The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder And The Birth Of Forensic Medicine In Jazz Age New York (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
I think I expected a 'how to poison' book here, but what I got was infinitely more fascinating...I got the history of poisons in the early 20th century, the birth and growing pains of the science of medical forensics, and the profiles of two amazing public servants whose passion for the truth created a field of medical science that thrives even today.Chapters are arranged by poison...with some technical discussion I could gloss over as I was listening...the reader's voice just wafted over me. But then, we get the stories...the murderers, the accidents, the science, the detective work. And the truth. Blum's stories always result in some kind of truth.Charles Norris, the NYC coroner battled the system for years, fought for his department, and spent his own money to outfit his labs and his department. He was tireless in his pursuit of his victims' stories. He found a willing, brilliant, partner in Alexander Gettler, a chemist whose passion was answers...answers to impossible questions. Neither of them suffered fools well, and together they changed the field of forensics...They fought dangerous policies, most notably, Prohibition, which actually caused more alcohol deaths than it saved. I learned more than I ever thougth I would about arsenic, radon, carbon monoxide, mercury...and alcohol. All the alcohols. These two men are heroes. And they worked, not for publicity or riches. They worked to find truth. Whether you appreciate the chemistry aspect of this book, The Poisoner's Handbook is a fascinating tale of NY history. It talks about crime, the prohibition, labor practices, corruption in government, elitism, and so forth. It shows how far we have come as a society in such a short period - and how shockingly reckless we were not that long ago. The stories told in this book also help explain why some of our laws (think malpractice, labor laws, FDA regulations, etc) are as far-reaching as they are today. (When things go really bad, we tend to go from one extreme to the other). Highly recommended.
What do You think about The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder And The Birth Of Forensic Medicine In Jazz Age New York (2010)?
Interesting history, but felt light on details. Made me want yearn more about Tammany hall...
—sapphy2
Fascinating book! I feel like I learned so much; Blum wrote a story that read like a novel!
—bri1989
I got to page 30 and gave up completely...it was truly terrible...
—Betty
Good story, boring narrator. Should have read the actual book.
—Jasmine
