Customer Reviews

Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries (Yale Nota Bene)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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?

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).

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.

Drs. Friedland and Friedman have taken a tremendously complex area of life, medicine and the adventure of discovery, and have made it understandable for the layperson, without making it simplistic. Their book is readable and engaging and takes the non-medical person on the intellectual adventure of exploration. When I read about the discoveries of the past, I could only but imagine the excitement of the medical discoveries of the future. Drs. Friedland and Friedman have opened up new vistas. Thank you!

Friedman and Friedland have written an engaging history of medicine that is understandable for the layman and, I imagine, illuminating for the medical professional as well. The two doctors (who can boast more than a century of combined medical experience) share enthusiasm and warmth for a subject that has engaged their interest beyond their professional lives. They have given us, not only the history of each discovery, but also the way that each one has changed the world and how we perceive ourselves. Imagine not having a concept of your skeleton as the framework for your body or an understanding of how the heart conducts the circulation of blood in your body. Imagine surgery without anesthesia; a world ravaged by smallpox, polio and tuberculosis; dying of a minor cut or sore throat because antibiotics do not exist. We owe so much to these discoverers, yet they were so human -- people who could be exceedingly petty, who, while being perceptive in certain aspects of their discovery, could be myopic in others. None of these discoverers are presented as intellectual giants. In fact, they often were limited by their own prejudices and needed others to make their discovery one of the 10 greatest. Here are stories of chicanery, international intrigue, the basest of human politics and dumb luck. Fascinating stuff! Friedman and Friedland have talked to many of the major players in the more recent discoveries and have made a few historical discoveries of their own which they share. It is a journey of discovery for the reader as well. The next time someone toasts to your health, you will know just who to thank!

As we approach the end of the second millenium there will undoubtedly be many books, magazine articles and editorials on the greatest discoveries, people and events that have shaped the world. "Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries" is the place to start for someone interested in understanding the evolution of modern medicine. Drs. Friedman and Friedland have written an understandable history of medicine similar to Richard Rhodes' Pulitzer Prize winning effort "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" in which the author teaches physics as we see it through the lives of the principal practioners of the art. Discovery of vaccinations, surgical anesthesia, diagnostic x-rays, antibiotics, and genetic engineering have changed the face of the world, both improving our lives, and creating new questions. Reading about these legends of medicine gives us insight into the personal and intellectual qualities required to make such discoveries. The authors have done a great service if their book stimulates a young person to pursue answers to the questions of the next millenium. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, finishing it in two evenings. My favorite chapter was on Maurice Wilkens and DNA, where ambition, pride, greed and awesome intellect combine to elucidate the structure and function of the gene, the "most significant discovery of the twentieth century". Christopher H. Joy

Drs' Friedland and Friedmans' "Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries" is an incomparable book that belongs on the bookshelf of every public library, High School and University, as well as every family with children. This is an amazing book, in its easy readability and uncanny insights of its authors into the minds of Medicine's greatest discovers stretching back 400 years. Who knew that DNA was actually described in the 1700's? Or how slowly the knowledge of the human Anatomy was unearthed? This book will make a wonderful gift for any enquiring young mind and act as an inspiration to budding scientists and researchers. The authors have done the world a great service with their meticulous anecdotes. My ONLY criticism of the book is the inclusion and acceptance of Cholesterol as one of the ten greatest discoveries. The subject of Cholesterol and its importance in our nutrition remains very contentious and debatable - as evidenced by the increase in diabetes, obesity and hypertension sinc we embarked oa a fat-free eating frenzy over the past fifteen years.

Henry Novis M.D.

The authors really tell the whole story of these great men/women that made such valuable discoveries in medicine. Their family history, school experiences and all that lead up to the discovery. I loved the history and explanation. A great read!

As a student who knows little about science or medicine, I have always thought of scientific research as impersonal. However, reading the stories of how these scientists arrived at their impressive discoveries, I was able to see creativity and elegence in scientific research that I previously thought was reserved only for quality art and literature. The stories were a lot of fun and they helped me see a beauty in science that I had missed before.

We found the book informative and very interesting. The flow of material paragraph into paragraph was expertly done. The formidable task of separating the 10 outstanding from the hundreds possible gave us a new insight into medicine we are all some part of. A must read for the professional and layman alike.