Is Medicine Still Good for Us?

The Big Idea

by Julian Sheather

This fascinating entry in The Big Idea series lays out the ethical implications and the costs of modern medicine. Over the course of human history, medicine has achieved incredible successes―but at what cost? This latest book in The Big Idea series explores the state of modern medicine, examining the ethics of medical and healthcare practices and the impact they have on modern life. This fascinating analysis engages with the debate surrounding the escalating costs, both financial and ethical, of medicine today. Intelligent and provocative,  Is Medicine Still Good for Us?  dissects common assumptions about medicine, helping the reader create their own informed opinion about its extraordinary achievements, limitations, injustices, and inevitable failures. Dr. Julian Sheather, an ethics adviser to Doctors Without Borders, contextualizes medicine as a science, art, institution, and ideology, outlining the pros and cons of what medicine has become in the signature Big Idea textual approach. Accompanying Sheather’s text are numerous informative illustrations that deepen the reader’s understanding of the material. A timely addition to the series, this book will engage those who love to debate, who are interested in ethics and philosophy, and those working in the medical field. 150 color illustrations

Genres: Nonfiction, Medicine

144 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2019

Reviews

[Alexandra Svyatova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книга заставляет задуматься о многих аспектах медицины. Об ее истории, влиянии на ее развитие экономики, на необходимость.
Заключение, которое написано в книге, мне кажется слишком пафосным. "Мечты о том, что мы можем искоренить болезни и победить смерть, свойственны человеку. Но это лишь мечты". Будучи научным сотрудником, который разрабатывает методы для медицины, во мне такой тезис вызывает кучу противоречий. Нам есть куда стремиться и зачем, и хоть в книге указано на множество аспектов, которые ведут медицину не в том направление, обрубать человечество в поисках "таблетки от всех болезней" не вижу смысла.
Касательно оформления книги - ужасно сложно читать три разных шрифта на одном развороте книги.
Я рада, что существуют такие книги, но лично мне не хотелось бы ограничивать людей в их мечтаниях :)

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ethical thought piece on the benefits and drawbacks of modern medicine, and where it might be headed.

Easy to read and thought provoking. This book struck the sweet spot between being readily digestible and addressing some complex ethical conundrums. I would say it was equally accessible and relevant for a medical or a non-medical audience. A must-read for anyone treating patients.

[Liene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never thought I would need to mention formatting in review, but there is always the first time. It was so frustrating to read. If I can open a book in random place and almost always there will be chaotically placed paragraphs in 4 or 5 different font sizes, it's not okay. I don't know who thought this would be great idea.

[yamiyoghurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book. This is the first of the series I’ve read, and I intend to read more. The topic is very well presented, the book layout fresh, the sidebars explaining jargons useful in laying the foundation for understanding the discourse. I thought this was a wonderful piece!

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book covers a crucial aspect of our present and future societies and therefore recommend it to all, that they be of a medical background or not at all. Although I found the presentation slightly confusing at times, everything is well explained and it is therefore quite easy to read.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein ästhetisches, wenn auch unpraktisch designtes Museumshopbuch über die Entwicklung der Medizin, Übermedikalisierung, explodierende Kosten und fragwürdige Priorisierungen im Gesundheitssystem. Sehr wahr, aber auch nicht wirklich neu.

[Merie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for Medical Humanities class; sparked good discussions but students found the design of the book frustrating and weird.

[yatsum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it, was a brief introduction to medicine. I was intrigued by the text style but it definitely distracted me a little bit.

[Jennifer P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer, great thoughts on the top problems in healthcare. Though it was an annoying read due to the freneticism in topic and typograpy.

[Simone Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Textstruktur ist am Anfang etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig aber mal etwas anderes. Mir hat das Buch größtenteils gefallen.