The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity
£14.20
This edition does not include illustrations.
A definitive study of the history of medicine, from the earliest humans to the present day.
Medicine is advancing at an incredible rate. We now have the ability to overcome sickness but also to transform the nature of life itself: in many parts of the world, human existence has simply ceased to be ‘nasty, brutish and short’. In this titanic history of medicine and disease, Roy Porter examines the traditions of East and West to chart how this revolution has come about.
Covering medical milestones big and small – from dissection to surgery and from anaesthesia to AIDS – Roy Porter’s masterpiece is both a superlative history of medicine and a sweeping survey of human life and death.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Fontana Press (23 Mar. 2017) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 2090 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 1227 pages |
by Person 1
how couldn’t I like a book that is titled for me!
the book has an easy to read, pick up and put down style, full of interesting facts and data. It’s amazing how fast we have progressed in the field of health care over the last 60 years alone!
I originally bought the book for an essay for uni, but have since read it a couple more times I’ve enjoyed it that much
by Arzu Kaya
This is really great book which arrived on time
by Keith Hopper
It is so easy in our century to take the exceptional standard medicine for granted. This book traces the history of medicine exploring the good the bad of early medicine that we have much to be thankful for. Any one with an interest in medicine good health or just simply curious would find this book insightful. Any student engaged either in area of medicine may benefit from ist content.
by Pelagio
The late professor Roy Porter wrote Medical History like none of his peers.
This 850 pages book was his best and in it he poured all his wisdom to tell the full history of medicine.
It can be a rather dry subject to read by Mr Porter added a nice human touch to every story making it more interesting.
It covers from ancient history to moderm times ( early XXI century ) makes emphasis on the discoveries of the XIX century.
This volume will appeal to everyone ,even those without a medical background.
by inkylittlefingers
I am a huge fan of Porter’s works. Exceptionally gifted, he won a double first at Oxford. His teaching, as well as his apparel, was somewhat flamboyant and unorthordox, but he engaged his students in such a way that he always had about him a core following of avid listeners.
Regarding his writing, his research is always well founded, his style accessible and appealing. And yet he was never condescending, never dumbed history down. He expected his readers to be intellegent and trusted them to use their own judgement when confronted with new thoughts and theories.
I shall mourn his loss for many years. I shall also mourn the future works he may have produced.
by Ledzep
I’ve just started to read this, it was bought as necessary for my OU module on the History of Medicine. So far, I have found it easy to read and comprehend and would recommend it to other students or anyone with an interest in this subject.
I bought this book second hand and was very impressed with Fleet Bargain Books. The book arrived in good time, packaged well and was in the condition I expected.
by Lenka Kralikova
This book is absolutelly fantastic. Full of great informations from every era and regions, and I was most pleased by the description of mediine in the 19th century because I have never found such complete informations concerning so many items in other books.
by P C.
An amazing book which I would suggest should be compulsory reading for all medical students. In a book like this there is a danger of producing a list, but Porter has something interesting to say about everyone he talks about and about every medical development he discusses. He writes in clear manner, and only occasionally is it necessary to look up tricky medical terms. Good coverage too of alternative medicine and a very sobering discussion of the situation at the end of the 20th century is provided in the final chapters – by which time Porter is clearly putting a question mark at the end of his title. The observations on medical insurance are particular relevant in view of Trump’s pledge to dismantle Obamacare.
Read anything by Porter – who had so much more to offer.