Lydia Kang, Nate Pedersen

Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen are co-authors who collaborate on medical history books. Kang is a practicing physician and author who brings medical expertise to their joint writing projects. Pedersen is a writer and editor who has worked on various non-fiction projects. Their partnership focuses on exploring the intersection of medicine and history. They examine medical practices from past eras, particularly treatments that modern science has since disproven or abandoned. Their work documents the evolution of medical understanding and the sometimes dangerous methods people once used to treat illness. The authors present historical medical information in an accessible format for general readers. They research archaic treatments, folk remedies, and early medical procedures that were once considered legitimate healthcare. Their writing combines historical documentation with medical analysis to explain why certain practices developed and why they ultimately failed or fell out of favor.

Readers find "Quackery" informative and entertaining, praising the authors' ability to make medical history accessible without being dry. Many appreciate the book's organization and the inclusion of historical illustrations that complement the text. Readers note the authors balance humor with respect when discussing past medical practices, avoiding mockery of historical figures while still highlighting the absurdity of certain treatments. Some readers appreciate the medical expertise Kang brings to the historical analysis, finding the explanations of why certain treatments were harmful to be educational. The book's coverage of various time periods and cultures receives positive feedback from readers interested in how medical misconceptions developed across different societies. Criticism centers on the book's scope, with some readers wanting more depth on specific topics or time periods. A few readers find certain sections repetitive or note that some treatments discussed were already well-known as ineffective. Some readers express disappointment that the book doesn't spend more time on the transition from these practices to modern medicine.