The Discovery of Insulin [Hardcover]

Michael Bliss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1982

In a brilliant, definitive history of one of the most significant and controversial medical events of modern times, award-winning historian Michael Bliss brings to light a bizarre clash of scientific personalities. When F. G. Banting and J. J. R. Macleod won the 1923 Nobel Prize for discovering and isolating insulin, Banting immediately announced that he was dividing his share of the prize with his young associate, C. H. Best. Macleod divided his share with a fourth member of the team, J. B. Collip. For the next sixty years medical opinion was intensely divided over the allotment of credit for the discovery of insulin. In resolving this controversy, Bliss also offers a wealth of new detail on such subjects as the treatment of diabetes before insulin and the life-and-death struggle to manufacture insulin.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Using previously unpublished, suppressed or privately circulated documents, Bliss sets forth the full story of the epochal discovery.  It is a tale of frustration, tension and acute personal rivalry. . . . [But] the book has moments of pure delight.  Bliss quotes extensively from the letters of one of Banting’s first patients, Elizabeth Hughes, the 15-year-old, 45-pound and very brave daughter of U.S. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes.  We see Banting and Best relaxing in the lab, frying eggs over a Bunsen burner.  Thoroughly researched and well written, The Discovery of Insulin deserves a place on the bookshelf alongside such eye-openers as James Watson’s The Double Helix and Nicholas Wade’s The Nobel Duel.”--Peter H. Desmond, The Washington Post

(Peter H. Desmond Washington Post )

"This story of insulin''s discovery ought to be a novel . . . but Michael Bliss''s splendid account is just as absorbing as any fiction."

(Isis )

"Bliss''s excellent account of the insulin story is a rare dissection of the anatomy of scientific discovery, and serves as a model of how rigorous historical method can correct the myths and legends sometimes perpetuated in the scientific literature."--Nicholas Wade, The New Republic

(New Republic )

“The Discovery of Insulin is the true tale of the medical and scientific detective work and intrigue that led to what is arguably one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. . . . The story reads like one of Berton Rouche’s medical detective tales or a Michael Crichton science fiction novel. . . . [A] memorable read by a first rate author and historian.” <\#209> Robert Matz, British Medical Journal

(Robert Matz British Medical Journal )

“For diabetics who want to know why they are alive, for doctors, nurses and others who are concerned about diabetes, and for any person who has the slightest curiosity about the way medicine moves, this book will be a joy.”--David Pyke

(David Pyke New Balance )

"Twenty-five years ago, the historian Michael Bliss composed his remarkably illuminating recounting of this saga. It has proved to be the definitive account."

(Chris Feudtner New England Journal of Medicine )

"The book is so interesting and entertaining that it reads like a cross between a sober Greek tragedy and a riveting detective story."

(JAMA ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Michael Bliss is University Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, a recipient of the Order of Canada, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is the award-winning author of many books, including William Osler: A Life in Medicine and Harvey Cushing: A Life in Surgery.

 

 

 

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: McClelland and Stewart Limited; 25 Anv edition (January 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226058972
• ISBN-13: 978-0226058979
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,383,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like you were there, July 9, 2001

By 

Richard Edelstein (Chantilly France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Discovery of Insulin (Paperback)

This incredibly well documented book must be the definitive story of the discovery of insulin. More exciting than any novel, Michael Bliss makes you feel as though you are in the lab with Banting and Best during the frantic summer of 1921. You can almost hear the dogs breathing, feel the excitement of the researchers and the frustration of the patients for whom obtaining the initially rare and precious substance meant the difference between life and death. The book explains the complexities, the jealousies, and the bitterness associated with the discovery, and how difficult it was (and still is) to state with certainty how important was each person's contribution. Bliss is not only a great historian, he is a wonderful story-teller too. Anyone who has diabetes, has cared for a diabetic, knows someone with diabetes or has even heard of the word "diabetes"should read this book. I read it from cover to cover on a transatlantic flight. This is the first book by Michael Bliss I have read - it won't be the last.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and readable work of medical history, January 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Ithaca NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Discovery of Insulin (Paperback)

Bliss's book is a real page-turner and deserves a much wider reading. The research is solid, and he does a great job of drawing the sometimes sordid details of medical discovery and controversy. He makes an excellent point that those of us who are non-diabetics should remember--there's still no cure.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Vivid, February 5, 2004

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Discovery of Insulin (Paperback)

This fine book is perhaps the best single narrative account of a major medical breakthrough. Bliss's background is not in medicine or biology but rather in Canadian history, politics, and Canadian cultural history. Prior to writing this book, he wrote what is probably the definitive biography of Frederick Banting and more recently he produced a highly praised biography of William Osler. One of the best things about this book is the broad perspective that Bliss brings to the subject. The exciting story of the isolation of insulin is grounded in a well laid out explanation of the social and cultural circumstances of these events. The situation of Canadian society, the nature of academic life, and the consequences of a great discovery being made in a Canadian city are laid out very well. Bliss is excellent on the science as well. He is a fine writer explains the background and events of the isolation very well. He really shows the team nature of this event and of scientific activity in general. He is very careful to delineate the contributions of all participants and shows how a group effort was really necessary to isolate insulin. A signficant point of revision is his emphasis of the role of JRR MacLeod, the Professor of Physiology at Toronto. In traditional accounts, he is a scientific bad guy who hijacks credit from Banting and Best. In Bliss's account, he is an important contributor who was probably victimized by Canadian nationalism. Bliss is very good as well on diabetes as a clinical problem, the impact of the isolation of insulin, and difficulties of moving from laboratory work to mass production. A fun and informative book that can be enjoyed by specialists and the general reading public.