A review by emmkayt
An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted, and the Miracle Drug Cocaine by Howard Markel

4.0

Compassionate and thought-provoking look at the development of cocaine and the rise of addiction through the prism of two early cocaine advocates, pioneering surgeon William Halsted and Sigmund Freud, both of whose lives were forever affected by their initially enthusiastic use. Interesting context for thinking about the ongoing development of addictive pharmaceuticals, the relationship between medicine and the pharma industry, etc. A bit of clunky writing here and there, tinges of the 'great man' theory of history, but overall was a great read.