"Sam Bloom has drawn on his own rich fifty year experience and his wise insights to provide an interpretation of historical events that intertwine the history of medical sociology with changes in medical science and education, with the changing economics, politics and practices of health care, with shifting social values, and with the changing nature, status and major concerns of sociology. It is a challenging task and Sam Bloom brings it off beautifully."

Robert Straus, Professor Emeritus, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky

"A richly documented, enlightening, masterly account of the diverse antecedents of medical sociology before and after World War II, with its eventual establishment as a formal sub-specialty of sociology. Fills a major gap in the history of the social sciences. Highly recommended for anyone interested in professionalization, sociology, and social science and medicine."

Rosemary A. Stevens, Professor of Sociology of Science, University of Pennsylvania

"An illuminating, caring, and concerned work that not only provides knowledge and understanding of medical sociology as an intellectual discipline, but also of its interrelationship with the unfolding of medicine and medical education, and of health and illness in 20th century American society."

Renee C. Fox, Professor Emerita of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania

"As one of the key early leaders of the medical sociology field, Sam Bloom offers us a fascinating combination of institutional history and personal experience. We can feel ourselves in the rooms of universities, hospitals, medical schools, and government agencies where key studies were designed and new programs initiated."

Phil Brown, Professor of Sociology, Brown University

"This scholarly and deeply researched history of medical sociology will inform readers both within the field and interested observers. An essential basis for any future study of the field and a historical source unlikely to be surpassed."

David Mechanic, Professor of Behavioral Sciences, Rutgers University

"This extraordinary book by one of the nation's leading medical sociologists is more than an institutional history of a field. Rather it is an intellectual and personal voyage that illuminates the basis for a discipline and a roadmap for understanding the principles that under gird its members. Beautifully and clearly written."

David Rosner, Professor of History and Public Health, Columbia University

I'll say this very simply: If you are interested in existentialism, philosophy in general, or the theater of the absurd, read this book. If you are looking for a book with any plot or deeper meaning, look elsewhere. If you choose to read this, a word of warning: though it is a short book, it is the opposite of a page-turner. You can barely finish a page before you have to put the book down and think about something else. Also, it will most likely depress you.

Samuel Beckett's classic work is possibly the most important work of the 20th century. He defies many dramatic traditions within the work as he drives home the play's minimal, yet powerful theme. If one reads or views the play, then asks himself "Who is Godot?", then one has missed the entire point. Godot is irrelevant. The play is about Gogo and Didi waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting. What do we, as humans, do everyday? We wait. We wait to wake up, we wait to go to work, we wait to go to lunch, we wait to get off work. We all live in a repetitive structure of waiting, but what are we really waiting on? What? Nothing? Who knows? We involve ourselves in these repetitive structures to avoid the questions of nothingness. Gogo and Didi's games are an attempt to avoid nothingness. As one reviewer once said, "The play is about two men in search for the meaning of life and finding meaninglessness." The play can be utterly hilarious, but just when you're at the peak of your laughter, a character says or does something that makes us realize their predicament, our predicament, and it crushes you. It is a masterpiece. Sadly, it is a hard read and good productions are rare, but if you do catch a good one, it might make you see many aspects of life in a different light, for better and for worse.

There is something about this innovative play that is really funny, but it is hard to say what exactly. The story is almost like an episode of "Seinfeld" where it is really about nothing, but the various plot lines keep it moving and captivating. I am not a huge fan of most literature (plays or novels), but this is by far the best thing I have ever read. There's no complicated language that muddies the story or useless information that has no relevance. Every line has a purpose and gets the point across well. The story is clearly based on the life of Beckett as brief research on him, and an understanding of existentialism, will reveal that he was waiting for something in life but didn't know what. That is my interpretation of the play, but the true beauty of the play is that there is an endless number of ways that it can be interpreted, and it is different for every reader. Because the underlying concept of waiting without purpose is easy to relate to, this play is great for anybody. I highly recommend it!