Reviews

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--And How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

pandin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

4.5

morethanaking's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

5.0

This brilliantly written book is an evocative picture of the development of public health in Victorian London. it describes the struggle of a physician in determining the cause of an of an epidemic, and his determination to be believed. The writing style propels this story, gives it context, and makes this medical mystery accessible. I devoured it in an afternoon. If you have any interest in Victorian London, public health, medical history, or sociology then take the time to read this. 

nbarton82's review against another edition

3.0

This is really well-researched and quite fascinating, but word of warning: since cholera is spread by humans ingesting the fecal matter of other cholera sufferers, do NOT read while eating or especially drinking. Especially drinking water. Eww. EWW.

heidilmj's review against another edition

4.0

This is a fascinating and compelling book-- it's a book about the cholera outbreak in London but it's also a book about cities, ideas, and how we think.

jibraun's review against another edition

slow-paced

I DNF'd this book at the 40% mark. Steven Johnson ostensibly sets out to write about the 1854 cholera outbreak in the Soho neighborhood of London and how two local individuals were able to prove that cholera was spread by contaminated water -- instead of other theorized sources. This is not everyone's cup of tea, but it struck my fancy as a topic. Unfortunately, that is all Johnson could achieve. He just did not have enough material for a book, so instead of settling for writing a longform magazine article, Johnson repeats himself multiple times sometimes on back-to-back pages to try to increase his word count. He also goes on unrelated tangents spending several pages talking about anything but the 1854 cholera outbreak. Beyond that, the book is a bore. Johnson tries writing this in a narrative fashion, but his prose is just not good enough to make it work. 0 stars. 

crazylady_usmc's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

jetpackdracula's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Excrement, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death

ndr's review against another edition

4.0

Next time I am entirely convinced that something causes something else, I hope I remember all of the respected experts who were sure that cholera was caused by unhealthy air. Ghost Map is an enjoyable hymn to the scientific method.

jackcruth's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative inspiring tense fast-paced

4.75

greatgreyowl's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

Not for anyone with a weak stomach. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic