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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Interesting history and story, but I had a hard time staying awake/paying close attention to the audio.
Interesting multi-faceted work about the rise of quacks as well as the beginning of the American Medical Association. It also shares surprising information about the music industry and the rise of disc jockeys and famous musical acts. Two companion books are [b:Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex|2082136|Bonk The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex|Mary Roach|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348226205s/2082136.jpg|2398516] and [b:Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music|15824|Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music|Mark Zwonitzer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388710267s/15824.jpg|593445].
A very entertaining look at the life of one John R. Brinkley--today all but forgotten--and his goat-gland quackery empire which killed some 40 people, maiming and cheating countless others. Thanks to the tireless efforts of AMA investigator Morris Fishbein, Brinkley's misdeeds were brought to an end by, of all things, a libel suit.
What is remarkable about Mr. Brinkley is his foresight in using radio to advertise his business, as well as introduce America to country and hillbilly music. Brinkley used this music, either performed live or via phonograph records, to fill the broadcast time in between his own shows such as "Medical Question Box," in which Brinkley prescribed his own dangerous nostrums for the cure of every ill both physical and mental.
Highly recommended as a companion to other medical history books, "Charlatan" illustrates how America has, since colonial times, often preferred to trust fast-talking hucksters with a cheap cure-all over the advice of licensed professionals.
What is remarkable about Mr. Brinkley is his foresight in using radio to advertise his business, as well as introduce America to country and hillbilly music. Brinkley used this music, either performed live or via phonograph records, to fill the broadcast time in between his own shows such as "Medical Question Box," in which Brinkley prescribed his own dangerous nostrums for the cure of every ill both physical and mental.
Highly recommended as a companion to other medical history books, "Charlatan" illustrates how America has, since colonial times, often preferred to trust fast-talking hucksters with a cheap cure-all over the advice of licensed professionals.
The similarities to President Donald Trump is definitely interesting. JR Brinkley is a conman who relied on outrageous unchecked claims over radio airwaves to sell unneeded medical procedures and supplies, which made him rich. It also almost made him the governor of Kansas. As the author put it: "As it was, the doctor's campaign accomplished much. It proved, for one thing, if a man behaves outrageous enough, disgrace is impossible."
I've decided I am going to start commenting on the books I read here. Hey, I'm fickle..
I can't remember where I read a review of this, but it caught my attention. I'm glad it did.
"Dr." John R. Berkely is one of the most interesting characters I've read about for a long time. He was an old-time snake oil salesman who bridged the gap into the modern age, using radio and mass mailing to bilk untold numbers of men with promises of masculine rejuvenation with his mysterious goat gland treatments. In the meantime he invented border radio, helped make the Carter family musicians a national sensation, befriended the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, darned near became the governor of Kansas in 1930, and ruined countless lives with his botched operations. He was the Forrest Gump of American quackery.
While the book focuses on Brinkley, it also features his arch-nemesis, quack-busting editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Morris Fishbein. The two go at it over the decades, finally squaring off in a courtroom in Del Rio.
I loved this author's writing style. He made me laugh out loud several times - almost as many times as he made me squirm. I kept thinking how all of this was going on during my grandparents' youth -- not all that long ago in the scheme of things. One of my favorite lines from the book:
"His career was sustained in part by America's deep reluctance to criminalize greed."
I can't remember where I read a review of this, but it caught my attention. I'm glad it did.
"Dr." John R. Berkely is one of the most interesting characters I've read about for a long time. He was an old-time snake oil salesman who bridged the gap into the modern age, using radio and mass mailing to bilk untold numbers of men with promises of masculine rejuvenation with his mysterious goat gland treatments. In the meantime he invented border radio, helped make the Carter family musicians a national sensation, befriended the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, darned near became the governor of Kansas in 1930, and ruined countless lives with his botched operations. He was the Forrest Gump of American quackery.
While the book focuses on Brinkley, it also features his arch-nemesis, quack-busting editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Morris Fishbein. The two go at it over the decades, finally squaring off in a courtroom in Del Rio.
I loved this author's writing style. He made me laugh out loud several times - almost as many times as he made me squirm. I kept thinking how all of this was going on during my grandparents' youth -- not all that long ago in the scheme of things. One of my favorite lines from the book:
"His career was sustained in part by America's deep reluctance to criminalize greed."
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma
Minor: Antisemitism, War
I enjoyed this book a fair bit. It was a fun read that taught me a fair bit about a part of our history I would have never know. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a look into the bizarre history of charlatanism.
If it were a novel I'd consider this absurdly implausible.