Book Review: Dr. Feelgood by Richard A. Lertzman & William J. Birnes

“Simply stated, methamphetamines make you feel good—really good. However, that feeling can often be followed by severe manic-depression, paranoid delusions of hypergrandiosity, schizophrenic dissociative behavior, and at its worst, a complete breakdown of logical perception.”

Richard A. Lertzman & William J. Birnes, Dr. Feelgood

Review:

Earlier this year, I read Blitzed by Norman Ohler. My interest in that book led me to find this book, which follows a similar figure in the United States who injected well-known celebrities and public figures with an addictive amphetamine cocktail.

The book is in part a biography about Dr. Max Jacobsen (or, ‘Dr. Feelgood’), but it is also an account of his ‘patients’ with a large emphasis on John F. Kennedy. Some other notable names on his patient list are Elvis Presley, Tennessee Williams, Marilyn Monroe, and Truman Capote, among many others. The reliance these people had on Jacobsen’s ‘services’ varies in severity. With a full list of names provided at the back of the book, it explains a lot about Hollywood and the way it often devours people (as well as politics worldwide).

Do I think this book aired on the side of histrionic? Yes. I would not go as far as to say JFK’s reliance on Jacobsen led to his assassination. Do I think it was well-researched and that there is an element of truth and reality to what the book claims? Also yes. I do wish there had been more discussion about other people involved with Jacobsen, as the book is relatively short for a topic with so much depth.

My heart breaks for the people who felt they had nowhere else to turn but to rely on Jacobsen’s destructive injections. What’s worse is that most of them were oblivious to the lethal effects it would have on the body over time.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Offered both background on Dr. Jacobsen as well as his patients.
• Did a good job of explaining the science of the ‘elixir’.

What I didn’t like:

• It could have been longer. It felt rushed and unnecessary with so much information to draw from.

Afterthoughts:

The more I’ve sat with this book, I’m wondering if I should have gone with a 4-4.5 star rating given how rushed the book feels, but I was captivated by it, so I’m sticking with the 5 stars, however, I do acknowledge there is room for improvement.

Where to buy the book: