The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
In the Roaring Twenties, there were lucky girls who were paid handsomely to paint radium onto watch dials. They were called the dial-painters. They went to work in the beautiful dresses they bought with their generous wages. They dipped their brushes in radium paint, put the brushes in their mouths to make the bristles into a point, and then painted carefully. They were paid per watch and each one was examined thoroughly so they wanted to work quickly but accurately.
It took a few years before the first dial-painter watched her tooth fall out and the wound never heal. How quickly it went: the girls started experiencing terrible pain all over their bodies, and helplessly watched their teeth fall out. Some even had their jawbones come out in their hands.
It was the radium. The radium that everyone was so convinced was healthy. These girls were lucky to work with it, and they were beautiful as their dresses and hair shone in the dark while they walked home from work. At least, that's what their company would have them believe.
The way they could suffer was horrific; their bones decaying right in their bodies. I can barely even bring myself to think about it. It took some time before doctors could put together that it was radium poisoning because there had never been radium poisoning before! But the radium companies fought these girls tooth and nail, insisting they were wrong. They insisted that the girls didn't get sick because of anything work-related. The way they could lie and cheat was hard to stomach. It became clear they were essentially getting away with murder.
I was surprised at how glued to the book I was when it was so sad, and on the surface, could seem repetitive. Every new piece of information was a revelation. Every girl I read about was a separate and important case. I cared about them so much, and I think I always will. What they managed to accomplish in court helps protect us today. We owe them so much gratitude.
General consensus: Shocking, and left me emotionally gutted. But such an important read!
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Book Report #139 - The Honeymoon Effect
The Honeymoon Effect by Bruce Lipton
Cellular biologist Bruce Lipton uses a scientific approach to explaining how the honeymoon effect can last throughout a relationship. He also uses his own life as an example.
The book is highly readable, and even fun. Alhough I had heard the content before, it was presented here in a fresh way that helped me gain new insights.
Most of all, I enjoyed his discussion toward the end on Noble Gases and how they are what we should strive to be in relationships. For the rest of my life, I'll refer to this teaching.
General consensus: Fun, accessible and applicable. Totally recommend, especially for the haters, because Bruce was one once, and there's a good chance he can reach you.
Cellular biologist Bruce Lipton uses a scientific approach to explaining how the honeymoon effect can last throughout a relationship. He also uses his own life as an example.
The book is highly readable, and even fun. Alhough I had heard the content before, it was presented here in a fresh way that helped me gain new insights.
Most of all, I enjoyed his discussion toward the end on Noble Gases and how they are what we should strive to be in relationships. For the rest of my life, I'll refer to this teaching.
General consensus: Fun, accessible and applicable. Totally recommend, especially for the haters, because Bruce was one once, and there's a good chance he can reach you.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Book Report #80 - The Female Brain
The Female Brain
by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
A neuropsychiatrist explains the actions of women in a purely scientific fashion. I learned a lot, like women's feet have to be warm for them to want sex and they are oxytocin fiends. Made me realize that comedian I heard say, "Getting a woman to have sex with you is like starting a fire--all conditions have to be right" was correct.
My favorite part was learning about why men and women interpret some situations completely differently. Brizendine says we're actually hardwired that way. Our Stone Age brains haven't changed much.
I also enjoyed learning about how women's brains actually change through life, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood to motherhood to menopausal and post-menopausal. Our brains actually change! Gives us a lot of get out of jail free cards on acting like bitches...
The one thing I vehemently disagree about was the claim that women think about sex once a day and 3-4 times a day on their hottest days. I call bullshit.
General consensus: I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because even if you disagree some the subject matter alone will spark some great discussions.
by Louann Brizendine, M.D.A neuropsychiatrist explains the actions of women in a purely scientific fashion. I learned a lot, like women's feet have to be warm for them to want sex and they are oxytocin fiends. Made me realize that comedian I heard say, "Getting a woman to have sex with you is like starting a fire--all conditions have to be right" was correct.
My favorite part was learning about why men and women interpret some situations completely differently. Brizendine says we're actually hardwired that way. Our Stone Age brains haven't changed much.
I also enjoyed learning about how women's brains actually change through life, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood to motherhood to menopausal and post-menopausal. Our brains actually change! Gives us a lot of get out of jail free cards on acting like bitches...
The one thing I vehemently disagree about was the claim that women think about sex once a day and 3-4 times a day on their hottest days. I call bullshit.
General consensus: I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because even if you disagree some the subject matter alone will spark some great discussions.
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