A review by thomcat
The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution by Jonathan Eig
4.0
Very thorough history of the decade covering the development of the birth control pill and the four principals involved. People and processes are examined in detail, and the social impact (especially with the Catholic Church) is also a major topic. My favorite part was the FDA examiner who, despite personal and religious objections, did his job and eventually approved the Pill. "When it came to his job at the FDA, his faith and personal opinions were irrelevant."
This book has been favorably compared to [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634]. For me, this book goes into more depth but ends up with less of a narrative. Where Rebecca Skloot found and interviewed both family members and patients, Jonathan Eig sticks to historical documents.
That said, my summary is pretty much the same. A great history, thought provoking in process and consequences. Recommended.
This book has been favorably compared to [b:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634]. For me, this book goes into more depth but ends up with less of a narrative. Where Rebecca Skloot found and interviewed both family members and patients, Jonathan Eig sticks to historical documents.
That said, my summary is pretty much the same. A great history, thought provoking in process and consequences. Recommended.