by Rose George
First published 2018
Blood sustains life yet makes people faint at its sight. This vital fluid costs more than oil while remaining a waste product. It saves lives and spreads deadly diseases. Rose George examines this contradiction through science, history, and global politics. She traces the journey from medieval bloodletting practices to cutting-edge liquid biopsies that detect cancer through simple blood tests. George profiles Janet Vaughan, who created the first mass blood donation system during World War II bombing raids, and Arunachalam Muruganantham, dubbed "Menstrual Man" for developing affordable sanitary pads in developing nations. She investigates the profitable plasma industry where America dominates as the "OPEC of plasma." George also explores how 800 million women face stigma over menstruation despite its biological normalcy. The book examines researchers working toward synthetic blood alternatives for hospitals. George connects ancient taboos to modern medical breakthroughs, showing how this essential substance shapes human experience across cultures and centuries.
Genres: science, medical, social-science, non-fiction, history-of-medicine, academic
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: informative, investigative-journalism
Setting: America, Developing Nations
Period: World War II, Medieval, Modern
355 pages · Kindle Edition · Metropolitan Books