The formatting of this book made it literally impossible for me to read. There were different sizes of text, bolded text, strange spacing... and I could not change the size of the font to make it possible. I am very interested in this topic and would be willing to read a physical copy.

I would certainly give feedback for this book but I was unable to read it because of the wonky formatting when viewed on Kindle. There was text of varying size and boldness and it just downloaded in a completely unreadable format. I will look for this book at my local library. I have to leave a star rating so I am leaving five stars so as to not unfairly punish the author for the formatting issues of the text.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity

Everyone should read this book

The Doctor Was a Woman: Stories of the First Female Physicians on the Frontier
by Chris Enss

Non-fiction ~ “No Women Need Apply” ~ Female doctors ~ Western frontier ~ Late-1800s ~ Early medicine ~ Strong Women ~ Biography ~ US history

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was informative without feeling like a textbook. I enjoyed the easy flow of information and loved learning about the women who paved the way for others in the medical field.

A wonderful read for anyone who is a fan of Dr. Quinn. Loved the information inside and the images were unbleiveable.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating history book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Focusing on the historical roles of women in the medical field, Chris Enss uncovers the stories of several woman doctors across the United States in the nineteenth century. Following these ten women from their childhoods to medical school and into the professional world as local doctors for small towns across the western United States, Enss also provides excerpts and examples of these women’s medical discoveries from primary sources. This book describes the lives of incredible pioneering women from the first female surgeon in Texas and a female doctor convicted of manslaughter in an abortion-related incident (an unfortunately prescient topic in the twenty-first century) to the first woman physician to serve on the board of health of a state, and Enss gives each woman the spotlight and the time to have their medical role and contributions known to the larger world. Enss’s prose is simple, straightforward, and engaging, while her use of primary documents such as photographs and medical documents (which she quotes extensively between chapters) adds to the narrative aspects of the book. An incredible women’s history and medical history book, readers will greatly enjoy Enss’s language and the women she brings to life in this engrossing read.

I loved learning about early women doctors. The women that paved the way for the women to come. It was a vary informative read.

This is a fascinating book about the role women have played in medical history. The women were truly dedicated to their communities. They overcame many obstacles and hardships to train as doctors, and then to serve in the community. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history.

This book compiles the stories of women who were doctors where you wouldn't expect to find them. I love that these short tales of the doctors are easy to read. You can pick it up, easily read one, and put it down again to come back another day. It was well written and enjoyable.

Chris Enss ,The Doctor Was a Woman Stories of the First Female Physicians on the Frontier, Globe Pequot, Two Dot, February 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Chris Enss’ commitment to giving women their place in history is apparent from the way in which she tells the stories of ten female doctors who made their way through the obstacles presented to them because they wanted to work in an area designated as male, the general difficulties associated with early medicine and their work on the frontier. It is gratifying that this book not only seeks to show the particular difficulties that women doctors faced but puts them in an historical context.

There are amazing stories of repairing the damage done in suicide attempts that failed – but left their instigators with the need for plastic surgery; the work that required not only education but particular skill – sometimes not apparent in the male doctors who were deemed more acceptable; and the range of work the women accomplished. Together with these stories are illuminating details of the medicines that were used, the way in which babies should be fed and then introduced to solid food; recipes for what now would be considered home cures – sometimes of a questionable nature, but part of the history of medical practice.

The endnotes are informative, and there is a good index. In addition, the text is liberally furnished with photographs of the marvellous women whose stories are a remarkable read.

I enjoy reading books about history and medicine. That makes this one a natural for me. This book was excellent and well-written. This one will well entertain anyone interested in these topics. Read it and reap.