Scientists Against Time
The official history of the OSRD (Office of Scientific Research and Development), the military research organization created during World War 2. I picked this up in the early months of the covid pandemic, so I was focused on the chapter relevant to medical research: penicillin, antimalarial drugs, blood handling and substitutes, and better pest control (insecticides and rodenticides). Other chapters cover many more technologies, such as the DUKW and the proximity fuze. A case study in how R&D can make progress fast.
Get the book
Amazon (affiliate link)