Frederick Banting (Quest Library

by Stephen Eaton Hume

Frederick Banting was a surgeon and a decorated war hero when he had the idea to develop insulin in 1920, This achievement earned him the 1923 Nobel Prize for medicine, a knighthood, and the gratitude of diabetics around the world.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kira Browett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually surprised that I liked this book, because it's a biography. Even though it's full of facts it's written like a story. I mean, I wouldn't just read it for fun, I had to read it because I was doing a project on him. But it wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it might be, and even after the project was finished I kept reading.

[Gwen Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a definitive biography of Frederick Banting but enough to whet one's interest for more. It is lightly written in a story style for a young audience - perhaps high school - but adequate in reviewing his life growing up in a strict Methodist family in Simcoe County, his service as a field doctor in WWI, his somewhat accidental interest in the pancreas and diabetic conditions. The story of Banting's initial idea, the experiments he did with Best, the problems in getting support and funds from uncooperative sources, and ultimately moving to production mode is fascinating - especially during our current COVID 19 times and drive to develop vaccines. Until the discovery of insulin, diabetes was a death sentence to those who contracted it.

I was surprised to learn of Banting's aspirations as an artist along with friendship with A Y Jackson and his voyage to Baffin Island - a side of Banting that isn't remembered.

Banting's work with biochemical warfare gets very little attention in this book, but his involvement may not be well documented.

There are no footnotes, although there is an index. To learn more I should turn to Michael Bliss's biography of Banting.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of how Banting found the cure for diabetes.

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish all biographies were written so beautifully as this book. It was such a delightful read, I loved every second and at the same time learned so much about Banting.