Welcome to Litsy!

On the plus side, I really enjoyed hearing about some of the wacky things that people used to think could cure or treat illness. However, the fact is that real people were harmed and even killed by some of these snake oil cures. I know they wanted to keep the tone of the book more light and humorous, but not acknowledging the real toll of these felt wrong to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Gross.....yet entertaining. LOL. A historical look at previous medical and psychological treatments. Some had merit and others were insane. Have a strong stomach for this one!

Late getting this posted, but I‘m excited to read my #bookspin and #doublespin selections for #january ! Both were Christmas gifts to me … in 2020 😬

I read this book as part of an A to Z challenge. I probably wouldn‘t have picked it up otherwise, but so glad I did. It was very interesting! Wow! The things people used to believe and do in the name of medicine and healing! Many of the quacky techniques didn‘t take place that long ago. I‘m afraid to admit that someday I‘ll be reading about some of the medical practices that take place today in a similar book.

3/5

It was an interesting look at some of the strange things humans have used as medicine throughout history. The tone is generally light and humorous, but I thought it was kind of jarring when the book was discussing the more horrifying treatments of the past. It kind of made those parts of the book even more horrifying by trying to keep the tone light.

This is told with humour and plenty of fun illustrations from the past. Very interesting stuff. Some of what they look at here were things doctors actually did, but some other things were what the “quacks” were selling. Unfortunately, I‘m not sure how much I‘ll remember. It looks at so many different things in short bursts of information, but was definitely interesting as I read it. The authors are a doctor and a journalist.

I seriously loved this book so much!! From leaches to arsenic to mesmerism, Quackery covers some of the strange, bizarre, and deadly ways humans have attempted to cure different ailments throughout history. The authors imbued the book with humor and filled it with historic photographs along with brief accounts of “cures” gone wrong.

Blowing Smoke Up Your Arse
God forbid you accidentally inhaled. The results would not only be beyond disgusting but also potentially deadly. If your victim had cholera... then you‘d be a goner, too, by virtue of sucking down cholera bacteria. And that, my friends just about takes the cake for “worst ways to die” featured in this book.

What a fun book! From using mashed lentils on hemorrhoids to implanting bits of goat testicle for improved virility and more, this book looks at zany “cures” touted through the ages. There was much 🤨 and 🧐, plus a little 😲 and lots of 😂. My husband gave me this one—he did good!

I got into a funk early on in our lockdown. I just could not finish anything, so I started a lot of books, but did not finish. Not because I didn't like them, but I just couldn't focus. For some reason, this book kind of kick-started things again. It was a light, easy read, and funny as hell.

Read in 2020

#history

If you like learning about medical history this book is a must-read. I had a bit of background for a lot of the topics covered from my Sawbones obsession and some other books on medical history / poison (pretty much one and the same at some points) but I learned lots of new things in this book and found it really well-written and insightful. Great, informative and highly entertaining read.

Authors who drank cocaine wine: Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, Henrik Ibsen, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Also: Queen Victoria, Pope Leo XIII, Pope Pius X, and Thomas Edison

I love a literary anecdote in a book about medical history! Apparently the author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde may have been very hopped up on cocaine when he wrote his famous novella 👀

Why yes, my favorite bathtub reads are normally about poisons and drugs, how about you?

Reading about bad cures, poisons, and medical history on this rainy afternoon

Oh my goodness this was so gross!!!

Medical history and failed treatments wouldn‘t be a choice for everyone. But as our world faces medical discussion *everywhere* this also made sense for my mindset. The authors discuss origins of a few solid medical practices too. It‘s plenty sarcastic and ironic, which helped balance some of the ewwww moments also. Not good for mealtime reading.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #litsyatoz #letterq

O. M. G. So many of these cures are just batsh*t crazy. And the narrator really has a knack for the irony of the situation.

#3books #thatmademeuncomfortable

This was hysterical and informative. I was unaware that radioactive suppositories had been a thing 😳. A large number of supposed cures were covered, and if they had led to anything modern ( current use of radiation for example).

Quackery is a ridiculously fun book. It covers a ton of quack medical practices through the ages with humour and knowledge, and I had a blast going through the weirdest parts of medical history. Definitely recommended.

So now that my #newyearwhodis books are here, I had a chance to read one. This was an excellent book. I loved the little sarcastic comments like "No, humans arent suffering a deficit in cyanide and we really don't want more. Really." This was an informative and funny read, right up my alley! I have 3 more NYWD books to look forward to!
@RainyDayReading @monalyisha

I finally received my #NewYearWhoDis books after a lot of sighing and fussing about them. Pup was in my lap until I picked up the book and he left with a huff like "oh god not this again!!!"

@RainyDayReading @monalyisha

This was a fascinating listen, some things I had read about or knew about from other sources and many I did not know. The style is conversational and humorous.

I finished listening while taking a walk and feeding the calves at my sister‘s while visiting this weekend.

#nonfiction #audiobook #Hoopla

So entertaining! After reading this I am immensely grateful for the advances in medicine and science because some of the cures in here...yeah if I was sick anytime before the mid 1900s I would just die rather than undergo treatment 🤣 The commentary from the authors is hilarious and really made this book stand out. Definitely recommended if you‘re into medical or weird history. Bonus picture of Daisy included since she‘s been my cuddle buddy.

