Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries (Yale Nota Bene) [Paperback]

Dr. Meyer Friedman M.D. (Author), Gerald W. Friedland M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0300082789 | ISBN-13: 978-0300082784

This absorbing book is the first to describe monumental medical discoveries throughout history, bringing to life the scientific pioneers responsible for them and the excitement, frustrations, and jealousies that surrounded the final achievements. Two distinguished physicians, Meyer Friedman and Gerald W. Friedland, have drawn on their many years of experience as well as on that of world-renowned antiquarian book dealers, physician collectors of old and new medical publications, and medical school professors to single out these medical breakthroughs from thousands of candidates, and, in several cases, to provide information never before available. Their engrossing stories of the 10 most significant discoveries will be read with enjoyment by anyone fascinated by the mysteries of medicine.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

An almost gossipy look of the men who made some of the most significant discoveries in Western medicine. Friedman and Friedland, two physicians whose combined careers encompass over a century of teaching and practicing medicine (Friedman discovered the effect of Type A behavior on the heart), selected their own top ten and then had them vetted by antiquarian book dealers and physician-collectors of rare medical publications. Chronologically, the anatomical observations of Vesalius come first: his Fabrica (published in 1543) was, according to Friedman and Friedland, ``so scientific that it initiated medical science itself.'' However, they rate Harveys discovery of the circulation of the blood in the human body as the single most important, because it introduced the principle of experimentation in medicine. Leeuwenhoek is included as the founder of bacteriology, Jenner for introducing vaccination, Crawford Long for the initial use of surgical anesthesia, and Roentgen for discovery of the X-ray beam. Nearly unknown today are Ross Harrison, who first grew living tissue in culture outside an organism, and Nikolai Anichkov, who discovered the primary role of cholesterol in atherosclerosis. Fleming is credited with the discovery of penicillin, but Florey's role in its development is not overlooked. Similarly, the DNA story gives primary credit to Wilkins, while clarifying the role of Watson and Crick in elucidating its structure. In recounting the story of these achievements, the authors devote considerable space to the character and private lives of the men who made them. One's arrogance, another's dullness, their mistaken notions (Harvey believed in witches; Fleming thought of penicillin as simply an external germicide), their good luck and bad marriages, their ambitionsall are revealed. The authors conclude that it is not genius so much as curiosity and the ability to conduct a methodological investigation that distinguish them. While Friedman and Friedland's list of the ten best is sure to be questioned, their revealing portraits of notable men of science are memorable. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (August 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300082789
• ISBN-13: 978-0300082784
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking "Outside the box"., April 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries (Hardcover)

An old puzzle requires connecting a square of dots by drawing three connected straight lines. The simple solution, which most people do not consider, depends on extending one line outside the boundary of the dots. The scientists and physicians described in Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries frequently had the ability to think "outside the box". They looked at the same data as others, but they saw new and important relationships. What impresses the reader is, not the brilliance of many of the discovers, but their ability to recognize the importance of data that most would consider trivial. These great discoverers were often not likable or engaging personalities; their commitment to their field was frequently obsessive; their social relationships stunted and their great discoveries depended, not so much on brilliance, but more on their enduring curiosity. The book makes compelling reading, because it is not only a history of discovery but also of the querky personalities of a number of the discoverers. The authors skillfully draw conclusions from limited historical data.This book has charm. The reader partakes of the naïve thought that just, maybe, if he had been there, he could have made the same discovery but that he probably would not have wanted to socially "pay the price". This book is like a delicious low calorie meal. How often can one learn a great deal about interesting personalities and events and thoroughly enjoy the experience?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creativity and Innovation, October 19, 2000

By 

Olaf O. Storaasli - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries (Hardcover)

The authors describe details related to the background of what they view as the 10 greatest medical "discoveries", one per chapter. The final chapter explores possible overlapping triggers for innovation among the discoveries:

1. individual or team effort 2. likeability of innovator (most you'd not invite for dinner)
3. funding (individual or government)
4. innovation: planned or sheer luck
5. the role of perseverence, determination and honesty
5... many more

Interesting conclusions emerge that will surprise many. This non-technical book is an easy read for all. It's a delight to discover it's full of useful gems of information, many of which many M.D.'s are not aware of (including 2 or more of the 10 greatest medical discoveries).

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of my textbook., April 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries (Yale Nota Bene) (Paperback)

In the interest of full disclosure:
I am an undergrad at Stanford enrolled in a seminar co-taught by Dr. Friedland.

The text offers a glimpse of the personalities, missed opportunities, and scientific mistakes that normally go unmentioned in classes or textbooks. It is written in an easy, galloping style that draws on the staggering historical insight Dr. Friedman had as a collector of rare medical texts. Chapter I contains several amazing plates taken from Vesalius's Fabrica (Dr. Friedman apparently owned a copy). It also does a good job of getting rid of any naive conceptions of Science as a constant, selfless, and deliberate stampede of progress. And you can read four centuries of edifying gossip without feeling guilty like you're turning your brain to mush.

Some of the chapters suffer from minor organizational problems. They aren't serious enough to obscure the major points, but may force you to re-read some meandering passages. Better editing by the Yale University Press would have avoided this problem. Absent of organizational issues, this book would deserve 5 stars (whatever that means).

I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the history of science/medicine.