Gabriela Soto LaveagaJungle Laboratories: Mexican Peasants, National Projects, and the Making of the Pill

Professor Soto-Laveaga successfully marries studies that, at first glance, appear to have little to do with each other. Yet, she convinces us that the means by which Mexican peasants hunted, processed, and sold tubers was not only scientific, but integral to the development of economically viable synthetic hormones. She raises important questions. Who produces knowledge? Where does science come from? How do human beings experience science differently? Further, she does all of this within a compelling global history of a commodity. Not to mention that I got a crash course in the history of this region. Sure, there are some portions that are stronger than others and minor imperfections here and there, but overall this is a must read for those interested in science, medicine, and globalization.

Excellent and prompt; as described.

I appreciate that I received my item in a timely manner despite the holiday shipping rush. The book had a nice note inside wishing me happy holidays and I would like to do the same to the seller! Thank you for the book!

Quick delivery and exactly what I needed.

I used it in a class on commodities. Students liked the first 5 chapters and not the last 4. I think the story is unique compared to other standards on things like sugar or tobacco.I think the reviewer (anahuac) that points out that this is a great story but needed some editing for clarity (and I would add brevity) is on the money.The reviewer (vergara) that loved the book so much (also a UC San Diego grad - like the author ...) is right on the money about the research.

Jungle Laboratories is an engaging and fascinating study of a non-traditional commodity, barbasco. Clearly written and carefully researched, this book shows us the multiple ways in which transnational pharmaceutical companies' demand eventually transformed living and working conditions in the Mexican countryside. The book provides a unique window into the history of post-revolutionary Mexico, and it is a very accessible reading not only for students and academics but also for people interested in the historical interplay of science, states, and local communities. My students and I have always enjoyed reading and discussing Jungle Laboratories, and I highly recommend it.

The author takes an interesting topic, blends it with prose as dry as the Atacama, mixes it about with some poor organization and we have a fairly functional and standard academic history. A glaring example of the weak writing meeting the organizational problems is that the book relies on sub-headings for sections that are at times one paragraph long. Really? No editor at Duke could say "try using some transitions" instead of tossing in sub-heads like they were sprinkles on sundae.But again, the thesis, the evidence, and the importance of the argument are really very interesting, and I would have loved to have seen this in the hands of a far better writer. Students I read this with universally liked the topic but disliked the writing. Too bad.

Es un libro básico para entender la historia de la ciencia desde la perspectiva transnacional. La historia de la píldora anticonceptiva traza relaciones entre farmaceúticas transnacionale, campesinos y autoridades mexicanas.