Reviews for Female Complaints: Lydia Pinkham and the Business of Women's Medicine - Sarah Stage - Paperback

The average rating for Female Complaints: Lydia Pinkham and the Business of Women's Medicine - Sarah Stage - Paperback based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-01-09 00:00:00 Anthony Cassano Doublespeak as defined by the author is 'language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it.' Jargon can also be doublespeak when 'used to given an air of profundity, authority, and prestige to speakers and their subject matter. Jargon as doublespeak often makes the simple appear complex, the ordinary profound and the simple insightful. In this sense it is used not to express but impress.' The third kind outlined by the author is doublespeak that comprises of 'piling on words, of overwhelming the audience with words.' These words are often bigger and longer and may sound impressive but when examined later would not make sense. This can also be laced with jargon. The final kind of doublespeak outlined 'is inflated language that is designed to make the ordinary seem extraordinary; to make everyday things seem impressive; to give an air of importance to people, situations, or things that would not normally be considered important; to make the simple seem complex.' All of us would have met some people in our lives who have used doublespeak in these contexts. While it can just just be annoying when used by acquaintances, it can often be harmful when used by governments, military, politicians, corporations and bureaucrats. The book is primarily filled with examples of real life doublespeak used in America in the 1980s, as the editions I read was published in 1989. As doublespeak is still and even more aggressively used nowadays, it is still relevant and any of the incidents referred to in the book could have occurred today. It is also fascinating to note which doublespeak terms have gone out of usage and which ones have stuck around. The book also takes inspiration and pays tribute to Orwell and his ideologies.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-04-22 00:00:00 Jean-Pierre Roch "Achtung, Indianer!" A solid introduction to the Battle of Britain. A look at both sides from the politicians and the strategic goals down to the major forces that fought, the geography and airspace, the machines, the tactics and finally the men who fought and died or lived. Bungay covers every relevant aspect of the battle clearly, logically and with humor or serious commentary as the scene demands. The RAF and the Luftwaffe are both covered in enough detail to satisfy the WWII expert yet makes it all easy to understand for the novice. A permanent place on my WWII shelf-I just need to find a HC to replace my slightly tattered softcover. 5 Stars