Howard Markel Knihy

"A definitive history of the race to unravel DNA's structure, by one of our most prominent medical historians. Biologist James Watson and physicist Francis Crick's 1953 revelation about the double helix structure of DNA is the foundation of virtually every advance in our modern understanding of genetics and molecular biology. But how did Watson and Crick do it--and why were they the ones who succeeded? In truth, the discovery of DNA's structure is the story of a race among five scientists for advancement, fame, and immortality: Watson, Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, and Linus Pauling. They were fascinating and brilliant, with strong personalities that often clashed. But it is Rosalind Franklin who becomes a focal point for Markel. The Secret of Life is a story of genius and perseverance, but also a saga of cronyism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, and misconduct. Markel recounts the intense intellectual journey, and the fraught personal relationships, that resulted in the discovery of DNA"-- Provided by publisher

John Harvey Kellogg was a renowned physician, author, and health advocate, while his brother Will founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, transforming breakfast food production. In this narrative, Howard Markel explores the rivalry and complex relationship between the Kellogg brothers, whose influence spanned from the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries, reshaping American health and wellness. The Kelloggs hailed from a Puritan lineage, migrating to New England in the seventeenth century before moving to Michigan to establish a significant farm. They later embraced the religious teachings of Ellen Harmon White and James White, whose Seventh-day Adventist theology emphasized health reform. Groomed by the Whites, John Kellogg attended Bellevue Hospital Medical College, focusing on indigestion, America's prevalent health issue. The Battle Creek Sanitarium, run by Kellogg, attracted numerous notable figures, including Mary Todd Lincoln and Amelia Earhart, while he advised several U.S. presidents. The brothers innovated in food production, creating Corn Flakes through experimentation with grains and toasting methods. Markel's account of the Kelloggs highlights their pivotal roles in the evolution of American diet, health, and philanthropy, reflecting significant societal changes over seven decades that impacted millions and contributed to the industrial age.

At a time of renewed anti-immigrant sentiment and newly emerging infectious diseases, Quarantine! provides a historical context for considering some of the significant problems that face American society today.

A lively account of how Darwin’s work on natural selection transformed science and society and an investigation into the mysterious illness that plagued its author