A very interesting read about the development of the birth control pill. The author focuses on four individuals who were instrumental in bringing the pill to the world: Margaret Sanger, a crusader and founder of Planned Parenthood; Gregory Pincus, a scientist who had many failures and setbacks in his career but nonetheless persevered; Katharine McCormick, an intelligent woman with money to invest, and John Rock, a Catholic doctor committed to the project. Other important players are given their due, but these are the four who most contributed to the invention of The Pill.

The book sets the context for their work. Contraception was, at the time, illegal. And to many, notably the Catholic church, also immoral.

What struck me most was that we know so little about Katharine McCormick. Without her funding, the research necessary to develop the pill wouldn't have happened when it did. The scientist who perfected the pill (Gregory Pincus} was on the cover of Time Magazine. The woman who had the vision and dedicated her life to finding an oral contraceptive, and convinced Mr. Pincus to research it, (Margaret Sanger) and the woman who paid for it (McCormick) were not.

What also struck me was the way clinical trials were conducted: offshore and in asylums, often without what we would consider informed consent. And that the FDA approved a drug to be given to healthy women for extended periods of time with so little data on the long-term safety of the pill. This turned out to be okay, but the author does draw the parallel to thalidomide, which was a very different story.

Finally, I noticed how reliable contraception was driven by a handful of individuals. Governments and other public institutions did not see the need for women to be able to control their bodies from neither a health, poverty or moral perspective. That's kind of sad.

A very engaging read, written in an accessible style. ( )

This book tells a moderately interesting story in a strong narrative voice.

Eig tells us of four people - - a feminist (Margaret Sanger), a millionaire, a researcher, and a Catholic doctor who have the goal of developing a pill that prevents pregnancy. Pincus, the researcher, is to me, the most interesting. He is a man who fails and fails (at multiple things) and yet never gives up his very pioneering spirit and ultimately achieves his goals. I found his story inspirational.

McCormick, a wealthy widow, also fascinated me. She was determined to do something amazing with her money, and she does. She is a person who truly empowered the creation of the pill. She was generous, curious, scientifically minded, but she also didn't put constraints on how her money was used and was willing to give more at every turn. I think more than anyone else, we owe her for the development of the pill.

One of the most intriguing parts to this tale is the fact that the development of the pill all took place during a period when birth control was not even legal. I have to confess that I didn't even birth control was illegal for as long as it was. Frightening really. Glad I was born in the 60's!

Eig has written a good read, but I notice his other two books are about baseball. Of which I am a big fan. So I'm inclined to try those out. This topic really isn't for everyone, but if you have an interest in feminism, I'd definitely recommend it as a great way to absorb some of the history of that movement. ( )

A competent presentation of the 10 years it took from initiating research to FDA approval of the first birth control pill, with capsule biographies of the two women Sanger and McCormick who inspired and funded the work, and two men Pincus and Rock who lead and directed the research. And what a close run course it was that it happened at all in that time frame. But not much in the way of wow or sparkle, which I would be surprised if these people did not possess. ( )

Fascinating account of four individuals whose passions and talents combined to bring us what we now know as "The Pill". Excellent journalistic work by the author who pulled together existing works and original interviews with surviving principals and their families. ( )

I want to give this 4.5 stars, but it got knocked to 4, this is an excellent history of The Pill, and just how much work, energy, and love went into its research and production. I would have given it 5 stars, but it was a very slow read for me, I think it could have benefited from maybe more anecdotes or something to move the story along a little more, but that may just be personal preference, rather than a reflection on the writing. I do think it lacks a little in the exploration on the work we have yet to do, especially on effectiveness in women weighing more than 190 lbs. From my research, it seems to cause health problems in heavier women, and has a 20+% higher chance of failure, and these risks are usually NOT mentioned unless you explicitly look for them. (Excuse me, slight tangent, still an excellent book). ( )