This Man's Pill

One of the many interesting facts contained in this book is that, in the United States, 80 percent of all women born since 1945 have used the contraceptive pill. In terms of its socio-cultural impact, from religion to women's' rights, the pill has few parallels. The book looks at how this drug was largely responsible for 'the gradual divorce of sex from reproduction' in a similarly revolutionary way to the recent advent of in-vitro fertilisation techniques, which have also separated the sex act and reproduction. This Man's Pill details the evolution of the pill and discusses every facet of its development and the impact it has had on societies around the world. It is also a very personal account of the author's own involvement and the resulting changes to his beliefs and attictudes to science. Djerassi was instrumental in the birth of the pill and describes how his involvement in the development of such a revolutionary drug has changed his approach to chemistry. He describes his increasing concern and interest in the social consequences arising from scientific and technological developments. He is able to view his subject both intimately and objectively, discussing the arguments for and against the pill in great detail and from a variety of angles. This is an in-depth examination of the pill, which takes into account chemical and medical history, moral debate; as well as the ethical, cultural and geographical implications. This Man's Pill is an entertaining and erudite account of a complex subject that will appeal to many beyond just the field of mechanical science. (Kirkus UK)