kilonshele's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Blood, and Gore
cakedcrusader's review against another edition
5.0
This book just cemented the fact that I never ever want to travel back in time. Holy crap lol
lindseyinthelibrary's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This was an interesting read. I don’t really know what to expect. And also, when I picked it up, I didn’t notice the subtitle, I.e. that’s this book is specifically about Joseph Lister.
The gruesome parts of this book are compelling, and the parts about Joseph and his methodology, as well as the weather he was with his students were super interesting. I felt like a book meandered a little bit, but it was still enjoyable.
If you’re into medical history and people trying wacky things, discrediting what it actually works, and more check out the podcast Sawbones. I think the did an episode about this guy!
The gruesome parts of this book are compelling, and the parts about Joseph and his methodology, as well as the weather he was with his students were super interesting. I felt like a book meandered a little bit, but it was still enjoyable.
If you’re into medical history and people trying wacky things, discrediting what it actually works, and more check out the podcast Sawbones. I think the did an episode about this guy!
tahlia_reads_and_knits's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This well-written book not only introduces the reader to a rightfully revered scientist and surgeon, but also to one who equally deserves reverence a great man. Of all the people I have read about, Joseph Lister is the one I came away from the book wishing to have met him in person. This is the best book that I have read this year.
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to believe that less than 200 years ago the idea of germ theory was volatile and controversial. Reading about the surgical and hospital practices of the 19th century was both an eye-opening and gut-churning experience. I think when you read about the discoveries by Pasteur and Lister in a textbook, it doesn't quite do justice do what a radical notion the concept of pathogens was at the time. Fitzharris makes what is often a very brief mention in so much of history, an intriguing and very personal story. As she recounts the life and journey of Joseph Lister and his fight to bring sanitary practices and new technique into the surgery wards of Victorian Britain, Scotland and the U.S., she gives much more insight into the man, his beliefs, and his heart than I've previously read in any medical or history text. I'd definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in public health, medicine, or just an interesting player in history. The Butchering Art is one of the better books I've read in this genre.
nicolesbookreviews's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gore, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Drug use, Terminal illness, Medical content, Chronic illness, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
cernunnos's review against another edition
3.0
Written in an easy, journalistic style, this much-hyped book deals with the first fifty years of Lister's life and then comes to an abrupt end. Despite extensive references there are numerous errors which other reviewers have pointed out, some of them absolute howlers (Ilfracombe is in Somerset? How about checking that before publishing? OK, don't bother, no-one will notice). The American English from an Oxford-educated author writing about a British subject is very annoying, but I understand the author is originally from the United States so I'll grudgingly let that pass. The gruesome descriptions of hospital conditions and surgical procedures do not, however, make up for the basic errors in the text.