This fascinating series addresses contemporary medical dilemmas of ethics, clinical trials, profit, and the future of “better lives through chemistry.” . . . excel at tracing the history of the scientific developments, including timelines with great graphics, and explaining controversies. Clear descriptions are given. . . [and] colorful sidebars, bold headings, and charts to give the material eye-appeal. The authors have the gift of making extremely complicated material palatable to both teens and adults. Recommended.

The rapidly advancing medical research we benefit from its often grounded in accidental findings, trial and error, and the ever-evolving understanding of the human body. In each hefty volume, eight chapters cover the history, science, methods, and people responsible for medical discoveries. Diagrams, charts, photos, micrographs, X-rays, and scans help clarify complex concepts.