The book is a treasure of information and deep insights. It has taught me a lot, particularly on the importantance of philosophy and politics for medicine.

The book is brilliant and wise, full of unexpected insight, and a delight to read!. It is the kind of rare book only a practising scientist with a deep awareness of medicine, therapeutics, politics and societies can with a deep materialist framework is critical for understanding the history of any science, and this book is the most astute of any book I have read on the history of medicine. The science of physiology and the art of healing are merged in medicine, and the author truly grasps the significance of both.

I stand in awe at the author's enyclopedic knowledge, placing medicine in an economics and social context and ranging over several civilizations even while referring to many movies and their actors, and mentioning the name of the most recent Indian-origin recipient of the Nobel prize. At the same time, Dr. varma remains true both to his political values and professional calling.