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Michael Bliss
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The Discovery of Insulin: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition 25th Anniversary ed. Edition

by Michael Bliss (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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When insulin was discovered in the early 1920s, even jaded professionals marveled at how it brought starved, sometimes comatose diabetics back to life. In the twenty-fifth-anniversary edition of a classic, Michael Bliss unearths scientists' memoirs and confidential appraisals of insulin by members of the Nobel Committee. he also resolves a longstanding controversy about scientific collaboration at its most fractious and fascinating: who ultimately deserves credit for the discovery? Bliss's life-and-death saga illuminates one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of medicine.
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Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0195329619
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0226058993
  3. Edition
    25th Anniversary ed.
  4. Publisher
    University of Chicago Press
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 2007
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    304 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

The story of insulin's discovery out to be a novel...but Michael Bliss's splendid account is just as absorbing as any fiction. ― I S I S

Using previously unpublished, suppressed, or privately circulated documents, Bliss sets forth the full story of the epochal discovery. It is a tale of frustration, tension, and acute personal rivalry...The book has moments of pure delight. -- Peter H. Desmond ― Washington Post

The new, twenty-fifth-anniversary edition of The Discovery of Insulin kept me...riveted with Michael Bliss's documentation, chock-full of jealousy, pride, and intrigue. [This book] is a must read for all of those whose lives have been touched by diabetes. -- Lois Jovanovic, MD, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer ― Sansum Diabetes Research Institute

Few events in modern medical history were as dramatic as the discovery of insulin, and fewer still are the books that have captured a medical breakthrough as brilliantly as Michael Bliss's classic account. Today, when the expectations of post-genomic medicine have reached new heights, the timing for a twenty-fifth-anniversary edition could not be better. -- David Naylor, MD, President and Former Dean of Medicine ― University of Toronto

Bliss provides a breathtaking account of what it really means to be on the cutting edge of scientific discovery. -- James Shapiro, MD, Director of the Clinical Islet Translplant Program ― University of Alberta

About the Author

Michael Bliss is University Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, a recipient of the Order of Canada, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is the award-winning author of many books, including The Discovery of Insulin, William Osler: A Life in Medicine, and Harvey Cushing: A Life in Surgery.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0226058999
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 25th Anniversary ed. edition (May 15, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195329619
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226058993
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

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Michael Bliss

Michael Bliss

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
109 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Diabetic Diva
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, Comprehensive. Insightful. Entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
Wow. As a t1 diabetic diagnosed at 7 and now going for a phd in public health, this was illuminating on many levels. As a diabetic, I "knew" how diabetics suffered a miserable death prior to insulin, but I was touched deeply by the hard work of so many great-minded researchers, doctors, and scientists. And learning the names of those who never received proper acknowledgement/recognition for their important contributions. As a researcher, it was amusing (& as a diabetic disappointing) to hear how many contributors were shut out from recognition because of jealousies, grudges & plain ol' politics. The author did an outstanding job of bringing all of the "characters" to life - you feel like a fly on the wall witnessing the shenanigans, frustrations, ideas and euphoria experienced by them.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants the behind the scenes look into (& gossip! behind) the great undertaking that enabled insulin to reach and save the lives of so many diabetics.
4 people found this helpful
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Bobbie
5.0 out of 5 stars Insulin is my lifesaver!
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
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I bought this book recommended by my Endocrinologist. If my husband ever finishes reading it, I will finally get a chance. It is written in a form that allows the reader to be with the researchers as they discover insulin from dogs pancreas's.
It is well written and even with him reading parts of it to me, I can only thank God and research for the job they did. It is an unforgettable read.
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Emcreynolds
4.0 out of 5 stars Medical history at its best!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2015
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The author has provided a most informative and interesting account of the discovery of insulin. It is hard to imagine practicing medicine when Type 1 diabetes could only be treated by starvation and rapid death still inevitable. This book is a great account of the process of medical research and the people who tackle its many positives and negatives.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, Particularly for Diabetics
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2021
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As a type one diabetic (T1D) for over thirty years, I had a general understanding of the background of the discovery of insulin, having seen the Canada Heritage Minute, and even having visited the Banting House Museum in London, Ont. with my daughter many years ago. However, this book gives a thorough review, with an often fascinating history of the people and research related to diabetes, and the various treatments, or lack thereof, available to diabetics. It is a well-blended mix of scientific research and biographical "soap opera" - which gives the reader a full appreciation for the complexities of the discovery. Two things in the conclusion really left me struck, uncomfortably so: one, that the discovery has led to an "era of complications" unknown before because of the low rate of life-expectancy for diabetics, and, two, because diabetes has a strong hereditary component, the discovery has caused a steady increase in the number of T1Ds, because insulin has enabled diabetics to live and to "propagate." Not to be too dark, but it is a chilling and necessary truth.
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Nightstar
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice to have my own copy. Proud to keep it on my shelf.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2017
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Glad I do have it. Author obviously do not like Dr. Banting. But still he gave pretty real picture what was at the time in Toronto, how team worked together. I really do not like when every time it is presented that Dr. Banting is co-discover of insulin, together with Dr. Best. Best was just Charlie, student who just past firs year in medical school. And he thought Dr. Banting how to prepare animals? To get his title Dr. Best it took a few many years for Charlie.
Also there is real rial of McLoid, another co-discover of insulin. He was on vacation at the time when Dr. Banting worked hard in his library. M. Bliss point out that there are very poor records keeping. What no one point out that Dr. Banting often worked alone when Charlie was on leave. Care for animals, no one did this job, and animals were ill after surgery.
I got greatest respect to DR. Banting upon reading this book. I ordered a few more, Biography Dr. Banting, and I am happy I did.
One person found this helpful
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J. Amaro
5.0 out of 5 stars Non-Fiction at Its Best
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2007
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This is the ideal book for all those diabetics who are afraid to start insulin, hate their disease or feel that life has unfairly dealt them a bad hand.

