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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
How did I not know about this guy before? A fun and fascinating read.
This is exactly my favorite kind of non-fiction cultural history book to read: the author takes enough liberties to craft a good story in which the characters are vibrant and rich, with details that are maybe a step beyond what a researcher can gather from archival documents.
Also, it involves goats and testicles.
There are lots of really fascinating threads in the book: quackery, male insecurities about sexual function (a once and forever king of culture), public relations, early radio, politics, and the lives of very rich people during the Great Depression. Even though it is essentially a biography of John R. Brinkley, beginning with his early years and ending with his death, it doesn't read like a typical Story of a Great Man biography. Instead, the story is infused with cultural context and general nuttery. The book is really interesting story about American life from the 1910s through the 1940s and delivers a fascinating perspective about life in the heartland (Brinkley's business/"hospital" was based in Kansas for many years). Highly recommended if you like strange but true tales of American life.
Also, it involves goats and testicles.
There are lots of really fascinating threads in the book: quackery, male insecurities about sexual function (a once and forever king of culture), public relations, early radio, politics, and the lives of very rich people during the Great Depression. Even though it is essentially a biography of John R. Brinkley, beginning with his early years and ending with his death, it doesn't read like a typical Story of a Great Man biography. Instead, the story is infused with cultural context and general nuttery. The book is really interesting story about American life from the 1910s through the 1940s and delivers a fascinating perspective about life in the heartland (Brinkley's business/"hospital" was based in Kansas for many years). Highly recommended if you like strange but true tales of American life.
I would give this six stars if I could. This plays into one of my pet eras and interests simultaneously, yes, but it's also whiz-bang non-fiction writing (he's biased, but not in anyone's camp. All the players are at least semi-buffoons) and a story to be considered seriously - the author's comic tone is the only way to keep the reader from throwing up for about five different reasons.
I love it!
I love it!
Favorite quote from the book and I am paraphrasing
Ever since man has been able to walk upright he has at times been vexed that his penis will not do so as well.
It is amazing how long he was able to pull off such a huge scam. It really shows the Placebo effect is alive and well!
Ever since man has been able to walk upright he has at times been vexed that his penis will not do so as well.
It is amazing how long he was able to pull off such a huge scam. It really shows the Placebo effect is alive and well!
funny
informative
medium-paced
Repetitive and a bit circular, but funny and with a great ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma
for morris fishbein megafans only (i know you’re out there). unable to pinpoint if it’s due to the writing style or my own attention span or just the way the material was stretched out over 300 pages, but couldn’t capture my imagination the way that hour of That Reply All Episode could.
This is a great, but infuriating, work. It's well told, the style of writing is really accessible and the research is obviously exceptional. But the stupidity of people, and the gall of John Brinkley as the premiere quack of his day....it's hard to swallow.
Goat Testicles!!
What is better for bathroom reading than a book about a man who claimed to be a physician who made millions by inserting goat gonads into the bellys of gullible men? This amusing sounding practice was actually tragic for the poor men who died or were grievously maimed by John R. Buckley, huckster extraordinaire.
The subject matter for this story is fascinating. John Buckley built a super powerful radio station in Mexico to sell his useless pills and potions over the airways. He was a pioneer in marketing. Buckley built a huge home in Del Rio, Texas. He was also a bigamist and Nazi supporter.
The narrative of the story could benefit from some editing. At times it was hard to follow.
What is better for bathroom reading than a book about a man who claimed to be a physician who made millions by inserting goat gonads into the bellys of gullible men? This amusing sounding practice was actually tragic for the poor men who died or were grievously maimed by John R. Buckley, huckster extraordinaire.
The subject matter for this story is fascinating. John Buckley built a super powerful radio station in Mexico to sell his useless pills and potions over the airways. He was a pioneer in marketing. Buckley built a huge home in Del Rio, Texas. He was also a bigamist and Nazi supporter.
