Opium: Reality's Dark Dream
by Thomas Dormandy
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"Opium and its derivatives morphine and heroin have destroyed, corrupted, and killed individuals, families, communities, and even whole nations. And yet, for most of its long history, opium has also been humanity's most effective means of alleviating physical and mental pain. This extraordinary book encompasses the entire history of the world's most fascinating drug, from the first evidence of poppy cultivation by stone-age man to the present-day opium trade in Afghanistan. Dr. Thomas show more Dormandy tells the story with verve and insight, uncovering the strange power of opiates to motivate major conflicts yet also inspire great art and medical breakthroughs, to trigger the rise of global criminal networks yet also revolutionize attitudes toward well-being. Opium: Reality's Dark Dream traverses the globe and the centuries, exploring opium's role in colonialism, the Chinese Opium Wars, laudanum-inspired sublime Romantic poetry, American "Yellow Peril" fears, the rise of the Mafia and the black market, 1960s counterculture, and more. Dr. Dormandy also recounts exotic or sad stories of individual addiction. Throughout the book the author emphasizes opium's complex, valuable relationship with developments in medicine, health, and disease, highlighting the perplexing dual nature of the drug as both the cause and relief of great suffering in widely diverse civilizations"--Provided by publisher. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This isn't the lightest of history books, but it makes up for it by being absolutely fascinating. It's incredible to think how one humble substance from one humble flower has literally shaped our entire history, from medicine to literature, and continues to have an enormous effect on world economics, politics and health. The modern chapters were perhaps the most jaw-dropping (about heroin, obviously), because I had NO IDEA of the sheer scale of the heroin trade.
A good, at times very rewarding look at opiates, and their effect through history. Illuminating in terms of the historical circumstances of the trade & the political & criminal connotations of the drug. Interesting but probably only going to be loved by the dedicated rather than the idly curious.
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Author Information
5 Works 202 Members
Thomas Dormandy, M.D., is consultant chemical pathologist and retired professor of chemical pathology, Whittington Hospital, University of London, and Brunel University, London.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Science & Nature, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 362.29 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Social Welfare Mental illness Substance abuse
- LCC
- HV5816 .D67 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Drug habits. Drug abuse
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 47
- Popularity
- 635,090
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.86)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
