Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

An interesting, and well-researched look at the history of medicines we take today.

It contains a lot of interesting information about medicines through the age's, it also looks at how dosing and the delivery of medications has changed over time.

However times it did reminded me of an academic textbook, and some points I did find the reading hard going. However I do recommend for these who have interest in the history of medicine.

This was a really fascinating read for me! I always wanted to study the history of medicine but my school didn't offer the subject as a unit. Luckily, this book came along so i was able to learn a little of what i missed out on.
The book is quite dense but also easy to read and understand, i would recommend for history buffs and those who don't have much background knowledge - it can cater to all.

I like medical type book and found this a fascinating read. So much information to digest and learn about how medicines have evolved. Interesting to read even if a little hard going at times.

I’m fascinated by medical history so when I saw this I knew I had to read it.
Really interesting and accessible, do not envy having to type out the long names of the medicines and I also thank god we have progressed so much with medication and treatment

"A History of the Medicines We Take" by N. Anthony Armstrong & Anthony C. Cartwright is one hell of a book. Prescriptions, using the herbs to medicate, and modern biotechnology are such fascinating topics to me. I work in a pharmacy, and seeing the birth of most of the medicine I see almost every day and how they were developed during the centuries gave me a new perspective on the subject. I'm also a history nerd, so I feel like this book was written for me specifically. What I liked about it is that it gives the reader EXACTLY what promises in the title. I read so many books lately where "History of" didn't mean anything. This book covers THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MEDICINE from prehistory to recent times. And, wait for it, it's not only about western medicine but also Asian and Arabic. Are you crying yet? Because I cried a little bit. I was so freaking happy. My favorite bits were obviously the parts about Ancient times, specifically Egyptian, Greek, Arabian and Roman medicine. The book is comprehensive, fascinating, and undoubtedly well-researched. Some bits made me laugh for days. If you love medicine and you love history and all the little facts, this book was written for you.

From ancient historical records to animal and plant ingredients, and straight to today's achievements, A History of the Medicines We Take lays before us answers to all questions we might possibly ask about the history, nature, and facts of the medicine humanity uses. This book got highly technical at points, but it was definitely interesting to read. And if your profession or hobbies revolve around medicine, then this is definitely for you.

ARC from NetGalley

I actually quite liked this book. Yes, it is full of facts, perhaps a bit dry at times, but I didn't go into it expecting a novel. If you are interested in medicinal knowledge, it's a good read.

This books covers the subject in great detail and is undoubtedly well researched, but I found it a little dry and disjointed and struggled to finish it.

. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While this book does contain a lot of factual information, my main problem with it is the way that information is presented. The book feels like a cut and paste collection of Wikipedia articles and is laden down with lists of names and publications etc that to be honest seem to add little other than word/ page count. While the idea of breaking down this vast subject into topics like medicine in the ancient world, medicine from natural sources, various dosage forms etc makes sense when dealing with such a vast subject, each of those sections reads more like a reference guide than a cohesive or informative monograph. It is simply not a user friendly book, and I say that as a qualified pharmacist.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to the authors, Pen & Sword and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fascinating topic, with lots of interesting history to cover. Unfortunately, this is not the book that will draw you in and not let you go. Much of it is extremely, excruciatingly detailed, and reminded me more of a textbook listing historical figures, studies and discoveries than anything else. The first third reads tediously, and after reading it's difficult if not impossible to remember any of the masses of random information you've just plowed through. The middle section is a bit more palatable, but the last third again gives much too much information, instead of choosing to focus more clearly.

I should also note that the Kindle format (only format available for ARC from NetGalley) doesn't do this book any favors. Lots of strange jumps in formatting, complete lack of illustrations in the text (they're all bunched up at the back) and lists/tables that were not formatted, run out through the body of the text.

This book has a great topic to cover. But that is also it's weakness. It has do much data available, so it's hard to make it palatable.
Hence it becomes very academic. Sort of book medical students will read on sleepless nights.
It is not for masses.
First one third covers history and historical medical texts and is difficult to read. In middle when medicines are discussed it is interesting.
And at end again it falls in trap of telling too much.
Could find much to recommend to general curious readers.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.

An extremely detailed history of medicine, herbal supplements, dental health, and more. Very interesting for the curious-minded individual. Anyone in the medical field will find this answering questions they didn’t know they had. Curious little tidbits that are actually good conversation starters as well as for discussion with other medical professionals. For example, a patient bringing up the history of toothpaste to her dentist. Also good for midwives and health practitioners and herbalists.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.

