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bhswanson's review
It is always surprising, and disappointing too, when I come upon a book that has so much going for it — a compelling subject, thorough research, writing that is clear and urgent — that gets tripped up by the details. Examples? Rome in the 5th century (e.g. the 400s AD) had not been Christian for 200 years. Dante is not, by any conceivable classification system, “the most famous of the Romans”. Bataan is a peninsula, not an island. Gandhi, having died in 1948, could not have criticized a WHO anti-malaria program that started in the mid-1950s. Now, one could argue that none of these details materially impact the important messages in the book. True. But getting these peripheral details wrong damages the credibility of the book: these are, after all, just the things that I noticed and knew were wrong on a first reading. What about the “important” stuff that I’m not qualified to judge? Has she gotten the biology right? Can I trust her on historical points that do directly bear on her key topics?
The author’s credibility suffers a bit more towards the end of the book, as she’s telling the story of anti-malaria campaigns from post-WWII to the present: the DDT-centered campaign of the 50’s and 60’s and the charge led by private organizations such as the Gates Foundation since the 1990’s. She is angry about what she sees. She has strong opinions about what strategies will work, and she is entitled to these thoughts and feelings. But no evidence she presents in the book really justifies her in impugning the motives of those with whom she disagrees. I suspect that many of them would admit to her charges — that their successes are partial and temporary, that strategies are formed with one eye to how they will appeal to western donors, that more needs to be done “on the ground” to build up physical and medical infrastructures — and would say in response that these are necessary first steps to enable a longer-term campaign that can aim for bigger goals. Her criticism of contemporary programs as not achieving big enough successes is also perplexing given her criticism of earlier programs for playing “home run ball” and ignoring the value of incremental progress.
All that said, I came away from the book with a much better understanding of the biology and ecology of malaria, its “native” shape-shifting abilities that allow it to hop between very different host organisms, the problem of its acquired immunity to chemicals and medications. The author makes her case that malaria has shaped not just the course of human societies, but even of human evolution. Simply by laying out the facts, she makes a powerful, level-headed indictment of the race-based policies of European and American colonialists that privileged whites and often significantly worsened the plight of non-white natives or imported laborers. Her explanation of how and why malaria has largely disappeared from North America and Europe seems a bit weak — not because of any great medical breakthroughs, but because of changing land-use and settlement patterns driven by development. Plausible, I suppose, but I’d have liked to see more data to back it up.
My net assessment: glad I read it, but a bit let down that the execution didn’t live up to the promise.
pearl35's review against another edition
3.0
The pervasive and endemic effects of malaria and their shaping of world history, from the edge farmers had over hunter-gatherers, the upside of sickle cell anemia, fava beans and Mediterranean malaria, the spiteful 19th century medical researchers, patents and drug companies, charity mosquito nets and Dutch East India Company quinine skulduggery. Also a reminder to take Malarone religiously (and G&Ts, just to be safe.)
cassiejane's review against another edition
4.0
As a vector biologist I likely have a bit of a biased in saying this book was really interesting. I learned so much about how malaria has shaped the history of the world, which is not something you normally get in a science class or an even a work environment. The book presents the ecology of anopheles mosquitos and the plasmodium parasites in a digestible way and I appreciate that. I think the topic was well researched. I also really enjoyed the authors writing over all. 4 stars just because I craved a little more science and less of an opinion from about how certain control efforts were handled. Would love for the author to give an update since the book was only current until 2009 and so much has happened since then!!
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
4.0
Very well-written, easy to read book. I learned a lot, unfortunately much of which was disturbing and/or depressing. The last line was awesome!
geojim's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent read. One of the pest on this topic. I only wish she'd written the book, ten years later, given all the advances in potential genetic control of mosquitoes.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
I belong to two book groups and one of the reasons I do so is so that I can encounter books that I would never pick up otherwise. Occasionally, I don't like what my group reads, but I am rarely sorry for the opportunity to try something new.
I really had no interest in malaria. Once I realized that it was not a concern for my trip to Vietnam, I really didn't see any reason to learn more about this disease.
However, this was our discussion for November, so I thought I would try it. What I have learned is that malaria is a fascinating, stubborn and complicated disease. The way we get malaria, the parasite that causes it, the mosquitoes that transmit it - all of this is extremely confusing and constantly changing.
I read to learn, among other reasons. Sonia Shah certainly has educated me. Shad is a good author who writes well about science. She left me with a lot of questions, but I know so much more about this disease. I am glad to have learned more about malaria.
I really had no interest in malaria. Once I realized that it was not a concern for my trip to Vietnam, I really didn't see any reason to learn more about this disease.
However, this was our discussion for November, so I thought I would try it. What I have learned is that malaria is a fascinating, stubborn and complicated disease. The way we get malaria, the parasite that causes it, the mosquitoes that transmit it - all of this is extremely confusing and constantly changing.
I read to learn, among other reasons. Sonia Shah certainly has educated me. Shad is a good author who writes well about science. She left me with a lot of questions, but I know so much more about this disease. I am glad to have learned more about malaria.
radbear76's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent account of how Malaria has affected human beings and culture. Very eye opening about the challenges in treating the disease. It was also stunning to learn that people in Malarial countries regard Malaria the same way Americans regard the common cold. Definitely worth reading.