Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Viral Underclass by Steven W. Thrasher

5 reviews

salemander's review against another edition

5.0

incredibly informative look into how horrifically queer and disabled people have been treated from the aids crisis to covid. takes us into the communities most affected by these horrible viruses, known as the viral underclass, specifically poor, disabled, queer, and bipoc individuals. this book made me so angry that we live under these imperialist capitalist systems and makes me want to strive to protect my community more than ever.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Suicide, Death, Genocide, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Racism, Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Ableism

caseycdelima's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

I am blown away by this book--Thrasher does an amazing job tying individualism, neo-liberalism, and carcerality to the making of the viral underclass but does a great job reminding us that when it comes to viruses (and many other things) if we collectively cared for one another and worked to provide for the wellbeing of the most vulnerable we would also be providing for the wellbeing of us all. An absolute must-read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Death, and Addiction

kristenbynoe's review

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Ableism, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Classism, Death, Medical content, Addiction, Transphobia, Blood, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Violence, Chronic illness, Genocide, Grief, Racism, and Trafficking

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Child abuse, and Excrement

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

Rating: 5/5 stars

The Viral Underclass is an examination of the way viruses disproportionately impact the most marginalized among us, told through an exploration of both the HIV/AIDs crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

It takes a special nonfiction book to pull you in with as much emotion as if you were reading a novel, but this book does just that. In each chapter, I was gripped by the stories of Dr. Thrasher and his friends, as well as the many activists fighting for equality in the face of viral contagion and illness.

The core of The Viral Underclass is the idea that viruses expose the fault lines in our society—but also that they have important lessons to teach us about interdependence and community, if we are only able and willing to listen. The arguments are smart, logical, and insightful, presenting a resonant and important overall perspective. Even better, the book is also brilliantly written and masterfully researched, making it a fantastic read.

In short, The Viral Underclass offers tremendously valuable contributions to important conversations we should all be having as we navigate the post-pandemic years ahead—it is a book everyone should pick up.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: medical history; LGBTQ history, nonfiction focusing on marginalized groups

CW: Disease/death/pandemic; homophobia; transphobia; racism.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Transphobia, Death, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Hate crime, Addiction, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Police brutality

enchantressreads's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Violence, Addiction, and Terminal illness