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September, 2011: The Blind Watchmaker
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By David · 47 posts · 151 views
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What Members Thought
This book is mainly about two men; Charles Norris, the chief medical examiner of New York City, and Alexander Gettler, the chief toxicologist. These two learned, fiercely dedicated men fought city hall and the establishment, in bringing forensic medicine into the twentieth century, and to bring respect to the profession that it deserved. Basically, the book is a collection of short stories of various mysteries that these men, and the medical departments they served, helped to solve in the early
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A strange book to read in public. No one ever noticed the subtitle - they were just concerned about being around someone who was reading "The Poisoner's Handbook". This was a fairly readable book though it lagged a bit in the end. It went along pretty well with the recent book on Prohibition I read - much of both books were set in Prohibition period New York City. It is crazy how accepting people were to use new chemicals inside their body and near where they were breathing. Hopefully we've all
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A fascinating introduction into how forensic science began. Blum focuses on a pair of dedicated public servants, Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler.
Norris was a medical examiner in New York City and the one who reformed the office to be a serious scientific institution. Gettler was his primary chemist.
The book focuses on popular poisons of the time (wood alcohol, carbon monoxide, arsenic) and explains how the poisons worked and how Gettler developed tests to find proof of these poisonings.
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Norris was a medical examiner in New York City and the one who reformed the office to be a serious scientific institution. Gettler was his primary chemist.
The book focuses on popular poisons of the time (wood alcohol, carbon monoxide, arsenic) and explains how the poisons worked and how Gettler developed tests to find proof of these poisonings.
I ...more
Real-life:CSI:NYC:Toxicology edition:1920. This is the story of New York City's first medical examiner and his chief toxicologist--the politics, brilliance, and exacting work that went into catching poisoners and exonerating innocents accused of murder by poison. Blum details some of the crimes that attracted media coverage and those that challenged the scientific work of the Medical Examiners. It covers Prohibition and the battle between the government trying to make industrial alcohol non-pala
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Not for the queasy of stomach, The Poisoner's Handbook is a little bit of everything: a little history of forensics, a bit of biography, some true crime, and even some lightweight chemistry. I enjoyed reading it, and I might have given it another star if it had been slightly more organized.
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Oh the complications of progress. A different look at prohibition. Well worth the reading. If you like this also read "murder of little Shepherds" about forensic science in France.
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This is how popular non-fiction should be written. Interesting, fun to read, and I learned a lot. Somehow Blum manages to make descriptions of grinding up half-decayed body parts fascinating, rather than disgusting.
Excellent, even if you think you don't like science or CSI stuff!
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Awesome book! I was thrilled by the weaving of history and science. I wish I could have met Gettler and Norris. I found myself cheering for their accomplishments and being annoyed at those who caused them frustrations.
Jul 18, 2010
Denise
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Aug 17, 2011
Lenena
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Sep 24, 2011
Velvetink
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Nov 05, 2011
Amy
marked it as to-read-nonfiction
Feb 28, 2012
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Nov 24, 2012
Amanda
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