Paul de Kruif Books
March 2, 1890 – February 28, 1971
Paul de Kruif was an author dedicated to the popularization of science, particularly microbiology. His writings were characterized by an engaging style that made complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. De Kruif focused on the dramatic life stories of scientists and their groundbreaking discoveries, thereby inspiring generations of readers. His work often combined scientific accuracy with narrative storytelling to illuminate the journey of scientific inquiry.
A Man Against Insanity
The Birth of Drug Therapy in a Rural Michigan Asylum In 1952
- 204 pages
- 8 hours of reading
The narrative follows Dr. John (Jack) Ferguson, who embarked on a medical career later in life, aspiring to be a country doctor. His journey unfolds against the backdrop of his remarkable experiences and challenges, revealing his dedication to medicine and the impact he made in his community. The book explores themes of perseverance, the human spirit, and the complexities of mental health, showcasing Ferguson's unique contributions to the field.
Our Medicine Men
- 254 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Microbe Hunters
- 372 pages
- 14 hours of reading
“It manages to delight, and frequently to entrance, old and new readers [and] continues to engage our hearts and minds today with an indescribably brand of affectionate sympathy.”—F. Gonzalez-Crussi, from the IntroductionAn international bestseller, translated into eighteen languages, Paul de Kruif’s classic account of the first scientists to see and learn about the microscopic world continues to fascinate new readers. This is a timeless dramatization of the scientists, bacteriologists, doctors, and medical technicians who discovered the microbes and invented the vaccines to counter them. De Kruif writes about how seemingly simple but really fundamental discovers of science—for instance, how a microbe was first viewed in a clear drop of rain water, and when, for the first time, Louis Pasteur discovered that a simple vaccine could save a man from the ravages of rabies by attacking the microbes that cause it.