Sean M. (coloradocoach) reviewed Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam on
This is a well written book about medical quackery, society's gullibility, money, politics, marketing and the appetite of society for medical cures no matter how outrageous.This book follows the life of John Brinkly, a self proclaimed doctor that was actually a con-artist extraordinaire in a time when any medical procedure was a risk, who started out as a snake oil salesman and then developed a "new" operation he proclaimed could cure anything from dandruff to prostrate problems. Brinkley was a marketing professional more than a medical professional playing to the "needs" of the public. He was a marketing innovator and pioneer in political marketing, radio, infomercials and more. He became dogmatically pursued by the AMA quackbuster, Morris Fishbein, himself a bit of a pioneer in government overstepping it's boundaries. Follow his cons and entrepreneurial escapades from his humble upbringing to a multimillionaire.
Brock's book reads like a good mystery, with well-drawn characters, an entertaining storyline, a climactic trial, and some (personal & business) lessons for today. You'll enjoy this.
Brock's book reads like a good mystery, with well-drawn characters, an entertaining storyline, a climactic trial, and some (personal & business) lessons for today. You'll enjoy this.
Catherine L. reviewed Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam on + 65 more book reviews
What a fascinating book! Who knew just what went on before the AMA had any teeth and hte airwaves were being used for the first time as a commercial advertising tool. There are even implication of Nazi Germany using some of hte ideas of the Goat Gland King of America.
Read on and shake your head in pure amazement.
Read on and shake your head in pure amazement.
Glenn H. reviewed Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam on + 80 more book reviews
This book follows the life of John Brinkly, a self proclaimed doctor that was actually a con-artist extraordinaire who started out as a snake oil salesman and then developed a "new" operation he proclaimed could cure anything from dandruff to prostrate problems. He seemed to almost escape the handcuffs of the law, until he became dogmatically pursued by the AMA quackbuster, Morris Fishbein. Follow his cons from his humble boyhood to a multimillionaire, you will probably enjoy it as much as I.
Dave E. (smmedia) reviewed Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam on + 29 more book reviews
Great book, easy, fast read. In conversing with the person who sent me this book, she had a personal interest in this story because she lived in Little Rock, and sent me some links about Brinkley.
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210693
http://www.rrmerritt.com/mabelvale/MHS_Brinkley_Pamplet.htm
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/213226
http://wfmu.org/LCD/GreatDJ/Brinkley.html
If you like radio history, you will love this book. Dr. Brinkley was well, no doctor, what IS interesting is how he survived, used new technology to sell a worthless product. The end of the book is a real kicker. When it was all said and done he escaped without punishment. He litterally got away with murder.
Best factoid in the book, a Physician in the 1930s made 3,000 to 7,000 dollars (7,000 as a specialist) a year. I figured that Brinkley's standard treatment at $750 dollars translates to 10,0000 to 15,000 dollars into today's money. Brinkley was making about 1 million dollars a year and did promotion and public relations well. He also was one of the first mass marketers to use radio. He was no dummy! Great book. A very fun read. Too bad Brinkley was a charlatan!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Brinkley
don't miss http://www.matthewmusial.com/brnkpgs/brnkpgs.htm
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210693
http://www.rrmerritt.com/mabelvale/MHS_Brinkley_Pamplet.htm
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/213226
http://wfmu.org/LCD/GreatDJ/Brinkley.html
If you like radio history, you will love this book. Dr. Brinkley was well, no doctor, what IS interesting is how he survived, used new technology to sell a worthless product. The end of the book is a real kicker. When it was all said and done he escaped without punishment. He litterally got away with murder.
Best factoid in the book, a Physician in the 1930s made 3,000 to 7,000 dollars (7,000 as a specialist) a year. I figured that Brinkley's standard treatment at $750 dollars translates to 10,0000 to 15,000 dollars into today's money. Brinkley was making about 1 million dollars a year and did promotion and public relations well. He also was one of the first mass marketers to use radio. He was no dummy! Great book. A very fun read. Too bad Brinkley was a charlatan!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Brinkley
don't miss http://www.matthewmusial.com/brnkpgs/brnkpgs.htm
