SKU: 59354179288

The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity

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The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of HumanityHailed as "a remarkable achievement" (Boston Globe) and as "a triumph: simultaneously entertaining and instructive, witty and thought provoking a splendid and thoroughly engrossing book" (Los Angeles Times), Roy Porter's charting of the history of medicine affords us an opportunity as never before to assess its culture and science and its costs and benefits to mankind. Porter explores medicine's evolution against the backdrop of the wider religious,

Hailed as "a remarkable achievement" (Boston Globe) and as "a triumph: simultaneously entertaining and instructive, witty and thought-provoking...a splendid and thoroughly engrossing book" (Los Angeles Times), Roy Porter's charting of the history of medicine affords us an opportunity as never before to assess its culture and science and its costs and benefits to mankind. Porter explores medicine's evolution against the backdrop of the wider religious, scientific, philosophical, and political beliefs of the culture in which it develops, covering ground from the diseases of the hunter-gatherers to the more recent threats of AIDS and Ebola, from the clearly defined conviction of the Hippocratic oath to the muddy ethical dilemmas of modern-day medicine. Offering up a treasure trove of historical surprises along the way, this book "has instantly become the standard single-volume work in its field" (The Lancet).



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 10/17/1999
ISBN: 9780393319804
Pages: 872
Weight: 2.30lbs
Size: 9.22h x 6.16w x 1.24d
Award: L.A. Times Book Prize - Winner

Review Citations: New York Times 12/12/1999 pg. 48
Ingram Advance 10/01/1999 pg. 178 - Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended
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SKU: 59354179288

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OhCaptainMyCaptain
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 1
Good - for a few hours
Color: Blue, Color: Blue
Concept is fantastic. Dog loved it. Problem is that she figured out how to open it within two hours of play. The robot core, alas, did not survive. In the photo, you see a tooth went cleanly into the button and that was the end of the toy.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
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laruex3
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
The most engaging interactive toy for my Border Collie
Color: Orange, Color: Orange
My Border Collie is not a big ball player. He prefers tug type games and actually gives me a look like, “Are you stupid? I’m not going to keep bringing that to you if all you’re going to do is throw it away again!” after about the third time I throw a ball for him to fetch. However, I can only play tug so often and I need him to be entertained and engaged as much as possible. I got him a smaller, non-padded ball like this hoping he would like the interactive aspect of it. He did- he actually loved it! But it was loud, hard on his teeth, would come apart periodically, and he kept hitting the off button when playing with it. It drove me crazy. This one is so much better overall! The soft outer shell is not only easier on his teeth, but it is super resilient to biting and chewing. He actually likes to carry this thing around in his mouth while it’s bouncing and vibrating. The three modes give great flexibility for different kinds of play. His favorite is the most active mode: the ball reacts to touch and practically bounces itself across the floor when he touches it with his paw or mouth. I will point out that in one of the modes, I thought the battery wasn’t charged or there was a motor issue because it’s very subdued movement; however, it’s just set up as a low-key option. Be sure to check out each mode to see which works best for your dog at different times. I can’t say enough about this ball- I have been so pleasantly surprised by how much he loves it. The rechargeable feature is super convenient, it’s big enough to not get stuck under the couch, and it automatically shuts off based on whichever mode it’s set on. As the owner of a busy, super-smart dog who needs to be engaged in mental and physical activity, I think this all is worth every penny. In fact, I’m buying one for a friend who has a Border Collie pup with lots of energy to burn! I highly recommend this toy- it’s the most engaging toy I’ve found that Finn will play with on his own.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026
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Dani
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 2
Not as Smart or Interactive as You Think it Will Be
Color: Blue
This is an honest review from a schnauzer owner who has has wanted this cheerble ball for their dog for more than one year. I finally bougI finally bought this toy and both me and my dog are disappointed. The settings are...i would say dog friendly as I'd assumed a dog ball would be. What I mean by that is, for example: the calm play setting is muuch too calm. Super light puffs of energy, like a battery is dying. And the playful setting is scary, alarmingly so. The intervals in between are too long. The ball does not bounce. So they just have settings all wrong. The size is good for a large dog only. Do not buy if you have a small to medium dog. I even think the material is okay. I've only had it for a few days so I can't even speak to how the material holds up. Really hoping to love this ball for my dog. It was not the distraction I was hoping it would be so I could work from home while my dog had fun. I'm hoping this can help someone else who's been pining over it. Essentially, it's a $35-$50 well made weighted ball that moves occasionally.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026
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Darcie
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Fun little ball!
Fun little ball! Glad I got the football version the regular ball would be a choking hazard for my Great Dane. The ball rolls and shakes on the floor which at first was scary, but now she loves it! She nudges it all over the floor to keep it moving, keeping her entertained for a bit.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026
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Verified Purchase
Rodolfo Israel Barranco Rivera
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 1
Won't hold charge
Unfortunately the toy would not hold charge. I charged it for couple hours and it wouldn't turn on. I tired a different charger to be safe and still nothing. Was hoping to share this exciting toy with my pup, guess I'll keep looking for alternative.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2025

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