Scan barcode
misanthrope's review against another edition
Great topic, writer with integrity but boring prose.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
5.0
William McNeill is one of the seminal authors in World History.
This book is just another example of his work.
While not always easy reading it is super informative reading.
This book is just another example of his work.
While not always easy reading it is super informative reading.
jaydee05's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.25
This book is full of history and science, I really enjoyed the scientific parts but the historical sections are a little dense.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
It took me forever to slog through this book. I read it within twenty four hours, but GOSH it felt like it took a week. It was interesting to see how plagues came about and what people thought about them and how they handled it. It was just a boring book to me.
tytti's review against another edition
4.0
Mielenkiintoinen yleiskatsaus ihmiskuntaa koetelleista taudeista, niiden syntymisestä ja leviämisestä. Tarjoaa pohtimisen aihetta vaikkapa kaikille rokotevastaisille.
cucumberedpickle's review against another edition
2.0
I suppose one of the reasons for the low rating is four decades between it’s publication and when I read it. It was simply outdated. Now I admit, it’s my fault for not checking the year it was written (and reading Guns, Germs, and Steel first) but I can’t separate myself from that. Another qualm I had with the book was that McNeill is guilty (in the first degree) of circumlocution. This should have been a 150-200 pager.
donzhivago's review against another edition
5.0
One of the top 3 nonfiction books I've ever read. Highly recommended to everyone, especially for some perspective on our current crisis.
Some caveats: 1. you need to be ok with a certain level of speculation. This isn't 1421 level nonsense however, as McNeill has clearly put in both the research and the thought around the world epidemiological history. 2. you need to be ok with some serious vocabulary. This very likely has the highest letter-per-word count of any book I've ever read.
Plagues and Peoples dives into the history of micro- (e.g. cellular) and macro- (e.g. relations between peasants and governments) to describe the interrelationships between vastly different systems. It's a brilliant overview of world history, and a perfect complement to Why the West Rules for Now, and Guns, Germs and Steel.
Again, highest recommendation.
Some caveats: 1. you need to be ok with a certain level of speculation. This isn't 1421 level nonsense however, as McNeill has clearly put in both the research and the thought around the world epidemiological history. 2. you need to be ok with some serious vocabulary. This very likely has the highest letter-per-word count of any book I've ever read.
Plagues and Peoples dives into the history of micro- (e.g. cellular) and macro- (e.g. relations between peasants and governments) to describe the interrelationships between vastly different systems. It's a brilliant overview of world history, and a perfect complement to Why the West Rules for Now, and Guns, Germs and Steel.
Again, highest recommendation.