Drugs

A fascinating guide to the history of drugs and medicines, the science of how they work, and the way they've shaped healthcare and society.

Today, drugs are a ubiquitous tool in all our lives, from the highly specialised gene therapies used to treat hitherto incurable diseases to the common painkillers we take to relieve fevers and headaches. However, healing plants and herbs have been revered since time immemorial and have been used for as long as people have experienced illness. Over the last century, our understanding of these therapeutic wonders has developed at astonishing speed, leading to the birth of the science of pharmacology.

Esteemed scientist Rod Flower guides us through the fascinating history of the discipline and shows us how drugs really work. How are new medicines developed, and what gives scientists the confidence their therapies will function as intended? What happens inside our bodies when we ingest these mysterious chemicals, and how have they shaped the progress of societies across the world?

This accessible introduction to the science of drugs reveals their intriguing inner workings and celebrates their remarkable healing power.