Poisons

From Hemlock to Botox and the Killer Bean Calabar

A wide-ranging and provocative look - teeming with little-known facts and engaging stories - at a subject of the direst interest.

Poisons permeate our world. They are in the environment, the workplace, the home. They are in food, our favorite whiskey, medicine, well water. They have been used to cure disease as well as incapacitate and kill. They smooth wrinkles, block pain, stimulate, and enhance athletic ability. In this entertaining and fact-filled audiobook, science writer Peter Macinnis considers poisons in all their aspects. He recounts stories of the celebrated poisoners in history and literature, from Nero to Thomas Wainewright, and from the death of Socrates to Hamlet and Peter Pan. He discusses the sources of various poisons - from cyanide to strychnine, from Botox to ricin and Sarin gas - as well as their detection.

Then he analyzes the science of their action in the body and their uses in medicine, cosmetics, war, and terrorism. With wit and precision, he weighs such questions as: Was Lincoln’s volatility caused by mercury poisoning? Was Jack the Ripper an arsenic eater? Can wallpaper kill? For anyone who has ever wondered and been afraid to ask, here is a rich miscellany for your secret questions about toxins.

©2004, 2011 Peter Macinnis (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Poison, Americas past time

Seems there’s plenty to learn as far as killing people with poison. I enjoy chemistry. I have purchased lots of books about it. This one was interesting and enjoyable. If you enjoy murder by poison give it a roll.

Better organization

Great info, entertainingly presented, but all over the place and somewhat difficult to follow. Stream of consciousness doesn't work for this kind of book.

Important knowledge!

As someone that has been vaccine and pharma injured, knowing toxicology and pharmacology is a big deal to me. This book goes into much detail or many poisons, including pharma (not vaccines specifically tho).

Interesting

If you like random facts told in entertaining ways… you’ll probably like it a lot.

#MyNonFictionAddiction

Fascinating details and such interesting historical tidbits! I thoroughly enjoyed it! It went too fast for me!
!📚☕📖🙃💅⏳