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The Worst of Evils

The Fight Against Pain

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The Worst of Evils

By: Thomas Dormandy
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

This riveting audiobook takes the listener around the globe and through the centuries to discover how different cultures have sought to combat and treat physical pain. With colorful stories and sometimes frightening anecdotes, Dr. Thomas Dormandy describes a checkered progression of breakthroughs, haphazard experiments, ignorant attitudes, and surprising developments in human efforts to control pain.

Attitudes toward pain and its perception have changed, as have the means of pain relief and scientific understanding. Dr. Dormandy offers a thoroughly fascinating, multicultural history that culminates with a discussion of today's successes - and failures - in the struggle against pain. The book's exploration is fused with accounts of the development of specific methods of pain relief, including the use of alcohol, plants, hypnosis, religious faith, stoic attitudes, local anesthesia, general anesthesia, and modern analgesics. Dr. Dormandy also looks at the most recent advances in pain clinics and palliative care for patients with terminal disease, as well as the prospects for loosening pain's grip in the future.

©2006 Thomas Dormandy (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks Anthropology History History & Commentary Physical Illness & Disease World

Critic Reviews

" The Worst of Evils is a valuable addition to studies in the history of pain and is recommended for both general readers and scholars." ( New England Journal of Medicine)
"Under Dormandy's masterful hand, the story of surgical anesthesia unfolds like a Wagnerian opera, complete with convoluted plotline and tragic heroes." ( San Diego Union-Tribune)
“This is a remarkable history…of an important aspect of illness and medicine [and] this is an excellent read.” (Professor Lewis Wolpert, Camden New Journal)

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Profile Image for Miss Amy V

Thoroughly enjoyable

Absolutely loved this audiobook. Well researched, beautifully written and interesting from start to finish. The narrator was also excellent and suited the book.

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