Behind every landmark drug is a story. Piece together these stories, as Thomas Hager does in this remarkable, century-spanning history, and you can trace the evolution of our culture and the practice of medicine.
... absorbing ... Hager... dissects how the rise of giant drug companies has changed medicine. His critique is no screed: He acknowledges, rightly, what they do well. As late as the 1930s, doctors had just a dozen drugs in their armory to fight diseases; today, they have thousands. He even admits a grudging admiration for drug marketing, which is extraordinarily effective.
If Mr. Hager’s well-written and engaging chronicle is any guide, there may be unforeseen downsides to such developments, but the upside will certainly be worth celebrating.
Shows that drug development generally benefits human health and longevity, but there are often side effects for patients and society. Especially troubling is the influence of profit-driven corporations and the inequality of health care. Written for general readers, Hager’s book is entertaining, insightful, and recommended for all public libraries.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay[/caption]
