Interesting to say the least! Unfortunately, this is not to my taste in reading. But to be fair, using short snippets for each subject is without a doubt the best way to get this information across for those who have interest in this odd genre.

Very quirky, not for me. Well written and researched, however. A good title to dip into and out of and good conversation fodder.

Loved this one very interesting information a good fun read very easy to pick and and have a quick read

I downloaded this book because I was intrigued by the description and cover. I love reading true stories and this novel covers some great historic information

This book is written really well. Sometimes I found it hard to get into a book. I did not find that with this one.
However you could easily put down this book and pick it up where you left off. Without getting confused.

How to Remove A Brain is packed full of interesting and fascinating facts and stories.!

How to remove a Brain is an brilliant collection of medical oddities, “medications”, “doctors” and Doctors, innovations and city legends. Everybody will find their favorite facts they can use next time they want to fill silence with fun facts. Wonderful reading!

This book is full of insane facts, and is sometimes a little gross! I however did enjoy reading this book!


Thank you, NetGalley!

This was a fun, fact-filled book about (as the title says) bizarre medical practices in the olden times. Can't really read this book in one go, at least for me anyway, because stories or rather accounts like these are best taken in bites. From superstition to charlatans we've come along way in understanding the workings of a the human body. This book clearly shows that, plus we also have sections of how some things about drinking urine (erm...) or who was patient x and the difference between a moron and an imbecile (never knew there was a distinction).

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book. It was entertaining and I learned lots of things!

This is an extremely fun book covering an extensive amount of anecdotes about the weird and wacky history and present state of modern medicine. Most of the stories were new to me, or corrected my recollection of the tale, and a lot of them made me giggle or scratch my head.

The only reason this lovely book does not get the full five stars is because I wished there was an introduction to start off the collection. That would have tied it all together.

“How to remove a brain” is a compendium of medical facts and oddities and histories. The chapter on actual brain removal, which came early in the book, was of especial interest to me as my husband had had a surgical removal of (no, not his brain) a tumor on his pituitary gland at the base of his brain. And it was exactly as Haviland told about removing a whole brain from a dead body – ie. up through the nose.

This was a fun and fascinating read. It’s well researched and written in a light hearted manner. It’s one that’s delightful to keep on the Kindle on my cell phone so that I can read a few chapters at a time while waiting.

I received a complimentary advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Thistle Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazingly funny and at times bizarre look at medicine through the ages. Full of interesting and little know facts. We use it for trivia fun in the operating room!

How to Remove a Brain is brilliant, educational, interesting, funny and downright weird in places. It has everything from the history of medicine, to unusual disorders, to myth busting, to mind bending facts, all served up in delicious bite sized chunks.

I haven't had this much fun and shouted bits aloud so much in years. I'm going to be spouting out little gems from this book for a long time to come. I already know three people I'll be giving a copy to for Xmas. These fast and furious facts are a must read.

What a fun little trivia type book. Also debunks a few myths we have taken as fact for years - such as whether or not we really only use 10% of our brains. There are a wide variety of medical-related topics. Really fun read!

How to Remove a Brain is filled with stories of medical "treatments" going back in history to primitive times. How many "old wive's tales" have more accuracy than some modern day treatments? Would you think of using crocodile dung for birth control or putting a dead mouse on your toothache? Did these methods do any good?

It's surprising how, in the 1800's, the Egyptians were able to remove a brain without cutting the skull, very similar to the way brain tumors are removed now, though modern medicine did cut the skull for many years with not so great results as the physicians 200 years ago.

I prefer one flowing storyline instead of short articles or chapters of different facts so this was not a sit down and get absorbed kind of book for me. Lots of interesting facts, along with the cringe worthy thoughts of using dung and mice to heal your body.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

How to Remove a Brain by David Haviland is a book of medical procedures from many years ago. From brain removal during the mummification process to how to remove a tapeworm before medications and a host of other medical treatments. I loved reading the first Hippocratic Oath written by Hippocrates and his followers. It contained what now would be called the HIPPA Laws. It's an amazing book and anyone who has an interest in medicine, new or old will love this book. It's a serious book with some chuckles thrown in. I would recommend this book highly. I received this book from Net Galley and Thistle Publishing for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Quick, quirky read on medical marvels and mysteries. Tells the background stories on various medical topics. .

This is a highly readable collection of short essays on a whole variety of strange and unusual medical facts, history, curiosities and myth. I found the whole thing fascinating because I'm a GP with a special interest in travel medicine, and therefore tropical and infectious diseases, many of which feature here, but this would be just as fascinating to a lay-person.

Organised by chapters beginning with the Wisdom of the Ancients, we learn about the use of crocodile dung as a contraceptive, and how mummies were prepared for burial - from whence comes the title. Moving on to Disgusting Diseases, Dodgy Diagnoses and Curious Cures, and so on, virtually all facets of medicine and its history are covered, humorously but accurately.

Some descriptions will make you cringe, wince or put down your glass of apple juice, but many myths are also debunked, some very widely held - such as the Great Fire of London being the reason for the end of the plague. There are famous names, like Typhoid Mary and the other John Snow, but also accounts of many medical pioneers who for whatever reason are not household names.

I read this as an ebook but it would probably work best as a paperback to dip in and out of. My only criticism is I would've liked to have seen a list of references and a bibliography to know where the author got all his facts.
I feel like I've learned or been reminded of lots of interesting things that may also come in handy at pub quizzes (and maybe even the odd consultation, but just as a conversational topic I hope!)

My thanks to David Haviland, who contacted me directly to offer me a free copy, in exchange for an honest review, although I actually downloaded it through NetGalley. I've already got one colleague interested in buying a copy!

An interesting forage into the weird and wonderful world of medical history. Lots of researched factoid material, however...the question-answer paragraph style left me wanting more and perhaps a few illustrations/graphs would have made reading a little bit less samey. Still worth reading, though.

A really interesting read. Full of fascinating and unusual facts. My only gripe is that the author has not listed his sources.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A fantastic informative book about the medical practice around the world from the beginning of the medical practice. The story are amazing and very well narrated.

#NetGalley #HowtoRemoveaBrain

This is a fantastically funny collection of bite size tales of medical oddities, everything from disgusting diseases, to rude bits, and snake oil. A fabulous easy to read, humorous book! Would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.