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Ten Drugs

How Plants, Powders, and Pills Have Shaped the History of Medicine

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Ten Drugs

By: Thomas Hager
Narrated by: Angelo Di Loreto
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Behind every landmark drug is a story. It could be an oddball researcher’s genius insight, a catalyzing moment in geopolitical history, a new breakthrough technology, or an unexpected but welcome side effect discovered during clinical trials. 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.

Beginning with opium, the “joy plant,” which has been used for 10,000 years, Hager tells a captivating story of medicine. His subjects include the largely forgotten female pioneer who introduced smallpox inoculation to Britain, the infamous knockout drops, the first antibiotic, which saved countless lives, the first antipsychotic, which helped empty public mental hospitals, Viagra, statins, and the new frontier of monoclonal antibodies. This is a deep, wide-ranging, and wildly entertaining book.

©2019 Thomas Hager (P)2019 Audible, Inc. Medicine & Health Care Industry History & Commentary Science Pharmacology World History & Philosophy Medicine History Mental Health Inspiring Funny
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Fascinating History • Informative Content • Excellent Narration • Engaging Storytelling • Balanced Perspective

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I know nothing about chemistry/biology/drugs etc but you don’t need to to enjoy this book. Lots of incredible insight on how drugs work with the body and constantly kept me entertained. Finished in like 2 days!

Very enlightening and entertaining

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The author took what might have been a dry and tedious academic topic and made it accessible to the amateur. I would have liked more detailed suggestions for public policy around the abuses of Big Pharma but that preference does not detract from the book.

Accessible and Interesting

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This book caught my full and undivided attention chapter after chapter! I will most likely go back and listen to it again, there was just so much in every chapter. The book is full of fascinating facts, stories, and never gets any less interesting. I kept thinking, "That's gonna be hard to top" and then BOOM!! Mind F-ing blown!! I spent a whole night reading about smallpox alone!
I could have listened to more no problem, I feel like I learn a lot, and am more aware of the entire subject matter.

Hats of to Thomas Hager for a wonderful and fascinating book.

And whoever decided on Angelo Di Loreto to narrate deserves a raise. It was like having Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) read to you. Incredible voice actor, I had to go look up what else he narrated.

Fascinating from start to end!

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Narration....clear articulation, deep, sonorous voice, varied speech patterns make for delightful listening.

Content: fascinating accounts of how drugs are discovered, their refinement, effects—both good and bad—and cautionary tales.

Highly recommended.

History of pharmaceuticals

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This book had some interesting historical summaries. It was quite dry, so I’m not sure how much the “General” listener will enjoy it. Great summaries of the statin controversies!

Interesting.

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