Very different approach to the history of medicine, using twelve different objects, and beautifully written in layman's terms.

Really interesting, and the kind of book you can either sit down and immerse yourself in, or just dip in here and there, and you'll find something to fascinate you. I learned a lot about the objects themselves, their development and how they led to other discoveries, and the historical cases.

Entertaining and educational - a thoroughly good read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Aurum books for this book for review. This book was a fascinating study at the 12 medical devices that have shaped medicine, from the bone saw to the X ray machine and how we use these instruments in medical procedures to this day. The obstetrics forceps was once a lifesaving device and sadly, many OB practitioners now are not even taught how to use this device anymore and are quick to just to do a cesarean section instead. The heart-lung machine is an amazing device and so many people are only alive now due to its invention and use. This book was an interesting read as a medical professional but would be even better to read as nonmedical to learn about all the wonderful things that people had invented so long ago, that we are still using, even with all the technology we have at had now.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I work in the medical field and enjoy learning about the medical world throughout the ages. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book because it was well written and engaging for the reader. If you want an easier beginning history for some of the medical devices used throughout history.

The History Of Medicine In Twelve Objects by Carol Cooper is about 12 inventions in medicine that were game changers for more than just one faction of medicine. From stethoscopes which identified more than one health problem to chloroform and other anesthetizing agents to the forcepsthat helped with more living births to many other inventions that just blew my mind. Even women got in on inventing including the one handed syringe and possibly the glass syringe as well this book is packed with facts an amazing history. I can’t tell you all 12 of the items because then you probably wouldn’t read the book and reading the book is really an entertaining way to pass the day for any history lover. They even talk about those who oppose new ways in medicine and why like when Queen Victoria was put to sleep during labor for two of her births and those who opposed it, as well as those who oppose the use of pain medicine during amputation. See… As I said this book is packed with full of interesting stories. #NetGalley,#QuartoPublishingGroup–WhiteLion, #CarolCooper, #TheHistoryOfMedicineAndTwelveObjects,

Thank you to Carol Cooper and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

"The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects" is a fun and informative crash tour through a dazzling array of medicine's greatest inventions, from the stethoscope to the heart bypass and everything in between. Though each chapter technically covers one object, each serves as a jumping-off point to talk about many other inventions and discoveries made along the path to and beyond the object in question (for example, the chapter on X-rays also covers a vast array of other imaging).

I had a fun time reading through each development as a medical student, and seeing how each chapter branched out into a wider array of inventions, discoveries, and events that have shaped medical practice over the last few centuries of human ingenuity. I think this is a great vast overview for those who like medical history and have a general interest in medicine, while also being an excellent jumping-off point for those who want to take a subject from this book and do more of a deep dive into the history of medicine, but didn't know where to start.

Writing a book about medical history that is both broad in its coverage but with enough depth to be interesting (but not an encyclopedia) is a medical marvel, and Dr. Cooper did a fantastic job!

Interessante, anche se un po' arida, storia delle medicina attraverso dodici oggetti che ne hanno segnato il progresso o la pratica costante.
Il problema per me è che questa forma (riassumere un argomento storico attraverso oggetti, luoghi, eventi, personaggi chiave) può funzionare bene o andare malissimo; di solito non amo le narrazioni frammentarie, e spesso questi, che dovrebbero essere testi squisitamente divulgativi, richiedono invece una (buona) conoscenza dell'argomento per apprezzarli.
Qui siamo nel mezzo; godibile, ma forse avrei apprezzato una maggiore profondità.

The only thing that could have made this better was more and brighter pictures (only because I learn better with pictures). This is fairly short considering how much it covers, and it's truly fascinating reading. There are chapters on topics ranging from something as simple as stethoscopes to heart-lung machines. I got to learn about the history, how people came up with ideas, and how the technology changed over the years. My favorite was the hip joint, because I've gotten a new knee and they didn't explain much about how everything worked when I got it.
It's so amazing to me that people figured out these kinds of things, and I honestly don't think there was a single boring page. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects is a survey history of the development and technological changes to the practices of medicine in human history.

Carol Cooper's book is divided into the expected 12 chapters to match the title. Each chapter begins with an illustration of the object of focus and then journeys through time, discussing the creation of the tool and how it was improved or adapted over time. Through its central conceit it shows the ways medicine has changed and evolved based on our growing scientific knowledge. It is not a direct chronological journey, as each object is discussed to the modern point, but the chapters arrange the objects in chronological time from before recorded history to the 20th Century.

Featured objects include: the trephine, bone saw, mask, microscope, stethoscope, hypodermic syringe, x-ray machine and several others. Alongside their creators or popularizers, Cooper also discusses daily or regular practices of the times and how these objects were (sometimes much later) paradigm shifts.

