Flu
Flu
Gina Kolata
Jonathan Eisen
Jonathan Eisen mentioned this book on his "Some of my favorite books about Infectious Disease" list.
Balaji Srinivasan
Balaji Srinivasan recommended this book on Twitter.
+
2
All books

Flu

Flu: The Story Of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It

Gina Kolata
By
Gina Kolata
3.9
585
ratings on Goodreads

In the shadow of World War I, a silent, invisible killer emerged, claiming lives with a speed and ferocity that outpaced the battlefields' carnage. "Flu" by Gina Kolata revisits the gripping tale of the 1918 influenza pandemic, a global catastrophe that wiped out an estimated forty million lives, sparing no corner of the world from its wrath. With a narrative as compelling as any thriller, Kolata delves into the heart of an epidemic that decimated populations from remote Eskimo communities to bustling cities, leaving behind a world irrevocably changed. Through meticulous research and captivating storytelling, Kolata not only chronicles the devastating impact and heroic struggles during the pandemic but also explores the scientific quest to understand the virus, a quest that leads to the frozen wastelands of Alaska in search of answers hidden for nearly a century. At the core of "Flu" lies a chilling warning and a beacon of hope. Kolata masterfully intertwines the history of past outbreaks with cutting-edge research, shedding light on the eternal battle between humanity and viral disease. The book serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss and the relentless pursuit of knowledge against the backdrop of potential future pandemics. As we stand on the threshold of scientific breakthroughs, "Flu" is an urgent reminder of the importance of preparedness, vigilance, and, most importantly, the lessons we must learn from the past to safeguard our future.

Read more
Released
1999
1 Jan
Length
352
Pages

2

recommendations

recommendation

Jonathan Eisen mentioned this book on his "Some of my favorite books about Infectious Disease" list.
Balaji Srinivasan recommended this book on Twitter.
But as the program got going, the smallest details became issues, even the very name of the disease. Pig farmers complained to the Centers for Disease Control that the name “swine flu” might frighten people away from eating pork. They asked, to no avail, that the flu’s name be changed to “New Jersey
— Gina Kolata, Flu

Similar recommendations

View all
Sapiens
Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari
32
people
person
Thinking, Fast and Slow
19
people
person
How to Change Your Mind
15
people
person
The Better Angels of Our Nature
13
people
person
Endurance
Endurance
Alfred Lansing
12
people
person
The Art Of War
12
people
person
Outliers
Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell
11
people
person
Bird by Bird
Bird by Bird
Anne Lamott
10
people
person
Finite and Infinite Games
10
people
person
Between the World and Me
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
10
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!