do triumphs. However, where there are humans there are also failures. This book offers great insight into both. I absorbed the fascinating details like a thirsty sponge and would love to learn more about medical objects.
If you have the slightest interest in medicine, this book is for you.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this astonishing book.
Thank you to Carol Cooper and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!
"The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects" is a fun and informative crash tour through a dazzling array of medicine's greatest inventions, from the stethoscope to the heart bypass and everything in between. Though each chapter technically covers one object, each serves as a jumping-off point to talk about many other inventions and discoveries made along the path to and beyond the object in question (for example, the chapter on X-rays also covers a vast array of other imaging).
I had a fun time reading through each development as a medical student, and seeing how each chapter branched out into a wider array of inventions, discoveries, and events that have shaped medical practice over the last few centuries of human ingenuity. I think this is a great vast overview for those who like medical history and have a general interest in medicine, while also being an excellent jumping-off point for those who want to take a subject from this book and do more of a deep dive into the history of medicine, but didn't know where to start.
Writing a book about medical history that is both broad in its coverage but with enough depth to be interesting (but not an encyclopedia) is a medical marvel, and Dr. Cooper did a fantastic job!
The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects by Carol Cooper is a fantastic and fascinating look at how medicine has evolved through the ages. Concisely and clearly written, the book is informative and approachable enough that those with no prior knowledge of the subject matter will not struggle while those who have some familiarity will no doubt find new and interesting titbits of information and may find themselves delving deeper into topics of particular interest. The author uses a dozen medical tools or devices ranging from the trephine which has been used since ancient times to more modern developments like X-Rays and MRI scanners and even devices and implants like prosthetic hips to show how medicine and the management of disease and illness has changed and improved over time. It is amazing how much ingenuity and inventiveness has been involved and how much attitudes and practices have evolved. I found it to be well researched and clearly laid out, and I think anyone with an interest in medicine or health will find it to be an entertaining and informative read. I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
The History Of Medicine In Twelve Objects by Carol Cooper is about 12 inventions in medicine that were game changers for more than just one faction of medicine. From stethoscopes which identified more than one health problem to chloroform and other anesthetizing agents to the forcepsthat helped with more living births to many other inventions that just blew my mind. Even women got in on inventing including the one handed syringe and possibly the glass syringe as well this book is packed with facts an amazing history. I can’t tell you all 12 of the items because then you probably wouldn’t read the book and reading the book is really an entertaining way to pass the day for any history lover. They even talk about those who oppose new ways in medicine and why like when Queen Victoria was put to sleep during labor for two of her births and those who opposed it, as well as those who oppose the use of pain medicine during amputation. See… As I said this book is packed with full of interesting stories. #NetGalley, #CarolCooper, #TheHistoryOfMedicineAndTwelveObjects,
The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects is a survey history of the development and technological changes to the practices of medicine in human history.
Carol Cooper's book is divided into the expected 12 chapters to match the title. Each chapter begins with an illustration of the object of focus and then journeys through time, discussing the creation of the tool and how it was improved or adapted over time. Through its central conceit it shows the ways medicine has changed and evolved based on our growing scientific knowledge. It is not a direct chronological journey, as each object is discussed to the modern point, but the chapters arrange the objects in chronological time from before recorded history to the 20th Century.
Featured objects include: the trephine, bone saw, mask, microscope, stethoscope, hypodermic syringe, x-ray machine and several others. Alongside their creators or popularizers, Cooper also discusses daily or regular practices of the times and how these objects were (sometimes much later) paradigm shifts.
Recommended reading for those interested in the history of medicine, technological change across history, business entrepreneurs researching the factors that make something a success.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Aurum books for this book for review. This book was a fascinating study at the 12 medical devices that have shaped medicine, from the bone saw to the X ray machine and how we use these instruments in medical procedures to this day. The obstetrics forceps was once a lifesaving device and sadly, many OB practitioners now are not even taught how to use this device anymore and are quick to just to do a cesarean section instead. The heart-lung machine is an amazing device and so many people are only alive now due to its invention and use. This book was an interesting read as a medical professional but would be even better to read as nonmedical to learn about all the wonderful things that people had invented so long ago, that we are still using, even with all the technology we have at had now.
Netgalley review, possible plot points mentioned below.