They should find inspiration in the life of the young Elizabeth Evans Hughes, a child diabetic who survived the years before insulin by adhering to a brutal near-starvation diet for four years, the only effective treatment at the time, and then faithfully took the newly discovered insulin and lived to be 74. Elizabeth got diabetes at 11, before insulin's discovery, and would likely have died within one year were it not for her determination and iron will.

The story of the equally determined Dr. Banting, insulin's chief discoverer, is just as compelling as are the battles of personality and will that developed among those connected with the discovery and development of insulin.

Those who live with diabetes or diabetics should find the human stories in this book as inspiring as I did. Michael Bliss the author has managed to place history in the form of a novel.
4 people found this helpful
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Mike G
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for Type 1 Diabetics!
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015
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As a long-term Type 1 Diabetic, I thought I knew a lot about the discovery of Insulin. Man, was I wrong? I found this to be a well-written and well-researched history. This book opened my eyes to the contributions of others besides Banting and Best and gave me a greater appreciation of these two primary researchers.
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Rodger Shepherd
4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2004
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The book can be viewed as having four sections: background, the "discovery", the fallout, and an epilogue. I found the sections on background and the "discovery" very exciting and compelling reading. The sad story of the subsequent bitter fallout over credit for the discovery of insulin is more plodding and painful but necessary reading. The short epilogue follows the significant persons through to their deaths.
The book brought me some useful closure. In the mid-fifties I actually saw and heard Dr. Best when he was visiting San Francisco and was invited to speak to my class in medical school. At the time I vaguely realized that I was in the presence of someone of importance in medical history. Bliss' book has made me appreciate the opportunity much more.
By the way, Bliss fails to mention Best's textbook of physiology, a work that was the standard textbook for literally generations of medical student. Best's textbook was coauthored by the N.B. Taylor who is mentioned very briefly on page 91 of Bliss' book.
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Martin Senechal
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2020
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Extremely fast to arrive great condition
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G.Shankar
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on August 25, 2019
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Good
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Insulin discovery and JJR Macleod.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2018
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For more that half a century Banting and Best were attributed with the discovery of insulin and the role of JJR Macleod a Scotsman, jointly awarded the Nobel Prize with Banting, systematically written out of this important event in history. This book by the Late Michael Bliss, a Canadian Historian, gives renewed perspectives regarding the discovery of insulin together with a balanced account JJR Macleod's contributions. An important book both for the events described and its scholarship.
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ActionPotential
3.0 out of 5 stars Good historical perspective, a bit deceiving on the scientific side.
Reviewed in Italy on February 10, 2013
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The facts behind the discovery of insulin are well narrated, with special attention to the conflicts between the different discoverers. Thus, the historical account can be considered accurate. On the other hand (and being myself a biologist), the scientific aspects of the story are not very well described. For instance, the fact that the first preparations were so difficult to obtain because insulin is a protein and can be easily degraded remains only in the background.
I recommend this reading to those interested mainly on the narration of events and on the "gossip" about the "who discovered what".
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived quickly. Quality as listed. Would use again ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2017
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Arrived quickly. Quality as listed. Would use again.
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