Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines

(Paperback)

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Science geeks and armchair detectives will soak up this non-lethal, humorous account of the role poisons have played in human history. Perfect for STEM enthusiasts! For centuries, people have been poisoning one another-changing personal lives and the course of empires alike. From spurned spouses and rivals, to condemned prisoners like Socrates, to endangered emperors like Alexander the Great, to modern-day leaders like Joseph Stalin and Yasser Arafat, poison has played a starring role in the demise of countless individuals. And those are just the deliberate poisonings. Medical mishaps, greedy "snake oil" salesmen and food contaminants, poisonous Prohibition, and industrial toxins also impacted millions. Part history, part chemistry, part whodunit, Poison- Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines traces the role poisons have played in history from antiquity to the present and shines a ghoulish light on the deadly intersection of human nature . . . and Mother Nature.

Reviews

"[Albee's]light tone makes this morbid, well-researched study a sinister indulgence."Bookliststarred review

"A compelling, entertaining, and informative introduction to a sinister aspect of human history." Kirkus Reviews

"Theres plenty of material here to delight fans of [Georgia] Braggs popular How They Croaked." The Bulletin

"Ideal for readers, including reluctant ones, who delight in the science and scare factor of poisons or grotesque medicine." School Library Journal

Author Bio

Sarah Albee has written numerous nonfiction children's books, including Why'd They Wear That Fashion as the Mirror of History; Bugged- How Insects Changed History; and Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up. Before Sarah began her career as a children's book writer and editor, she was a newspaper cartoonist and a semi-professional basketball player. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children. You can visit Sarah at sarahalbeebooks.com, or follow her on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter at @sarahalbee.