Reviews

The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetuated in the Name of Science by Sam Kean

suebrownreads's review against another edition

4.0

I found this book very interesting. It is well-written, although there are some parts difficult to hear. The chapter on animal cruelty, I had to skip after the first story about dog torture, but I did get through all the rest. Several of the chapters seemed too long, a little too much detail. They could have easily edited out some of that info without taking away from the story. The reader is very good!

bookeared's review

informative fast-paced

3.5

bibliobethreads's review

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

4.0

krisonthelake's review

1.0

I skimmed it and that’s as close to read it will be. I was bored.

heather_19's review

5.0

This book is fascinating and I can't wait to pick up more from this author

chelseacrystal's review

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Gut wrenching but very interesting. I honestly procrastinated finishing this one bc I was having such a good time. 

It’s incredibly well researched and the tone is appropriate given the subject matter without being overly serious. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Antisemitism, Slavery, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Colonisation, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Forced institutionalization, and Body horror

kiramydeara's review

informative medium-paced

5.0

medusasavenger's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

fiona_gs's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

An interesting stroll down the more medial and natural science bad science. Well presented but felt listening to the audio book narrator was good but given the author does a podcast but didn't read his own book just got to me abit. Though I do love this narrator too and have head him on a number of books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Gore, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Pedophilia

eve_kaarina's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5