The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History 
asked by siriusfanboy on November 11, 2006 1:32 PM
At the height of WWI, history's most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research and now revised to reflect the growing danger of the avian flu, The Great Influenza is ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, which provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.
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this is a very interesting book on the 1918 influenza epidemic. This is very topical, especially given the bird flu concerns of late. Many do not realize that many of the deaths associated with influenza in the 1918 epidemic occurred in young and healthy individuals (in contrast to "normal" influenza years, in which the deaths occur in the elderly and infirm), and this text explains very nicely the reasons why this was the case (and why it may well be the case during the next pandemic). As a cardiologist, I am often struggling with my patients to get them to go for their "flu shot."
If this book had been edited so that it was 100 pages shorter it would have been perfect. However, it drags at the end due to repetition, and I found myself flipping to see how many pages still remained. I've given this book as a gift to several friends who are historically based and they have enjoyed this book tremendously, but readers should be forewarned (as other reviewers at Amazon have done) that this book is longer than it should have been-
If this book had been edited so that it was 100 pages shorter it would have been perfect. However, it drags at the end due to repetition, and I found myself flipping to see how many pages still remained. I've given this book as a gift to several friends who are historically based and they have enjoyed this book tremendously, but readers should be forewarned (as other reviewers at Amazon have done) that this book is longer than it should have been-
reviewed by dignified1 on November 13, 2006 3:52 AM
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Excellent account of where this epidemic started and how is appears to have spread around the world. Good statistics, even though some data at the time was not very reliable. Goes into great detail about the science of the virus and how scientists at the time, including public health officials, responded in their labs and in the press. Good autopsy summaries; every organ system appeared to be attacked by this virus, and many survivors suffered permanent psychosis. Highly recommend for pre-med students; it shows how medical science really operates. Lay people can skip these technical accounts.
William H. Wilcox, Ph.D.
William H. Wilcox, Ph.D.
reviewed by oden on November 17, 2006 8:23 AM
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John Barry presents an interesting history of the development of medical care in the U.S. He goes on to tell the story of the 1918 pandemic in graphic and compelling detail. Although it becomes rather ponderous by the end, there is a lesson to be learned. Governments and individuals need to be prepared to weather the storm of massive illness and deaths, as well as interruption of all government, business, medical and social services.
reviewed by perfect10 on November 25, 2006 2:59 AM