Gail Jarrow

In Red Madness, Jarrow describes a devastating illness and the work to solve the puzzle in a time when biology was observational with little known of the bio-chemistry involved in life. A disease of poverty, for the most part, Pellagra was devastating and in the hardest hit states of the U.S. was among the top causes of death from disease. Dr. Joseph Goldberg spent over fifteen years of his professional career solving the puzzle of Pellagra. He and his colleagues discovered and proved Pellagra to be caused by a nutritional deficit. The exact vitamin process was found later in laboratory studies, and is what we now call Niacin (B-12), an additive to most grain products since the 1950's. Now I understand why my bread is fortified! The book is easy to read and uses Dr. Goldberg as a central character in the work, while crediting the many individuals who contributed to the puzzle's solution. Throughout the text, images and historical accounts of people with this devastating illness, are used to add real life accounts to an issue that otherwise may seem removed from day-to-day concerns. The book is well referenced using primary documentation and historical accounts. An index, glossary and extensive notations at the end of the book provide further knowledge without detracting from the design of Red Madness. A must have for collections of juvenile non-fiction to help the future understand why we have niacin additives and why nutrition is important. The book is a key in understanding diet and health for young people and people of any age.… (mer)