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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
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