sevenspiders -
Helpful Score: 7
The difficulty in reading about centuries past is adopting the mindset of those who lived then; how can we, with our 21st century knowledge, grasp a world in which people washed their babies' diapers next to the local drinking supply and thought nothing of it? Yet, Johnson weaves such a detailed picture of London life at the time that the commonplace miscomprehensions held by both the academics and uneducated are understandable. Johnson's greatest narrative gift is capturing the extent of the devastation and its commonplace nature in 19th century London, where people lived with the constant threat of epidemic.
The last fifth of the book is given over to Johnson's theorizing about the future of city planning, trying to tie it into the work of the pioneering researchers of the cholera outbreak. This non sequitur weakens the overall book, but only slightly. The mystery is real, the medical discoveries ingenious and Johnson's research and narrative compelling.
The last fifth of the book is given over to Johnson's theorizing about the future of city planning, trying to tie it into the work of the pioneering researchers of the cholera outbreak. This non sequitur weakens the overall book, but only slightly. The mystery is real, the medical discoveries ingenious and Johnson's research and narrative compelling.
Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 491 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
The first 85% of this book is very good. I really enjoy historical renderings of medical cases or scientific/technological discoveries, and this recounting of the cholera epidemic in London did not disappoint.
If the book would have ended with the conclusion of the medical mystery, I think I would have been content. But the last few chapters of this book transition from a historical retelling of the cholera epidemic to the author's opinions and predictions regarding past, present, and future outbreaks of various disease processes and epidemics. While these discussions are somewhat relevant in light of the way in which the cholera epidemic was handled, it is not an ending that I preferred. Perhaps it was just because I wansn't really expecting it.
Author opinions aside, I thought that this book did a very good job of following the historical events that surrounded the cholera outbreak at the Broad Street pump. Because of that, I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys factual but well-written medical history of the 19th century.
If the book would have ended with the conclusion of the medical mystery, I think I would have been content. But the last few chapters of this book transition from a historical retelling of the cholera epidemic to the author's opinions and predictions regarding past, present, and future outbreaks of various disease processes and epidemics. While these discussions are somewhat relevant in light of the way in which the cholera epidemic was handled, it is not an ending that I preferred. Perhaps it was just because I wansn't really expecting it.
Author opinions aside, I thought that this book did a very good job of following the historical events that surrounded the cholera outbreak at the Broad Street pump. Because of that, I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys factual but well-written medical history of the 19th century.
Alex V. (Allypally) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This was a fascinating book! This is not just a history book. The author not only writes clearly and lucidly about London's great cholera outbreak in 1854, but he extrapolates out from that some very interesting thoughts about urbanisation in the 21st century and the way forward for an over-burdened planet.
I really enjoyed the history of this book, but the last couple of chapters also presented me with some new ideas about the life we live today and really made me think.
A very interesting read!
I really enjoyed the history of this book, but the last couple of chapters also presented me with some new ideas about the life we live today and really made me think.
A very interesting read!
Dusty S. reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book is probably the most informative book that I have read this year. It is written in a manner that a non-scientist is able to follow and understand the epidemic and the causes without having to look up every other word.
Melody B. (5ducksfans) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 92 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wow - a truly amazing book. This book is well-researched. The ways this epidemic spread, those who tried to solve the problem, and different medical and scientific methods still in place today really make what could be very dry material into quite a page turner. You find yourself truly rooting for some of the characters - and this is non-fiction! I recommend this book to those interested in: English History, medicine and diseases, general nonfiction. I keep very few books permanently, but this will be one of them.
Cherie K. (busgirl) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It started with an outbreak of cholera in 1854 London and chronicles the work of two men to solve the source of outbreak. It brings the personal accounts of the outbreaks consequences to life for the reader. I really enjoyed how Mr. Johnson wove the science of finding the cause with the human suffering and the attempts to stop it. Mr. Johnson uncovers the dirty world of waste disposal and the soiled underclass of this time period.
Virginia B. (AuntieLee) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on
The topic was fascinating: the epidemic bringing about the discovery of the cause of cholera. The book was not. I found it was repetitive and a bit of a drag. Be prepared to be grossed out by the first chapter.
kickerdad -
I was worried after reading some other reviews about how 'graphic' this may be. I shouldn't have been. "The Ghost Map" is a fascinating - and timely - account of the 1854 cholera epidemic outbreak in London. Steve Johnson does a fabulous job of weaving the threads of this historic event together. Not only with personal details extracted from historical records but the psycho-social and scientific climate of the time. It is a wonderful depiction of how science can blind us to the realities around us; how the interpretation of data based on an incorrect assumption can lead to inaccurate results. Johnson lays out how the mobility of society into urban populations has had an impact on our lives, our health, and overall existence; and in turn how our urban environments have had an impact on themselves.
The epilogue seems awkward and incongruent with the rest of the book - other than using the events of the epidemic to point out that science may not always have the answer. And just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. [4/5]
The epilogue seems awkward and incongruent with the rest of the book - other than using the events of the epidemic to point out that science may not always have the answer. And just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. [4/5]
Heather M. (gargirl) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 36 more book reviews
A fascinating book! The story of two men coming at the problem of cholera epidemics from very different perspectives and how their determination changed London and eventually other large urban centers from this deadly disease. Amazing what they accomplished considering the challenges they faced.
June M. (missmoon) reviewed The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World on + 6 more book reviews
I thought this book was fasinating. It is rich with details of the period and brought alive by the lives of the people. Totally absorbing.
