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by Sheila M. Rothman and David J. Rothman, 292 pp, with illus, $25, ISBN 0-679-43980-3, New York, NY, Pantheon Books, 2003.

JAMA. 2004;292:867.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The desire for self-improvement is ubiquitous in our society. Many individuals readily seek all sorts of enhancements for themselves and their children. But how much should medicine be involved in producing enhancements for healthy people? The line between treatment and enhancement is often fuzzy and frequently traversed in both directions. With our growing biotechnological expertise, the potentials of pharmaceutical, surgical, and, before long, genomic enhancements become greater and, to some, increasingly attractive.

Rothman and Rothman's compelling and well-researched account of the rise and occasional fall of medical enhancement provides us with lessons from history. The authors focus primarily on endocrinology and the discovery and use of various hormone therapies as potential enhancements: estrogen to be "feminine forever," testosterone to reverse "andropause," and human growth hormone to treat idiopathic short stature. They also offer a unique and enlightening chapter on the discovery and promotion of liposuction.

The histories themselves are fascinating, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Peter Conrad, PhD, Reviewer
Brandeis University
Waltham, Mass
conrad@brandeis.edu