Penicillin: Triumph and Tragedy

by Robert Bud

Penicillin is the drug of the twentieth century. It was the first of the antibiotics that, for decades after the Second World War, underpinned a popular belief that the threat of infectious disease had at last met its match. With the emergence of 'superbugs' these hopes have faded. Robert Bud pulls these different but conjoined stories into a compelling using a wealth of new research, he sets the discovery and use of penicillin in the broader context of social and cultural change across the world. His book will be of great interest to historians, scientists, and anyone wishing to understand this drug's seismic impact on our lives.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medical, Medicine

340 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 2007

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Written by a historian. It was well written, even-handed, and avoided being dry or slow. This book is probably one I'll read again.

Describes the history of penicillin discovery and development and its effects on the culture at large, medicine, pharmaceutical companies, medical advertising, and more. I could have done without the whole chapter devoted to the manufacturing of penicillin. The chapters on the history of antibiotic resistance and the use of antibiotics in farm animals were particularly interesting, yet avoided sensationalism.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great science history book telling of the discovery of penicillin and its subsequent abuse leading to the build up of anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria. The book contains enough science to keep it informative without bogging the average reader down in technical details, making it just my kind of book.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

More information surrounding Penicillin than anyone could ever know they wanted to know. I read this one as some background research for a school project. Not exactly weekend reading- but very entertaining for research.