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Reviews
Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just about Everything by Randi Hutter Epstein
jamesthesnake's review against another edition
3.0
A. nice history of endirconology, with great stories and ancedotes behind it
kimscozyreads's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
Update: ok, curiosity got the best of me and I actually DID go back and finish it after scanning subsequent chapters. I'd rate the rest of the book 3 stars
Author kept gassing up 2 scientists that founded endocrinology by torturing and murdering a dog, which she describes in detail that made me ill.
I have a feeling that enough smart people have been born that somebody else would have shortly made this same leap without the psychopathic disregard to an animal that feels and thinks so much like we do. They suck and I wouldn't be surprised if they had been human serial killers as well
Update: ok, curiosity got the best of me and I actually DID go back and finish it after scanning subsequent chapters. I'd rate the rest of the book 3 stars
Author kept gassing up 2 scientists that founded endocrinology by torturing and murdering a dog, which she describes in detail that made me ill.
I have a feeling that enough smart people have been born that somebody else would have shortly made this same leap without the psychopathic disregard to an animal that feels and thinks so much like we do. They suck and I wouldn't be surprised if they had been human serial killers as well
mikecross's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable, wonderful stories on hormones, covering many different aspects. However, never really brought together for a combined view.
sonjaloviisa's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this back in 2019 at the same time I purchased Sex at Dawn (I actually even bet that Adlibris recommended this to me or something). And I was expecting something similar, a kind of sexy, button-pushing popsci book about hormones. But ah, thankfully this was way better!
First of all, my naïveté in that hormones are all about sex really brings home the importance of this book. Hormones are about so much more. In fact, hormones are everything.
Epstein had a fantastic way of using specific case studies and stories to discuss complex scientific theories and weaving together endocrinology with history. This was really easy to follow, despite me not having any previous knowledge about the field. If you're queasy about graphic discussions about animal experiments (including what they've done to dogs...), prepare yourself mentally.
The biggest takeaway for me was summarized quite well by Epstein when talking about how the study of endocrinology "highlight[s] the ever-present uncertainty in medicine." It was quite disturbing to realize while reading this, how lost we have been and still are in terms of medicine and science in general. No one really knows anything, we're just doing experiments and hoping to figure things out as we go along. It's actually quite astounding how much we've been able to figure out, even though I believe that we will always be missing the mark to some extent. But being aware that science and medicine are definitely not absolute truths, carved into stone, allows for a more realistic and open approach that leaves room for alternative and more natural methods of medicine.
First of all, my naïveté in that hormones are all about sex really brings home the importance of this book. Hormones are about so much more. In fact, hormones are everything.
Epstein had a fantastic way of using specific case studies and stories to discuss complex scientific theories and weaving together endocrinology with history. This was really easy to follow, despite me not having any previous knowledge about the field. If you're queasy about graphic discussions about animal experiments (including what they've done to dogs...), prepare yourself mentally.
The biggest takeaway for me was summarized quite well by Epstein when talking about how the study of endocrinology "highlight[s] the ever-present uncertainty in medicine." It was quite disturbing to realize while reading this, how lost we have been and still are in terms of medicine and science in general. No one really knows anything, we're just doing experiments and hoping to figure things out as we go along. It's actually quite astounding how much we've been able to figure out, even though I believe that we will always be missing the mark to some extent. But being aware that science and medicine are definitely not absolute truths, carved into stone, allows for a more realistic and open approach that leaves room for alternative and more natural methods of medicine.
whatcarlaread's review against another edition
2.5
Needs more explanation of the basic functions and background on hormones