SKU: 49423057216

Dr. Golem: How to Think about Medicine

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Dr. Golem: How to Think about MedicineA creature of Jewish mythology, a golem is an animated being made by man from clay and water who knows neither his own strength nor the extent of his ignorance. Like science and technology, the subjects of Harry Collins and Trevor Pinch's previous volumes, medicine is also a golem, and this Dr. Golem should not be blamed for its mistakes they are, after all, our mistakes. The problem lies in its well meaning clumsiness. Dr. Golem explores some of the

A creature of Jewish mythology, a golem is an animated being made by man from clay and water who knows neither his own strength nor the extent of his ignorance. Like science and technology, the subjects of Harry Collins and Trevor Pinch's previous volumes, medicine is also a golem, and this Dr. Golem should not be blamed for its mistakes-they are, after all, our mistakes. The problem lies in its well-meaning clumsiness.

Dr. Golem explores some of the mysteries and complexities of medicine while untangling the inherent conundrums of scientific research and highlighting its vagaries. Driven by the question of what to do in the face of the fallibility of medicine, Dr. Golem encourages a more inquisitive attitude toward the explanations and accounts offered by medical science. In eight chapters devoted to case studies of modern medicine, Collins and Pinch consider the prevalence of tonsillectomies, the placebo effect and randomized control trials, bogus doctors, CPR, the efficacy of Vitamin C in fighting cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS cures, and vaccination. They also examine the tension between the conflicting faces of medicine: medicine as science versus medicine as a source of succor; the interests of an individual versus the interests of a group; and the benefits in the short term versus success rates in the long term. Throughout, Collins and Pinch remind readers that medical science is an economic as well as a social consideration, encapsulated for the authors in the timeless struggle to balance the good health of the many-with vaccinations, for instance-with the good health of a few-those who have adverse reactions to the vaccine.

In an age when the deaths of research subjects, the early termination of clinical trials, and the research guidelines for stem cells are front-page news, Dr. Golem is a timely analysis of the limitations of medicine that never loses sight of its strengths.

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SKU: 49423057216

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4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 13 reviews
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M
Verified Purchase
Matt K
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 3
There are better books out there
Format: Paperback
I knew so much of what I read that I stopped reading 2/3 into the book. This is an average book.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
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Verified Purchase
Alex L.
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Great book nice addition to howe library
Format: Paperback
The kid i bought it for loves it and rereads often. The paper is the nice shiny kind and colorful
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2025
K
Kindle Customer
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Another glimpse of the boy-behind-the-bat, with humor and heart; 4.5 stars
Format: Kindle
1st Line: "This is Gotham City." Review: This new graphic novel, of a pre-Batman Bruce Wayne as a kid, opens in a Gotham City already all but decimated by crime and corruption. But with all its horrors, the worst of them for the young, rich, highly-intelligent but otherwise nerdy Bruce Wayne, orphaned after the murders of his parents, is none other than the Gotham Preparatory School for the Really, Really Gifted - his middle school. Here, all the students have some form of super power or another (The Flash, Wonder Woman, Superman, Penguin, Catwoman, and more - all started off in middle grade here) ... except for Bruce, who only got into the school because his parents funded the building of it before their deaths, and remains a target for bullies for not having any powers of his own. But when fellow student Jack Napier, himself having no super powers except for conning his way into the school, begins bullying Bruce's friend, elementary student Dick Grayson, Bruce becomes determined to strike back - thus beginning his ascent to a career as a vigilante, even as his loyal butler Alfred and the school's vice-principal forbid it. But will Bruce get it together in time to foil Jack's plans for the Crime of the Semester? And what of Bane, Jack's new sidekick, who would be a formidable foe even for someone with superpowers? Bruce Wayne: Not Super is terrific; a comedic look at the young, super-smart yet geeky Bruce completely out of his element as a young kid, formerly with the attention span of a goldfish, who may have finally found his calling. Also nice are the glimpses of a number of future DC superhero icons in their youth, but the story really does belong to the humor of Bruce wanting to save his city, agreeing to take a hyperactive Robin in tow as his sidekick, with no knowledge of how to fight and an arsenal of weapons thrown together in minutes - and potentially of harm more to the user than the bad guy - all while Alfred says no and remains in constant threat of sending the future Batman to his room. The poor kid, after all, can't even put a bat costume together; in it, he's mistaken for everything from a badger to a rat to even a prairie dog. Bruce pushes past it all, his pluck and determination to save Gotham City one villain at a time his true calling, and among writer Stuart Gibbs glib and funny humor and Berat Pekmezci's bursting-with-color art, the very basic but heartfelt beginnings of the boy who'd grow to become The Bat shines through. It's really good. So good, I already itch for a sequel. 4.5/5 stars
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Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023
J
Verified Purchase
J. Dieterle
Houston, US
★★★★★ 4
Fun story with familiar characters
Format: Paperback
4 stars = Great! Might re-read. This was fun! I enjoyed the illustrations and getting to scan the crowd scenes for more DC characters. I enjoyed Bruce's journey. I didn't love the portrayal of Clark Kent here, but the rest of this was fun. I would definitely read more of these if there are going to be sequels. There's a one-star review here that is completely on target in their assessment of some of the liberties taken in the book. Buyer/reader will have to decide if those observations will lead you to skip this one or if you can set aside those internal inconsistencies to accept the story as is.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2023
A
Avid Reader
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Fun for kids and those kids at heart!
Format: Paperback
When I was a kid around 8 or 9 years old, we would go to an outdoor theatre, a special treat. I remember the old 1960's era Batman movies playing on the screen. It was fun, exciting, heroic...all those things that made it pure enjoyment. When I think of recent Batman movies that have turned dark, deadly, desperate, all the fun has gone out of those experiences and I simply don't watch those movies. This is simply a long way of saying that this book, Bruce Wayne: Not Super, brought back all the fun I experienced as a kid. Here we have our hero, who doesn't think he is, who compares himself to everyone around him with supernatural abilities, and begins to grow desperate. The background story is essentially the same: dead parents, rotten town, etc. But we see life from his perspective and can root for him all the way. He goofs up, makes lots of mistakes and this makes him even more lovable. This book is prefect for readers young and old, and if this made into a movie, I guarantee you that I would watch it. Highly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024

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