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Druin Burch
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Taking the Medicine Hardcover – International Edition, February 9, 2009

by Druin Burch (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings
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Burch’s controversial argument is that for most of human history medicine has been a catastrophe, and emphasizes how little and how much has changed, and how we need to make educated choices about the risks we swallow. Only then can the drugs of today and tomorrow save our lives.
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Chatto & Windus
  4. Publication date
    February 9, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6.31 x 1.06 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0701182784
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0701182786
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Druin Burch, 34, has worked in hospitals across south-east England. He teaches human evolution, physiology and ecology at Oxford and writes for medical journals, the Times Literary Supplement and the Guardian. This is his first book.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chatto & Windus (February 9, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0701182784
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0701182786
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.31 x 1.06 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

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Druin Burch

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4.6 out of 5 stars
72 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Carol S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating history of medical science's blind-spots.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This would be a depressing recital of human stubbornness and hubris, but for the dry sense of humor the author lends to his premise. It certainly has some painful moments, but Druin Burch handles them with sensitivity and a sincere attempt to educate the reader by shedding some light into medicine's dark closet. It is a thorough examination of how the medical profession failed, miserably, for far longer than most of us image; and how it is still prone to failure. The author also includes inspiring accounts of how reason, against heavy opposition, finally prevailed over received wisdom. It's a lesson pertinent to the medical profession, and to the layman as well, but it is also an acid commentary on the intellectual short-comings of the smartest beings on the planet. I could hardly put it down.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars You need this (and so does your doctor)
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2013
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    This is entertaining medical history that illustrates how slow and fitful the use of scientific method has been in medicine. Not only have doctors been wrong more than right about whether treatments help, we have resisted or failed to understand the kind of information that would help us know better. Burch's message, leavened with humor and fascinating digressions, is that we can not judge the effects of most treatments (some people get better, some don't) without prospective, controlled studies of sufficient size. Authority and experience are hopelessly biased and unable to correct errors. For that we need the numbers, but no statistical knowledge is needed to enjoy this delightful book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • George R. Cybulski, M.D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars We must all ‘take the medicine’!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021
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    ‘Taking the Medicine’ by Druin Burch is an exceptional work that lays out the case for applying statistical rigor to evaluation of treatments for the maladies of humans. I especially enjoyed Dr Burch’s humanist discussion of the backgrounds of the major figures of this process and their accomplishments. A great read!!
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  • Miyoung Chung
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2013
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    Very insightful and well written. The message was powerful. Burch points out a lot of problems that the medical field has in the past, however, his solutions offered weren't of much focus as I hoped they would have been.
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  • J. C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking true story of how doctors think
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2014
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    Here is a book that changed my world view. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know the reasoning behind the medical system. Since ancient history, medical caregivers still think the same way! They still use the same reasoning. The author weaves interesting anecdotes with surprise twists throughout this exciting and stunning book. I loved it. I don't want to give too much away!
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  • LBM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Taking the Medicine:
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2011
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    This book makes you appreciate the healthcare we have today. It makes you wonder why some people think the good old days were better and why some want to go back to what is not evidenced based.
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  • os olsen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2014
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    Strongly recommended for clear style, exposition based on interesting narratives, and good account of the origins of evidence-based medicine.
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  • Dareen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016
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    As expected
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating delve in to medical history
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    From the Romans, and before, doctors have wanted to cure their patients. But their efforts (with very few exceptions) caused more harm to those they treated than just standing back & letting nature take its course - The need to "Do something" was overwhelming.

    And this continues to the 20th century & beyond, as this excellent book documents. But there is hope, in the form of the "Randomized controlled trial". These experiments are what society needs, but fails to encourage sufficiently. Resistance comes not just from Big Pharma (who want to make money NOW!), but also from the medical profession itself, where the practicing medical experts view their judgments as "Correct", and resist testing of their precious ideas as "unethical".

    A well written & engaging book - highly recommended.
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  • Lese Ratte aus UK
    4.0 out of 5 stars TAKING THE MEDICINE
    Reviewed in Germany on October 1, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting book. A history of how the medical profession has tried (and very often failed) to heal sick human beings for the last thousands of years.

    Surprisingly, medical knowledge was much shakier than I suspected right up to the middle of the last century and even today there seems to be nobody who knows everything about healing and curing. Often we are treated on a 'hit or miss' basis when the benefits of a cure outweigh the side effects. Hmm.

    The book relates how new medicines came about, testing of new medicines, research into drugs over the last X-hundred years and explodes a few myths along the way- the author is, for example, convinced that homeopathy is useless.

    On the plus side, I'm glad to be alive in the 20th and 21st centuries otherwise even the most difficult or the most common ailments were treated by blood-letting and purges; the author states that neither actually cured anyone and if people did actually recover it was more by luck than skill, or simply bed rest.

    To be honest, just having a bad case of flu and then having to part with several liters of blood combined with induced vomiting and diarrhea can't have been a lot of fun.

    This book is interesting, wide-ranging, informative and not occasionally amusing. Recommended
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  • Janjo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2013
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    I embarked upon this book, not as a medical person, but rather as a general reader with an interest in social history. I found it absolutely fascinating and it held my interest right through to the last page.
    Drink Burch writes well and seriously, but he is never boring in this logical discourse. With the evidence he presents of medical incompetence it is amazing that so many of us have survived to tell the tale. It is also quite shocking how recently proper clinical trials have been accepted as the proper way forward.
    An excellent and eye opening read.
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  • Paul Gibson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real eye opener.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2020
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    This book is full of shocking revelations, the history of medicine is a fascinating topic, yet Druin has added significant insight into the practices of what's rightfully regarded as an honourable profession, this isn't just a dig the dirt account, but well balanced and thoughtfully written. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the medicine.
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  • Pete Balchin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2014
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    I ordered and read this recently because of the author's appearance on a recent BBC 4 programme on Medical/Drug History. The author seemed very interesting, and this was a good choice to read this because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    The section on Thalidomide and Smallpox is particularly of interest.

    As I say to one of the other reviewers when he says:

    " .... I don't really like medical history but this is a collection of the important and interesting bits of the history of medicine put into a very readable and entertaining format. ..."

    May I suggest you read Roy Porter's book, "Blood and Guts" It is well worth a read. And I would. I would suggest that one reads both.
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