Recommended reading for those interested in the history of medicine, technological change across history, business entrepreneurs researching the factors that make something a success.

Netgalley review, possible plot points mentioned below.

I was so beyond excited to have recieved this book as an avid 19th century medical reader.
This book has an interesting take where it shows you how the tool was invented and used in the past and it's future counterpart. It shows how much science and medicine have come. If I'm honest, modern medicine isn't my favorite topic, I don't enjoy reading it but it was still interesting to see the comparison between the two.

I also appreciate the humor that is hidden through out the book, adding a little fun to the grim medical procedures. I can't wait to use what I've learned from this book into my art practices.

I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

The book was very interesting and dividing such a rich history in only 12 chapters using different objects as the center of attention is an interesting and unique approach.

This is only the tip of the iceberg and I don't think it could have been possible to cram more information into this book. However, I feel like the book could really benefit from adding some photos, just to put a face on the names or add a bit of personality to the places that are only named. Personally I like my non-fiction to be filled with photos and diagrams.

However, if you are curios about history in general, or this niche, I totally recommend this book, as it was a delightful read, filled with intriguing facts.

I really enjoyed this book. Lots of information given about medical objects that changed and advanced the practice of medicine.
I liked that the information was given in 'layman's' terms so that it was easy to understand.
The information was well researched my only complaint is that it was too short. I could have carried on reading about another 12 medical instruments. I hope there will be a second book.

Other fitting titles for this book:
- A list of clinicians who died ironically;
- An audit of the origin of medical inventions;
- Inventions that were discovered before their time;
- Inventions that were at first rejected by the medical fraternity;
- A list of inventors that falsely claimed to be “the first”,
aka, A list of overlooked inventors

There is something for everyone in here, and I enjoyed it very much. It spans most, if not all, specialties, and really does delve into the actual global medical history.

I wish this book existed when I was a medical student, lacking inspiration and insight. This vast knowledge would have made studying a LOT more fun.

If you're new to the field of medical history or just have a casual interest in the history of medicine - this book is a fantastic introduction to the subject. A delight to read, this book is just as easy to dip in and out of as it is to devour in one sitting.

This is a really interesting read, I enjoyed the amount of detail in the book and enjoyed learning where/why things came about. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history/medical things. I did find it hard reading about the use of testing on animals which did affect my enjoyment of the book.

I work in the healthcare field (surgical) and I love learning more about the history and background of my job. Thank you

I thought it was really fun that every chapter is a different medical object that the book dedicates to researching the history of. It's an interesting dive into the history of medical objects and a fun, fascinating read.

I’m astonished. I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into this book. While I was already familiar with some of the information presented, I still learned a lot of new things. The text is very readable and accessible, even for non-medical readers. I particularly appreciate the use of both the metric and imperial systems, as well as Celsius and Fahrenheit for temperatures. I've read a few books where the author only used me of these systems, which left me somewhat confused.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book was as exciting and as intriguing as the title promised it would be, and then some more! Even if you think you know *most* of the objects mentioned here, you most likely haven’t spent time investigating how those came to be what those are/were used for, and that’s where this book steps in – it’s both entertaining and educational. And gives you (me, that is) some fun trivia to throw around at the most random times during the most random conversations.

The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects is as intriguing as it sounds, starting with inventions 10,000 years ago to the present. Over the centuries people have undoubtedly felt like science experiments, especially when they were treated for their symptoms without anaesthetic and the implements were barbarically fearsome.

I shudder to think of facing the likes of the trephine which was used to treat neurological conditions by drilling holes into skulls, conscious, sometimes with sharpened stones. But even 2,000 years ago the procedure helped and there were survivors. The bone saw must have looked impossibly grim, most frequently used in wartime amputations which had to be performed quickly. Surgeons did not realize the importance of wearing gloves for ages. One of the most brilliant inventions was that of the hypodermic needle, something we take for granted. What a revelation, though! I had no idea why X-rays are called X-rays. Renaissance anatomist Vesalius was intriguing to read about, too.

Not only have instruments become more fine tuned, the materials they are fashioned from has evolved to make them lighter, more flexible and safer. As knowledge increases, so do triumphs. However, where there are humans there are also failures. This book offers great insight into both. I absorbed the fascinating details like a thirsty sponge and would love to learn more about medical objects.

If you have the slightest interest in medicine, this book is for you.

My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this astonishing book.

Sadly, there are few pictures and the book is not TTS enabled.
However, I am in "the business" and also do 18th century reenacting (and geek history) so for much of the material I have to wait until it comes out as enabled or an audiobook.
The details and development as well as early uses of these things is very well done and everyone can learn from what went before. I do miss having the addition of a machine that was vital in its day and did develop into a wearable/portable unit: The Iron Lung.
I requested and received a free temporary PDF from Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Aurum via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Oct 22, 2024