Review by Choice Review
This treatise is part of Greenwood's "The Story of a Drug" series. The work's nine chapters are organized by subheadings, which typically include two or three paragraphs. Such a presentation of the material facilitates the book's use as an information resource. The work begins with a detailed offering of background information--the definition of a vaccine, how vaccines function, and their history. The work is both well organized and well written; Davidson, a medical writer, has a good sense of subject matter continuity. In the chapter titled "Effects and Applications," each currently available vaccine is critically examined. In another chapter, "Risks, Misuse, and Overdose," the author examines the darker side of vaccines. Controversial issues, "social dimensions," and what the future holds for vaccines receive impartial treatment. Although references to the literature are not indicated in the text, Davidson provides a "Directory of Resources" and a glossary. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Richard S. Kowalczyk, University of Michigan
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
