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
jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
3.0
Hormones have gotten plenty of attention in the last decade — from treating depression, to giving men of all ages a (mostly bogus) boost in the form of synthetic testosterone, to helping people better understand their sexuality, gender identity, moods, appetites, and more.
What Epstein does in Aroused is walk us through the history of hormone science as well as the new ideas that are driving what we know (and don’t know) about those mystery drugs that live inside our body.
For someone who’s not very science-y, it was very accessible and always illuminating.
The history parts were fascinating; there have been some seriously weird experiments done in the name of hormones. For instance, one famous study showed that you can remove the testicles from a rooster, see its energy and sex drive plummet, then reinsert them anywhere in the body, and it’s like nothing ever changed. I told you — weird.
Epstein also gets into all the bodily systems and functions that are controlled by hormones — much of which I wasn’t really aware of. And of course us humans are actively trying to control those systems and functions.
In the modern day, it would perhaps seem that we’ve moved beyond the pseudo-science pitched by hucksters the world over, but we really haven’t. Testosterone-boosting products have exploded onto the market, as well as a number of other non-regulated supplements that pitch making you younger, thinner, taller, bustier, etc. And frankly, the vast majority of them are worthless.
This was a really interesting book that I was unexpectedly pulled into. For being in the science genre, it’s surprisingly easy reading, and I learned something new on pretty much every page.
What Epstein does in Aroused is walk us through the history of hormone science as well as the new ideas that are driving what we know (and don’t know) about those mystery drugs that live inside our body.
For someone who’s not very science-y, it was very accessible and always illuminating.
The history parts were fascinating; there have been some seriously weird experiments done in the name of hormones. For instance, one famous study showed that you can remove the testicles from a rooster, see its energy and sex drive plummet, then reinsert them anywhere in the body, and it’s like nothing ever changed. I told you — weird.
Epstein also gets into all the bodily systems and functions that are controlled by hormones — much of which I wasn’t really aware of. And of course us humans are actively trying to control those systems and functions.
In the modern day, it would perhaps seem that we’ve moved beyond the pseudo-science pitched by hucksters the world over, but we really haven’t. Testosterone-boosting products have exploded onto the market, as well as a number of other non-regulated supplements that pitch making you younger, thinner, taller, bustier, etc. And frankly, the vast majority of them are worthless.
This was a really interesting book that I was unexpectedly pulled into. For being in the science genre, it’s surprisingly easy reading, and I learned something new on pretty much every page.
aprilmay11's review against another edition
4.0
Really really good title. Okay book. Some of the information was boring and others very interesting. Like that men used to get vasectomy to help with rejuvenation. Or that they would give them one and then not tell them. I am so glad we have hormones. My life is changed with taking them and I love that we are so far along in science. Go science!