Customer Reviews

No Magic Bullet: A Social History of Venereal Disease in the United States Since 1880

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No Magic Bullet creates a very detailed, extremely well researched volume on the evolution of healthcare. The progression through the various phases of modern thought may seem entertaining or absurd in hindsight yet Brandt very carefully recreates the time period making the rise and fall of each idea seem appropriate, regardless of their absurdity.

If you are looking for an entertaining read, look elsewhere. No Magic Bullet is geared towards academics or professionals. It is not a difficult volume but it is not a whimsical read either. The level of detail and research put into this text indicate a profound passion and understanding of medicine in the proper historical context.

I'll agree with the first review, some of the information may seem dated, but if you're writing about history it makes little difference. If you're looking for cutting edge information on AIDS and the developments made in the past ten years; look elsewhere. But if you want a social progression spanning through some of medicine's interesting periods this is an excellent resource.

I highly recommend this volume for anyone that might be remotely interested in sociology, healthcare, or history.

I read this good book, here in Brazil.This book isn't longing or boring, but it is a little outdated, because it was published, more than 20 years ago.
As I wrote on the title of this review, this book is outdated and good, because americans and in fact, almost all the mankind, didn't do nothing really new, about venereal diseases.To example, writing about USA in first deacde of twenty century, on page 23:"The press reamined reticent on the subject of sexual diseases, refusing to print accounts of their effects".
On page 176, writing about american press and venereal disease in 1960 decade:"In 1964 NBC cancelled plans to air a two-part drama on two popular television series , "Mr. Novak " and "Dr. Kildare" in which a high school student contracted veneral disease."

I think that I'll be the only reviewer of this book, than I must show the table of contents of this book:
Introduction:Sex Disease and Medicine > Page 3.
I-"Damaged Goods":Progressive Medicine and Social Hygiene > Page 7.
II-"Fit to Fight":The commission on Training Camp Activities > Page 52.
III-"The Claenest Army in the World":Venereal Disease and the AEF>Page 96.
IV-"Shadow in the Land">Thomas Parran and the New Deal> Page 122.
V-Dr. Erlich's Magic Bullet:Venereal Desease in the Age of antibiotics > Page 161.
VI-"Plagues and Peoples":The AIDS Epidemic > Page 183.
Appendix > Page 205.
Note on sources > Page 206.
Manuscript Sources > Page 207.
Abbreviations > Page 209.
Notes > Page 210.
Index > Page 259.
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Failures of this book really exists.Some of them:
1-Has nothing about circumcision; it was also used "to prevent" veneral diseases in USA.
2-Being published in 1987, it is very outdated about AIDS.
3-Has nothing about anti-masturbation hysteria and its relation with doctors, clergy,etc.