The book came to wider attention following a 3,000-word review by George Bernard Shaw in The Observer.[1] Shaw wrote, "I am floored by the extraordinary discrepancy between his [Guthrie's] knowledge and my knowledge ... Dr Guthrie's job of packing it [the history of medicine] into 400 pages is learnedly and readably done".[8] Shaw did criticise Guthrie for his omission of practitioners of alternative medicine including osteopaths, herbalists and homoeopaths, which Shaw believed was because "Dr Guthrie either does not know about them or considers them beneath the dignity of a history of medicine". Guthrie's response was that Shaw had provided an unconventional yet entertaining book review.[6] Aware that Shaw's review had greatly increased the profile and popularity of the book he modestly wrote that "many who had no particular interest in the topic or the author, bought the book just because GBS [Shaw] had reviewed it; they had no special interest in the subject and none needless to say, in the author".[6][9]