I was so beyond excited to have recieved this book as an avid 19th century medical reader. This book has an interesting take where it shows you how the tool was invented and used in the past and it's future counterpart. It shows how much science and medicine have come. If I'm honest, modern medicine isn't my favorite topic, I don't enjoy reading it but it was still interesting to see the comparison between the two.
I also appreciate the humor that is hidden through out the book, adding a little fun to the grim medical procedures. I can't wait to use what I've learned from this book into my art practices.
I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
The book was very interesting and dividing such a rich history in only 12 chapters using different objects as the center of attention is an interesting and unique approach.
This is only the tip of the iceberg and I don't think it could have been possible to cram more information into this book. However, I feel like the book could really benefit from adding some photos, just to put a face on the names or add a bit of personality to the places that are only named. Personally I like my non-fiction to be filled with photos and diagrams.
However, if you are curios about history in general, or this niche, I totally recommend this book, as it was a delightful read, filled with intriguing facts.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest review
Sadly, there are few pictures and the book is not TTS enabled. However, I am in "the business" and also do 18th century reenacting (and geek history) so for much of the material I have to wait until it comes out as enabled or an audiobook. The details and development as well as early uses of these things is very well done and everyone can learn from what went before. I do miss having the addition of a machine that was vital in its day and did develop into a wearable/portable unit: The Iron Lung. I requested and received a free temporary PDF from Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Aurum via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Oct 22, 2024
This was a fantastic read! The evolution of the medical instruments was so interesting. It's amazing how many people, over centuries or even millenia, contribute to what's in use now. The stories explain how they built on earlier knowledge, made accidental discoveries and used trial and error to play a part. Despite the scientific subject, it was very easy to read. There was little medical jargon and was written in plain English. The chapter on X-ray, however, went a bit over my head, but that's a reflection of me, not the book!
Award-winning author Dr. Carol Cooper describes the history of medicine through twelve well-known objects that have come to define medicine through the ages.
As someone with an interest in the Health Sciences, this book immediately appealed to me. Being already familiar with these objects and some of their history, I wanted to see what new things I could learn.
I found parts of the book to be quite dry. Many facts and names were listed but there was little given in the way of detail.
Other areas of the book, such as the one that focused on anesthesia (The Ether Inhaler and the Conquest of Pain) or the one that focused on the Hypodermic Needle and Syringe, gave a fair amount of anecdotal stories which made those chapters much more interesting.
There is much to be learned in this collection of information about twelve objects brought about through need, time, and determination.
It was engrossing to read of the trials and errors made along the way to better medical instruments, practices, and outcomes in the field of medicine.
I believe this book is best suited for those with a strong interest in Health Science and Medicine.
Publication Date October 22, 2024 Quarto Publishing Group White Lion
I’m astonished. I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into this book. While I was already familiar with some of the information presented, I still learned a lot of new things. The text is very readable and accessible, even for non-medical readers. I particularly appreciate the use of both the metric and imperial systems, as well as Celsius and Fahrenheit for temperatures. I've read a few books where the author only used me of these systems, which left me somewhat confused.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Other fitting titles for this book: - A list of clinicians who died ironically; - An audit of the origin of medical inventions; - Inventions that were discovered before their time; - Inventions that were at first rejected by the medical fraternity; - A list of inventors that falsely claimed to be “the first”, aka, A list of overlooked inventors
There is something for everyone in here, and I enjoyed it very much. It spans most, if not all, specialties, and really does delve into the actual global medical history.
I wish this book existed when I was a medical student, lacking inspiration and insight. This vast knowledge would have made studying a LOT more fun.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing this eARC.
Very different approach to the history of medicine, using twelve different objects, and beautifully written in layman's terms.
Really interesting, and the kind of book you can either sit down and immerse yourself in, or just dip in here and there, and you'll find something to fascinate you. I learned a lot about the objects themselves, their development and how they led to other discoveries, and the historical cases.
Entertaining and educational - a thoroughly good read.
Definitely not a book for a general audience but if you like medical history you will appreciate the research put into this book. Told in a way that most would understand.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with a digital copy.
picked it up because it was written by a woman. the facts were interesting and informative, however the writing style left me a bit unsatisfied. i do wish she went more in depth on certain topics, but i understand that its only a short book.
I work in the healthcare field (surgical) and I love learning more about the history and background of my job. I love to learn about the origins and how the medical world is constantly evolving!