Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Very complete and informative but a bit dry.

Wow, this is the first review I've written that I'm almost certain will never be read - but just in case, I would like to recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of medicine. The text reads just a bit dated and very positivist, this is still an excellent resource on all aspects of the history of medicine.Guthrie follows the trends and institutions that sustained medicine throughout history rather than following the typical biographical format. The chapters on Islamic medicine, military medicine and tropic diseases were especially interesting since these topics are generally given little space in other works.This book is ideal for someone looking to deepen a knowledge of medical history or for a very dedicated newcomer to the topic. For more general introductions to the history of medicine, I'd recommend Sherwin Nuland'sDoctors: The Biography of Medicineor F. Gonzalez-Crussi'sA Short History of Medicine (Modern Library Chronicles).