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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.