The narrative of the story could benefit from some editing. At times it was hard to follow.
This was fascinating stuff that involves a lot of early medical flim flam done by "doctors" (that term could be used very loosely in the early parts of the 20th century)--particularly one doctor in particular: Dr. Brinkley. This guy pioneered the technique of goat gland surgery (sort of the viagra of its day) and spun his empire off to include made up phony prescription drugs (what cost him 10 cents he charged 10 bucks a pill--in the 1930s!) and the strongest radio signal in the world at one million watts. Brinkley made MILLIONS!
Kind of crazy to read about how people supported and believed in him even though he'd open up their scrotum, mess about for a while, maybe shoot in a little bit of goat testicle juice (and maybe do nothing at all), give them a little iodine to urinate out like they'd been cleansed and then charge thme a thousand dollars or more. People came in droves. Some died soon after; few were healed. Brinkley is probably responsible for hundreds and hundreds of deaths due to his greedy quackery. Poor people--makes for great reading though, ha.
Kind of crazy to read about how people supported and believed in him even though he'd open up their scrotum, mess about for a while, maybe shoot in a little bit of goat testicle juice (and maybe do nothing at all), give them a little iodine to urinate out like they'd been cleansed and then charge thme a thousand dollars or more. People came in droves. Some died soon after; few were healed. Brinkley is probably responsible for hundreds and hundreds of deaths due to his greedy quackery. Poor people--makes for great reading though, ha.
Greed and creativity overlaid with a veneer of charisma will always fool some of the people, and that's all a swindler needs to line his pockets. "Dr." J.R. Brinkley, onetime resident of Milford, Kan., had plenty of all three.
In “Charlatan,” Pope Brock explores the life of Brinkley, a quack extraordinaire who in the 1920s and '30s touted rejuvenation and renewed virility through the surgical implantation of goat testicles. The book is a rollicking biography at turns funny and horrifying, brimming with wit, insight and who-knew facts. A country boy who started in patent medicine, Brinkley made millions through goat-gland operations, caused the deaths of dozens of people, nearly won the governorship of Kansas, brought on the wrath of the Kansas State Medical Board and the American Medical Association, was a pioneer in early radio, and died bankrupt, bedridden and under indictment.
A good story practically tells itself, and Brinkley's story is definitely a good one. But in Brock’s deft hands, the good story is a great story, repulsive and compelling at once. Brock's prose is a joy to read, bold and colorful and a little irreverent. "Charlatan" reads like a novel — but no one could make this stuff up.
Shady diet pills and cancer cures may have taken the place of goat glands and patent medicine, but the concept's still pretty much the same. Brock notes that "In America, the famous and the infamous are part of the same aristocracy." Fame is fame, whether it's well-earned or ill-gotten. You'll get your picture in the paper either way.
In “Charlatan,” Pope Brock explores the life of Brinkley, a quack extraordinaire who in the 1920s and '30s touted rejuvenation and renewed virility through the surgical implantation of goat testicles. The book is a rollicking biography at turns funny and horrifying, brimming with wit, insight and who-knew facts. A country boy who started in patent medicine, Brinkley made millions through goat-gland operations, caused the deaths of dozens of people, nearly won the governorship of Kansas, brought on the wrath of the Kansas State Medical Board and the American Medical Association, was a pioneer in early radio, and died bankrupt, bedridden and under indictment.
A good story practically tells itself, and Brinkley's story is definitely a good one. But in Brock’s deft hands, the good story is a great story, repulsive and compelling at once. Brock's prose is a joy to read, bold and colorful and a little irreverent. "Charlatan" reads like a novel — but no one could make this stuff up.
Shady diet pills and cancer cures may have taken the place of goat glands and patent medicine, but the concept's still pretty much the same. Brock notes that "In America, the famous and the infamous are part of the same aristocracy." Fame is fame, whether it's well-earned or ill-gotten. You'll get your picture in the paper either way.