Well. It‘s not great, but it‘s all I could manage over the mess that was my weekend 🙈 maybe someday I‘ll actually be able to participate better. #LitsyPartyofOne #24B4Monday #MrBook1inaMillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @Clwojick @Lynnsoprano @TheReadingMermaid @Rachel.Rencher @Lucas.Rencher

Still loving and laughing my way through Quackery. Only difference now is I‘ve got (only) 3 hours of reading under my belt, I‘m home, and I‘ve got what remains of a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese to snack *cough devour immediately cough* on. 😁 I‘ve got 3 hours till midnight so I‘m going to try to make them count. #LitsyPartyofOne #24B4Monday #MrBook1inaMillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @Clwojick @Lynnsoprano @Rachel.Rencher @jb72

Well...there were more spring rolls in the bowl 😅 I didn‘t realize how hungry I was until they were almost gone! I‘ve only managed about an hour of reading so far into Quackery but I am loving it. It is absolutely hilarious. Hoping to get a few more hours in before the day is out. #MrBook1inaMillion #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday @MrBook @Clwojick @Andrew65 @Rachel.Rencher @TheReadingMermaid @Lucas.Rencher @Alisnazzy @jb72 @Lynnsoprano

Little late to the party but I just found out about the #MrBook1inaMillion event. Not sure how much I‘ll be able to participate this weekend, but I‘ll try. Here‘s three books due back to the library soon that I‘d like to get to. Plus my current favorite snack 😋 Nothing fancy for now. Between Nanowrimo, house hunting and spending time with my boyfriend this weekend, we‘ll see how much I get done 😅 #LitsyPartyOfOne #24B4Monday @MrBook @Clwojick

Little bit of everything in my latest Book Outlet #bookhaul. I sort of feel like a squirrel stockpiling nuts for the winter—yeah, I have a huge TBR pile but there‘s always room for another book, right? And you never know what you might want to read. You need to have options...

Just preparing as 🍁🍂🐿📚🍂🍁 will soon turn to ❄️☃️📚☃️❄️.

😊

I was looking around on overdrive to find some accompaniment for my #audiocleaning today. This sounds fascinating! I can't wait to start. After having a sick toddler all week, I really need to get things done, including some penpal responses. Hope everyone has a great weekend (and a great long weekend for those who have one this weekend)!

A few examples from my husband‘s bizarre, shocking yet fascinating #currentread about medical misfires and malpractices.
Morphine for crying babies, Arsenic to cure fatigue, Tobacco for lung diseases, drilling a hole in the head to cure insanity!
Surely a #highwaytohell for the patients.
#maymoviemagic

Started and finished this yesterday. It was exactly what I needed after binge listening to This Podcast Will Kill You and Mary Roach audiobooks.

Eating dinner and reading about... leeches? Maybe not the best #dinnerandabook pick...

Apparently, strychnine used to be used instead of Gatorade to help get through a grueling marathon. And water? Meh, not important. 😳🤦🏼‍♀️

Settling in with a cup of tea & learning how good can cure your opinion habit, drunkenness, & neurasthenia (that‘s nervous exhaustion in case you‘re curious). Just a typical Wednesday evening. This book is slightly absurd & I‘m enjoying it.

The title of this book alone is worth its weight! I‘ve always been interested in seeing the ummm “Creative” ways medicine has been practiced in the past.

My biggest issue with this book is that NOTHING is annotated. For any book claiming to be historical fact, this is a problem for me. There‘s no bibliography and no sourcing. Aside from that, it started off as snarky fun but ended up feeling like bad dad jokes on a long car trip. I did learn a lot that I didn‘t know previously, however, so I didn‘t feel it was a complete waste of time.

1) Tagged book and The Poisonwood Bible
2) Ravenclaw
3) The Punisher

#weekendreads

A fun stroll through the history of bad ideas! The authors debunk all kinds of medical treatments from the 1950s all the way back to BCE. The book mainly focuses on European/white American fads. If you have a high tolerance for gross things and some curiosity, this book is for you. 4⭐️

#nonfiction2019 #somethingaboutlawormedicine

Well, this could certainly explain a lot. . . 🤣 Cocaine extract in wine, y‘all! 🍷 🍃

1. I took a picture of breakfast but forgot to post, so you get dinner too.
2. I‘ve bought four, this was one of them.
3. I think 33, but I feel it should be more.
4. The pretty, fancy ones. In addition to all the ones I want to read & cookbooks.
5. Not this year, but we‘re planning a big trip for 2020. My fiancé has never been overseas, any suggestion of where to go first?

#humpdaypost

This book is great! The sense of snark with which the author writes is glorious! It‘s pretty fascinating stuff. I‘m not getting through it as quickly as I‘d expected because I keep going off on little research tangents -it‘s so ridiculously interesting (if sometimes infuriating).

So true!

Hurray for new Christmas books! D got me nine books! NINE! I feel like he got me ALL THE BOOKS 😊 This one I particularly love. He knows my love of medical history and my distaste for woo ridiculousness that makes no scientific sense. I‘m a lucky girl 🍀📚💕 #allthebooks #lovemyguy

This quarters suggestions from MyTBR subscription. I went to go pick up one from Barnes and Noble, but they had none ☹️. Guess I won‘t be starting one this weekend. Have you read any of these selections? What did you think?

This book is very funny in a snarky way, but I don't recommend reading it while eating because there's plenty of things within that will make you say Ewwwwww Gross!! 4 💥💥💥💥 out of 5.

This is an interesting read