Reviews for The Bizarre Careers of John R. Brinkley

The average rating for The Bizarre Careers of John R. Brinkley based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-04-23 00:00:00 Anna Hester This biography of the infamous "Goat Gland Doctor" is a must-read for any student of Kansas history, radio regulation or the medical profession. Author R. Alton Lee does a good job of striking a balance between scholarly research and readability. The only minor concern I have about the text is that Lee appears to have at least a slight sympathy for Brinkley. That's understandable. Brinkley's iconoclastic bravado does offset his less desirable qualities, at least somewhat. And it's only natural to develop some sympathy for anybody that one has spent a long time studying. However, this sympathy colors the text in parts. For example, Lee underemphasizes Brinkley's bigotry and his ties to Fascist organizations, not to mention the serious damage his surgical procedures did to some of their recipients. Overall, however, this is an entertaining and informative account of the life of one of history's lesser-known but nonetheless important figures.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-07-17 00:00:00 Angela Flaherty How about a doc who uses goat glands to treat a variety of ails? Owns a one million watt radio station in Del Rio to promote his "hospital" to all of North America. And whose medical credentials are questionable at best, leading to one of the most interesting trials in Del Rio history? This book is shaky at times and somewhat verbose but there is no doubt Brinkley was an interesting and eccentric character. A perfect subject for a biography.