Short Synopsis
Witness the rise and fall of the greatest medical con man of all time in this enormously entertaining story of how a fraudulent surgeon made a fortune by inserting goats' testes into impotent American men.

Full Synopsis
The rise and fall of the greatest medical con man of all time.

This is the enormously entertaining story of how a fraudulent surgeon made a fortune by inserting goats' testes into impotent American men. "Doctor" John Brinkley became a world renowned authority on sexual rejuvenation in the 1920s, with famous politicians and even royalty asking for his services. His nemesis was Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, but it took him fifteen years to destroy Brinkley in a dramatic courtroom showdown. In the meantime, despite mounting evidence that his quack treatments killed many patients, Brinkley became a millionaire, and his pioneering use of radio not only kick-started country music as a national force in America but also invented the whole concept of radio advertising. He became the first politician to campaign over the airwaves when he ran for governor of Kansas.

"Brock is a fresh, sharp writer, lingering lovingly over the evocative language of fakery." ---Chicago Sun-Times

"Brock masterfully captures this amazing and amusing history. A talented storyteller, he digs deep into the personal secrets of his characters and fleshes out this oddball slice of American drama." ---USA Today

"Shocking and hilarious in equal measure.... As irresistible as Brinkley's snake oil, and far more invigorating, Charlatan is an instant classic." ---Francis Wheen, author of When Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World

"Johnny Heller's twangy voice resonates with the expansive openness of the Midwestern environs where the book takes place ." ---AudioFile

"Told with uproarious brio...heavenly." ---The New York Times

"With a vast and wild cast of characters, and filled with issues...that resonate through the years...Charlatan begs comparison with Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City and deserves to be a best seller." ---Chicago Tribune

"Wonderful American social history and lots of fun." ---Kirkus