Review by Choice Review
In this text Bangham (Queen Mary Univ. of London) uses blood typing (known as "grouping" in the UK) as a lens through which to focus on many issues related to medicine and bioethics that emerged during the early-to mid-20th century. The text is appropriate for a savvy lay audience with interest in biomedical topics and the ethics of human genetics. It is fascinating to learn how blood grouping was developed and used to categorize humans, for better or worse. In addition to its practical uses in facilitating blood transfusion, blood grouping served as a precursor to the development of genomic controversies that doctors and scientists wrestle with today. Beyond the technical details of this story, Bangham foregrounds evidence of systemic racism's role at various points in the book, and if the reader is prepared to consider such complexity, then the text can serve as a launching point for penetrating discussion. The book would be a relevant addition to the readings for a college course on the history of science emphasizing the first half of the 20th century. The volume features some black-and-white figures and photographs; the extensive footnotes and references comprise a third of its total pages. All readers interested in biomedical science will find this book fascinating. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Michael R. King, Vanderbilt University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
