Normal At Any Cost

Normal at Any Cost explores the medical and social history of treating height variations in children through experimental hormone therapies, focusing on developments from the 1950s through the early 2000s. The authors examine both tall and short stature treatments that were pursued by doctors and pharmaceutical companies during this period. The book follows key figures in endocrinology and documents the experiences of families who sought height interventions for their children. Cohen and Cosgrove track the evolution of height manipulation treatments, from early experiments to mainstream medical practices that reached thousands of adolescents. The narrative presents essential questions about the boundaries between medical necessity and enhancement, while examining society's standards of physical normality. This investigation of height modification reveals broader patterns about medicine, marketing, and the drive to conform to idealized body standards.

Readers describe Normal at Any Cost as a well-researched investigation into medical treatments for height variations. Most praise the detailed patient stories and documentation of medical history, with several noting the balance between scientific explanation and human interest. What readers liked: - Clear explanation of complex medical concepts - Personal stories that illustrate ethical issues - Thorough research and documentation - Neutral presentation of controversial treatments What readers disliked: - Some sections feel repetitive - Medical terminology can be dense - A few readers wanted more current/updated information Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (37 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Eye-opening look at how far parents will go to 'normalize' their children" - Goodreads reviewer "Important history that needed to be told, though sometimes gets bogged down in technical details" - Amazon reviewer "Raises crucial questions about medical ethics and social pressure" - Library Journal reader review

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🌟 The book investigates how human growth hormone was initially harvested from human cadavers before synthetic versions became available in the 1980s 🔬 Prior to writing this book, author Susan Cohen was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT, where she focused on studying genetics and biotechnology ⚕️ The controversial "height screening" programs described in the book were conducted in schools across America in the 1950s and 1960s, measuring children to identify those who might be "too short" or "too tall" 📚 The research for this book uncovered that some children treated with cadaver-derived growth hormone later developed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal brain condition 💉 The treatments discussed in the book could cost families up to $40,000 per year in the 1990s, leading to difficult decisions about medical intervention versus natural development