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Book Review of The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2701 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


As an entomologist who often lectures on insects and their effect on history, I have to say that this is a remarkable book, even though the "Spanish" influenza was not vectored by or associated with insects.

From the struggle to elevate American "medical schools" to real schools of learning, through the push to develop American medical laboratories able to confront epidemics, during the efforts of the Wilson administration to dominate every aspect of life during World War I, and the petty local politics that resulted in thousands of needless deaths, this book offers an amazing view of American history that should be taught in our colleges, and offered as an elective in high schools.

I highly recommended it to all my friends and anyone interested in American history, medical or otherwise.

Sometimes the detailed medical science can be a little dry to those not interested in that field, but overall, this is one of the best books I have ever read on diseases, and I've read dozens. It will change the way you look at our history.