For a new book club, I just finished Nine Pints: A Journey Through the Money, Medicine, and Mysteries of Blood by Rose George. Using a journalistic approach, the author examines blood from various angles to help the reader appreciate this miraculous fluid.
George starts with an overview: what comprises blood and how has our understanding of it changed over time. Then she zeros in on aspects of blood, including blood-letting, blood transfusions, menstruation and its taboos at home and in developing nations, hemophilia, AIDS, and even vampirism. While it’s a bit rambling, going off on tangents and then circling back to her theme, it’s a surprisingly interesting book. You’ll come away with mixed feelings about blood transfusion. Although life-saving, it is also a big business with all the corruption and danger that comes from mixing capitalism with medicine. You’ll be horrified at the abuse, exploitation, and undereducation of young women in India and Africa, excused on the grounds that they bleed. You’ll shudder at the thought of leeches!
The author traveled widely to explore the areas she discusses. There are extensive end notes for readers who want to investigate her sources and learn more. I’m looking forward to the discussion at the book club to see what others thought.
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