A History of the Medicines We Take was an entertaining read in many respects. I certainly learnt a few things along the way, and much of the information was interesting. The book did, however, get bogged down in details and scientific explanation here and there, which is doubtless fascinating for those with a background in the field, but it could be off-putting to a layperson who doesn't understand all the terminology. At times when this occurred, the book did become a little dry. Overall, I enjoyed learning more about the history of medicine, but I would only recommend this book to those who won't be put off by the heavier, science-focused sections. To my mind, this work is more for the interested professional or keen amateur than the everyday general reader.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It contains a lot of interesting information, but it does so in a way that is difficult to absorb. It reminds me more of an academic textbook, than a book for general reading. I’m not sure I agree with the blurb that calls it “lively”.

The first section works through history, from ancient times to present day, listing the medicines we have evidence for, and in some cases their uses. Unfortunately, it is written in such a way that (to me at least) it came across as simply a list of studies and discoveries that have shown that herbs have been used historically by early man etc, followed by a list of historical figures and the books they’ve written. This is very tedious, making it difficult for any of the information to be retained.

The second section is far more interesting, describing each of the different methods of taking medicines (eg tablets, inhalations), and charts their histories from ancient to current times. With the number of references to the people (doctors and pharmacists) and publications in part one, it feels as though most of part one is surplus to requirements. I enjoyed parts of this section, though having the pictures within the text, rather than all at the end of the book, would make it far more interesting. The index and notes would be very useful for finding particular information and further reading, respectively.

In conclusion, if you have a deep interest in the topic, and don’t mind some dry sections, this book may be for you. I personally feel as though a good editor could do a lot to make it more interesting to a wider audience.

An enlightening and hilarious book about the history of medicine, A History of the Medicines We Take is a wild ride! From hallucination-inducing mushroom to modern antibiotics to animals getting wasted, this book is a great time and highly recommended for those interested in the history of medicine or podcasts like Saw Bones.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

An interesting, delightful, and well-researched look at the history of medicines we take today. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride through the ages as each time period's contribution was reviewed. I also really enjoyed the history of how the dosing and delivery of medications evolved. I have always been fascinated by the science behind medicines and the sense of exploration the scientists demonstrated in the development of pioneer treatments. Medication development requires calculated risk, creativity, and dedication to progress. Despite the complex nature of medications, this book did a great job of breaking it down into simple to understand segments and tied it all together in a natural progression. While those with medical or pharmacology backgrounds will likely get the most out of the specific, detailed content, lay people will learn a lot and appreciate the complexity of medicine. There are takeaways for all levels of interest and learning.
I received a complimentary copy of this from the publisher. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This book grabs you from the very first paragraph describing the earliest forms of medicine used leading on to how animals use plants to treat their ailments – zoopharmacognosy. It goes on to describe how humans noticed these behaviours to investigate the plants for their own needs. The description of the archaeology of medicinal plants used by early man is fascinating. Its full of interesting facts and very accessible. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book covers the history of medicine as the title states. It goes as far back as Mesopotamia and up to the present day. It is a very detailed book and for me, was a very dry read. It was quite boring and that might have to do with the scholarly writing style.

I would recommend this book to students of pharmacology as it helps to put modern day medicine into perspective.

It's 5/5 for the content, but 2/5 for my enjoyment.