Dread

How Fear and Fantasy have Fueled Epidemics from the Black Death to the Avian Flu by Philip Alcabes. In light of the H1N1 pandemic, Joanne discusses a timely book about epidemics across the ages written by Philip Alcabes. A sociological and psychological take on how epidemics are fueled by fear and a look at how the advent of Germ Theory influenced the field of epidemiology. Great insights throughout the book.

If you ever want a weekly list of science books, be sure to check out Philip Manning's weekly email listing by visiting http://www.scibooks.org/ See the comments for three book descriptions I plucked from there.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• dread
• novel
• swine
• flu
• epidemics
• epidemiology
• plague
• Alcabes
• Joanne
• Manaster
• Ghost
• Map

[comus1608]

I like how you focused on the triumph of germ theory as being crucial to the ways we do and do not understand, respond to, plan for epidemics these days.

Good joke in explaining the discredited theory (miasma does not equal my asthma)! Oops, who let that exclamation point in? Probably the same person who let the mosquito get on top of the "R" in DREAD.

Thanks, Science Goddess, for another great video.

We will place proper items of worship at our home shrine to you.

[joannelovesscience]

Items of worship (giggle) I hope include an offering of fine chocolates and more super science books! This book was so rich that I know I could not have touched upon everything, but I love germ theory. Thanks for your comment.

[joannelovesscience]

And one more. Thanks to Phillip Manning's newsletter:

The Black Death: A Personal History by John Hatcher. Da Capo; hardback published in 2008, paperback now available for $16; 318 pages. Publication date June 15.

[joannelovesscience]

Another good suggestion: Smallpox: The Death of a Disease by D.A. Henderson. Prometheus, $27.98, 334 pages. Publication date June 2. The author is a professor of medicine and public health at the University of Pittsburgh. This book is the Hendersons story of how he led the World Health Organizations campaign to eradicate smallpox — the only disease in history to have been deliberately eliminated.

[joannelovesscience]

Even a new book out about it:

The Illustrious Dead: The Terrifying Story of How Typhus Killed Napoleon's Greatest Army by Stephan Talty. Crown, $27, 336 pages. Publication date June 2. Talty is the author of two previous books, including Empire of Blue Water. Here, he tells the story of the Grande Armys savage thrust into Russia, the sacking of Moscow. and their desperate against-all-odds retreat, but it also shows typhus lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting ...

[mattandpatti222]

Jesuits!

[Sanstout]

It was conveniently published haha Completely agree w/ the psychological over reaction to most epidemics, especially swine flu.

Great video :)

[CousinoMacul]

Typhus killed more of Napolean's army on the way to Russia than the Russian winter ever could have (even if the winter had wiped the entire army out).