The Butchering Art is another fantastic work of scientific and historical journalism, chronicling the transformation of Victorian medicine through the life of Joseph Lister—the surgeon who pioneered sterilization via carbolic acid. I remember reading about him alongside other giants like Pasteur in biology class, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to read more in-depth about his life and achievements. Lindsey Fitzharris spins a gripping story of scientific inquiry and advancement in the age that transformed surgery into a true practice of healing.

I like this book. It’s not for everyone—some of the details about the surgeries can get quite gruesome, even when described abstractly. But it’s still a page-turner (I finished it in a single day) and I’d recommend this for anyone interested in medicine or history. Fitzharris provides ample context for making sense of these historical figures, and I learned a lot reading this book.

It reminds me of books written by Deborah Blum. The Butchering Art would not be out of place on a bookshelf next to The Poisoner’s Handbook or The Disappearing Spoon—in fact, that’s where it sits on my bookshelf-wall at home.