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Dr. Mütter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine

Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

Start date: July 1, 2024

Finish date: August 31, 2024

Discussion: If the Truth be Known...

Why we're reading this: July/August Nonfiction
One of two tied books
July 1 thru August 31 2024
[close] July/August Nonfiction
One of two tied books
July 1 thru August 31 2024

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If the Truth be Known...

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* Non-fiction Selections
By ♥ Sandi ❣ , Me! ~~ on a good day · 1 post · 70 views

last updated Dec 27, 2019 06:56PM

2025 Sept/Oct Nonfiction ~~ Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown
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last updated Sep 15, 2025 08:07PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 08, 2014 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it

3.5 His parents cherished him as a young boy but he would lose his whole family to illness. Despite this, he would become a fantastic surgeon and although dying early, he would leave a lasting legacy.

Wonderfully told, entertainingly written, the is a story of a man ahead of his time. He believed in cleanliness of supplies, room and person, at a time when doctors would routinely pass germs from one person to the next. He would discover the use of ether as a pain reliever, at a time when surgery w ...more

33 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2024 Ruby Grad rated it it was amazing

I loved this book, even though at times it was hard to read because of the descriptions of the state of medicine in the mid 19th century and especially of the surgeries. It seemed to me to be extremely well researched and written.

I had never heard of Thomas Dent Mütter before hearing about this book. I'm glad I have read the book and now have some sense of his importance in medical history. The author seems to have some affection for him, which I shared, and some disdain for his enemies, partic ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2024 ♥ Sandi ❣ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 351-more-pages-or-more, 1-have, historical-history, medical-mental-health, non-fiction, z-2024-3500-books

4 stars

I like a nonfiction book that reads like fiction - and this book fit that bill.

During his short life Dr Mutter helped advance a number of medical practices - most of which are still in use in some form today. His ideas were often ignored for years, although he was a favored professor, until he could prove their benefit. Such as anesthesia, and doctor cleanliness to avoid transferring infection, sterilization of both the room and the surgical instruments. He championed the first attempt a ...more

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Jul 09, 2024 Karin rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, american-history, play-book-tag, american-authors, non-fiction, american, biography, kapk, history, nonfiction

This was better than I'd anticipated and so it's 4+ stars from me. Aptowicz has done her homework--this is well researched and it's also well written--you may be asking why it's not 5 stars and the answer is that I could put it down with no problems, but then it's biography so that's common for me. However, this isn't a book that I had thought about reading until it showed up as a monthly read on GR plus it fit a reading game I'm playing perfectly, so it's one of many examples of how being a soc ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2016 Karen rated it really liked it

Very interesting book about an amazing man who died too young.

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Sep 16, 2018 Lorie rated it liked it

I have never visited the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia but I hope to one day. After reading this biography I will enjoy my greater understanding and appreciation for the man behind the collection. The author had to take some possibly non accurate liberties when composing this novel but the story was fascinating all the same. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of early surgeries and conditions during the time period. As a nurse, and an occasional patient, I am glad things have markedly improved ...more

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Jul 25, 2024 Mandy rated it it was amazing

I really did enjoy this book. I work in the medical field and so this was an interesting read and relatable. 4.5 stars

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Jun 11, 2015 Pat rated it it was amazing

Fascinating non fiction book about one of the first doctors with a humanistic approach to his patients. He was a visionary in his thinking about patient treatment before any type of anesthetic doing surgery on horribly the disfigured. He was an excellent teacher and at the cutting edge of advancements in medical procedures. He studied in Europe and then brought what he learned back to the US as hospitals were being established in Philadelphia. An extremely interesting account of an extremely int ...more

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