Can I just start off by saying that my degree includes the history of science, technology and medicine and even I found this book very hard going. I'd say this is far beyond the casual interested lay-person. I'd say far more suited to Doctors or Pharmacologists as a textbook for students or thesis tool. Very detailed and goes over doses, etc.

Firstly, I’m neither a pharmacist nor a physician: I am simply a layman and thus unqualified to judge the accuracy of the contents of A History of the Medicines We Take. I wanted to read the book because of a general interest in history and what goes into my body.

The book is fascinating. Part One runs through a history of medicines from prehistoric times to the latest biotechnology, showing that the understanding of drugs and their effect is constantly progressing. Part Two demonstrates the same progression of improvement in how those drugs can be administered, e.g. via by mouth, by injection, patches, etc..

The book shows how pharmacy started with individuals who would note what plants were beneficial for certain conditions; how pharmacists would make up tablets and powders by hand; and how the need to deliver medicines to the growing population in British cities and the US resulted in companies like Pfizer and Wellcome.

Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica in the first century AD and included several uses for willow leaves and bark. We now know that willow contains salicin which breaks down to form salicylic acid. We take that as aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). However, although there may be sound science behind the use of some ancient remedies, I’m not tempted to try the cure for baldness noted in a papyrus: lion fat, hippopotamus fat, crocodile fat, cat fat, serpent fat and ibex fat.

To reassure you that the book isn’t all about ancient history, it discusses the latest medicine too. The NHS saved £210m in 2017-18 by switching to biosimilars for just three patented drugs.

The book isn’t an easy read. Part One did feel like a list of lists at one point, where it itemised the plants and herbs mentioned in various papyri and books. However, it is worth persevering as Part Two flows more smoothly. This would be an excellent textbook for trainee pharmacists, who can thank their nineteenth century inventive forebears for no longer having to make pills as part of their pharmaceutics exam.

#AHistoryoftheMedicinesWeTake #NetGalley

Thorough, at time too much so, history of medicine

I enjoyed this book. It provided a very thorough history of medicine but at times became bogged down. There were too many long lists of herbs etc and I started skipping this information. In addition, the discussion of ancient history was mostly this person wrote this book about these remedies, etc. The discussions of drugs only happened when the story got to more modern times. Nonetheless, it was an interesting read and I recommend it for anyone interested in the history of science.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

First of all, I must say I love a well-researched non-fiction with a tight focus but this book is not a typical non-fiction that I am used to. It feels like a textbook for students or more like a doctorate thesis. It is excruciatingly detailed for a casual reader. I thought I was in on an interesting historical reading about medicines and pharmaceuticals but from the first page I realized I had gotten way in over my head like I was studying for an exam. Not what I expected.

However, ı have learnt about some weird sexist methods of healing applied by the father of medicine and I thanked once again for having being born into 21st century:

“Some of the Hippocratic treatments combine physical methods with the use of medicines. For example, to correct a prolapse of the uterus, the woman was attached to a ladder by her feet, upside down, and the ladder then raised and dropped to the ground. Then the woman’s legs were crossed and tied together and she was left for a day and a night with only some cold barley water to drink.”

A History of the Medicines We Take is an interesting book although I did find some of it very much like I was back in college reading a text for exams.

The book covers lots of information about medicines and is well thought out and very well researched.

Not a book for you if you just want to dip in for fun.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword for the ARC.

I have degrees in both history and nursing. This book should have been in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get through the first t section on the Greeks and Romans. It read very much like a textbook. This plant does this and that plant does that. It would have been more engaging if it was done in more of a narrative form. Instead I felt I needed to take notes to remember anything, and for a book that I wasn't reading for a grade, that was more work than I felt should be necessary.

Great fun for me! BUT. I am a retired RN who has cared for patients in multiple settings in the US, a history geek, love reading both historical fiction and nonfiction, and learned some very interesting things. Others who will enjoy and learn and use as reference are: other nurses, pharmacist, overseas medicals, and historical novelists. There are a considerable picture illustrations and references from all over the world.
A few things: evidence of prehistoric use of specific herbs, specific treatments in ancient Egypt, the hard work of the apothecary in middle times, how some new pharmaceuticals are developed, and even how the bad reputation of the mild sedative Thalidomide has been modified by its efficacy in treatment of Leprosy and myeloma. Lots of lists. For me, I'd prefer print copy for doing reference work or hunting up specifics. However.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Pen and Sword History via NetGalley. Thank you!