Nine Pints by Rose George

One of the few blog sites I read is GatesNotes, so when it recommends a medicine-related book, I jump at it. One such recommendation is Nine Pints by Rose George.

Nine Pints is a short book that provides a brief overview of the history of blood. It covers topics such as bloodletting, leeches, the race for blood transfusion, HIV/AIDs in Africa, menstruation rituals in South Asia, hemophilia, and the future of blood. Besides teaching us the basics about blood, Rose George also includes stories of the doctors, researchers, patients, and herself. As a result, the book is an easy-read.

Overall, the book was an interesting read, but I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. Given the reviews and summary on the cover, I assumed that it would have an overall emphasis on the blood sciences and its history. To my surprise, the book takes a more journalistic approach on the subject. It provides a very basic explanation of the science, focusing mostly on stories of the individuals (which I should have expected in a book written by a journalist). For this reason, I think this book is best for someone looking for a simple background on blood and its effect on society. However, if you are looking for an informative, science-focused book, I suggest you try another book.