"Death to Beauty is captivating enough to draw a layperson through. As he mentions in the introduction, Helveston's motivation was to capture the history of Botox's development firsthand, from Scott and the other researchers themselves, before their retirement from the lab advanced to retirement from life altogether. His timing was not far off, as Scott died in 2021, cutting their interviews short. Nevertheless, Helveston got the whole story, and then some."
~Arvind Dilawar, Los Angeles Review of Books
"A riveting text that bridges biography, history, and medicine, Death to Beauty is a must-read for anyone interested in the story of how Dr. Alan Scott, working almost independently and with few resources, transformed the world's deadliest toxin into a wonder drug that has not only become a multi-billion-dollar industry, but a medical and cultural phenomenon."
~Dana Berkowitz, author of Botox Nation: Changing the Face of America
"Expertly written and thoroughly researched, Dr. Helveston meticulously outlines the history of Botox and the pivotal role that Dr. Alan Scott played in bringing Botox safely to millions of people across the globe."
~Christie L. Morse, MD, Concord Eye Center
"Dr. Helveston has painstakingly researched the life and accomplishments of Alan B. Scott MD, one of the most brilliant minds in medicine and creator of botulinum toxin (Botox) for the treatment of many conditions. This book is a page burner, interesting, and still very thorough. I highly recommend it to clinicians and non-clinicians alike."
~William Good, MD, Senior Scientist at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
"At the heart of this book is the curiosity and determination of one man, Alan Scott. Helveston's compelling narrative makes botulinum toxin understandable, all the while tracing the fine line that distinguishes poison from medicine. Death to Beauty is an important addition to the history of medicine."
~Edward O'Malley, MD, Senior Staff Physician Emeritus, Henry Ford Health
"Eugene Helveston, M.D. documents the amazing story of Botulinum toxin from a deadly problem to a very important therapeutic advance for patients with multiple types of neurological conditions, from various movement disorders' treatment to helping alleviating the misery of migraine headaches. Botulinum toxin has been a great advance for neurologists treating many needy patients."
~David A. Josephson, M.D., Josephson-Wallack-Munshower Neurology, P.C.
"Dr. Scott would be proud and grateful."
~C. William Hanke, MD, MPH, Former President, American Academy of Dermatology
"Death to Beauty is a fascinating look at the dedication and science behind one man's journey, along with those who helped along the way, to creating a multiuse drug that's safe for humans out of a bacteria that killed many. His success came from diligence, hard work, and little funding. This book is beautifully written and I found myself intrigued by Dr. Alan Scott and his mission despite not having ever been interested in Botox. This is a story of one man's quest that can be appreciated by everyone and his story deserved to be told."
~Lisa Albright, Books Love and Understanding
"What a fascinating read! . . . Eugene M. Helveston, MD takes the reader on a fascinating walk through the intricate history of how the world's deadliest toxin starting as a treatment for crossed eyes became a routine tool for a variety of health issues from overactive bladder to migraine and one of the most widely used products in cosmetic care."
~Bookish Heidi
"I found this deftly written book informative with good historical details and interesting facts. This is a great read for those interested in nonfiction medical books, advances in medical science, and maybe for those thinking of Botox for myriad of reasons."
~Michelle Jocson, Nurse Bookie
"This book would be fascinating for anyone who has considered Botox."
~Christy Taylor, CMTloveswineandbooks
"This is an excellent read if you've ever been curious about the facts and myths behind Botox or if you just enjoy very well-written nonfiction."
~Susan J. Ballard, Subakka Bookstuff
