eilconj's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

A very interesting book about a substance that has been used since antiquity, yet is still being discovered. Covers the history, science and use of aspirin and briefly covers some other pain relievers. I recommend this book for anyone who likes history or science.

madscientistcat's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative slow-paced

3.5

sarahbowman101's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I sometimes wonder why I read books like this. I slogged through the first part of this book very slowly, and often forgot names and dates. The book did get more interesting while talking about Bayer’s connections with IG Farben and the Nazis. Without the lucrative aspirin sales that spiked after WWI, IG Farben wouldn’t have had the huge sums of money to donate to the Nazi party and things may have turned out differently. An IG Farben lead “scientist” was also convicted of war crimes for some pretty despicable things during the holocaust, and upon his release from jail went on to become the head of Bayer. It is an interesting look at the pharmaceutical world, branding, generics, and marketing. You may not look at the rows and rows of OTC drugs in the same way again. I know I won’t.
More...