Customer Reviews

The Rise of Causal Concepts of Disease: Case Histories (The History of Medicine in Context)

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

 

 

Before you start reading, remember that the author is primarily a philosopher, so this book is very thorough in philosophical, logical, and scholarly aspects and does not really try to cater to other (say, biology or computer science) tastes. In spite of this, I've liked it.

I'm taking a course from the author. In the book he raises some interesting questions about the traditional view of the history of medicine and proceeds to actually make sense of the beginnings of it. There are a few logical gaps that are easily overshadowed by the sense he makes of the history over all. The depth and meticulousness of his research is rather startling: it spans multiple languages and over a century of time and includes just about everything relevant. His main idea is usually clear in the beginning of any given section, though sometimes the sheer number of examples he uses to demonstrate a point is a touch monotonous.

Overall, if you're taking the class from Carter, you need the book. If you're looking for light reading and you like the preview, you won't be disappointed.

I'm a bit odd, I suppose: I like the construction of the book. The paper used is bright and the typeface is--to me--readable. The cover and binding seem well built. (No, it really shouldn't cost $130...)