Breakthrough!: How the 10 Greatest Discoveries in Medicine Saved Millions and Changed Our View of the World [NOOK Book]

read with reason

Mostly garbage reason is presented in this book. The author seems to have little grasp on valid logic and will infer facts that are simply false. Chapter 10 is a perfect example of ignorance, or an immoral, treatment to the pursuit of truth.

11 out of 17 people found this review helpful.

Very Interesting

It is amazing how medical breakthroughs were so often due to a lucky break. Also how resistant mainstream medicine was/is to accept new ideas. If you have a layman's interest in various medical discoveries then read this book and you will be facinated by the stories behind major medical discoveries that , today, we take for granted.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

really enlightening

I admit I was initially intimidated by this book. But I loved how the author wrote in terms I, not being in the medical field, could understand and learn about things I just take for granted. :)

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

not a story

im half way through and this book barely ha any stoyry you cn get attached to

3 out of 19 people found this review helpful.

Medical Info Pertinent to Today

I am a nurse and this book was excellent- loved the "man on the street" reactions to the innovative ideas!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great!

I really enjoyed this book! It was easy to read and very informative. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in medicine, science and history.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

verg good knowledge

was good data

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

surprisingly good

If you have any medical background whatever you will enjoy this book. I knew some medical history but this book provides detailed play by play of some great discoveries. Did you know anesthetic drugs were first party drugs, and then found their eventual use when the party-goers realized their mishaps didn't hurt? Not a page-turner but a book I enjoyed...thank-you Free Fridays.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Informative and interesting

I can definitely appreciate a historical book that is both readable and entertaining. This book was easy to digest while remaining thought provoking as it covered large spans of time. Politics aside, this text provides much to ponder regarding our civilization and Western attitudes toward wellness.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Why??

Is there a reason this is listed in the free section and on the Free Friday blog but is currently listed at 9.99?

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Very good overview.

Im not in the medical field but found this easy to read and understand. I had a lot of "a ha" moments reading this. They explain all the modern medicine that we take for granted. Great read.

Alright

Some was interesting, especially the early-day information. Got a bit boring and too detailed for the average person towards the end.

Very interesting

What a great idea. Hopefully the future brings more discoveries!

Wow

Very interesting. Author did a great job explaining how these world changing things occurred.

A Solid Tour of the History of Medical Discoveries

A solid, albeit at some points workmanlike, tour through the top ten breakthroughs in medicine. This book is at it's best when it is describing the historical accidents surrounding medical discoveries; I wont's soon forget many of the anecdotes about early medical cases. After plotting out the many benefits accrued by the slow triumph of evidence-based medicine, the inclusion of "Integrative Medicine" in the final chapter seem a bit incongruous- or at least premature - but the chapter on alternative treatments does give the author a good excuse to digress on the history of medicine in the 19th century in the United States. Overall: a worthwhile, quick read.

Interesting but repetitive

A good premise, well researched, but presented in a very repetitive manner. The 10 sections, each covering one medical "breakthrough," could have been streamlined by reining in the author's tendency to use the same language to make a point over and over again. This book could have been a much better read, had the author shown respect for his readers' ability to understand its message the first time, and not tried to make his point over and over again, often repeating himself word for word or nearly so. With judicious editing, this book could have been much better -- and about 25% shorter.

A bit boring (didmt finish it) but if you are into medicine you'll like it

Highly Recommended

This is an very interesting history of life that we take for granted now a days such as washing hands after using a bathroom, how a baby is created instead of a little person floating around the females body, or how someone could have gone through a surgical procedure such as removing the appendix without anesthesia!! Can you imagine not having anesthesia or antibiotics!!! I thought this book was going to be boring and instead I can't put it down!!! I even told my 14 year old to read it!!! Do yourself a favor and see how far we have come in such a short time with some stuff and thousands of years with other medical breakthroughs!!

very interesting

I had a hard time getting started but ended up really enjoying this book. If you have any medical training you will appreciate how far things have come.

Recommended

I wasn't sure I would like this , but it ended up being extremely interesting. i was glad I downloaded this. It was actually quite good.