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bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
This book is not so much about the what the flu pandemic of 1918 was like, and more about the search for the exact virus that caused it. There's fascinating information about the science, other pandemics, and all the people involved in searching for the virus. Definitely an eye opening read while we live through a new pandemic.
sandylovesbooks's review
3.0
A lot of information about the Flu Pandemic of 1918. It was crazy how I was reading a book about a pandemic all the while wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer in the middle of a pandemic of a different virus. It won't be a big explosion of nuclear weapons or catastrophe from outer space that destroys us, no, it will be some small thing that invades people's bodies that will do the most damage. Just like The War of the Worlds story. It's a scary time to be alive.
This book thought the pandemic of 1918 was the most destructive to our population. Well, the universe said "hold my beer". And along came COVID-19. If we don't learn from these events what will happen then?
This book thought the pandemic of 1918 was the most destructive to our population. Well, the universe said "hold my beer". And along came COVID-19. If we don't learn from these events what will happen then?
sling's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a fascinating look at a subject that I didn't know enough about. The chapters each had a theme and the writing was clear with technical and scientific situations explained well.
I had two issues with the book: (1) It could have used tighter editing as some chapters had a lot of repetition, specifically with phrases. (2) One of the chapters described a scientist who organized an expedition as having "doe eyes" and "undeniably attractive to some of the men on her team". The description really took me out of the narrative and I felt it didn't not fit the serious theme of the book. It made it seem as though the author had a bias.
Overall, this is a great overview of a critical event and search for answers, with clear explanations that neither talked down nor contained an overload of information. Two quibbles aside, I recommend Flu if you wish to learn more about the pandemic of 1918.
I had two issues with the book: (1) It could have used tighter editing as some chapters had a lot of repetition, specifically with phrases. (2) One of the chapters described a scientist who organized an expedition as having "doe eyes" and "undeniably attractive to some of the men on her team". The description really took me out of the narrative and I felt it didn't not fit the serious theme of the book. It made it seem as though the author had a bias.
Overall, this is a great overview of a critical event and search for answers, with clear explanations that neither talked down nor contained an overload of information. Two quibbles aside, I recommend Flu if you wish to learn more about the pandemic of 1918.
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
I used to work for a company that tracked influenza, and the 1918 pandemic was a regular topic of lunchtime conversation. Read this as soon as it came out, and loved it, but could see where the uninvested reader might lose heart. Reviews both the epidemiology and some of the public-health reasons it was able to spread so fast.
It's going to happen again, so it's good information to have under your belt.
It's going to happen again, so it's good information to have under your belt.
caitie95's review against another edition
4.0
I found this really quite interesting, as the most I had ever really come across the 1918 flu previously was part of a documentary.
The author describes the science fairly well, without getting too bogged down in it (though since I already knew some of the information, it could make less sense to someone else) and had a very easy to read writing style. Some parts of it seemed a bit America-centric, but that's only to be expected and didn't really affect it. I enjoyed reading about the various assorted cast of people who'd become involved in the quest for knowledge of the flu, whom the author introduced in an entertaining manner.
The author describes the science fairly well, without getting too bogged down in it (though since I already knew some of the information, it could make less sense to someone else) and had a very easy to read writing style. Some parts of it seemed a bit America-centric, but that's only to be expected and didn't really affect it. I enjoyed reading about the various assorted cast of people who'd become involved in the quest for knowledge of the flu, whom the author introduced in an entertaining manner.
asteroidbuckle's review
3.0
The so called "Spanish flu" pandemic of late 1918/early 1919 is one that has seemingly fallen off the face of the earth. Out of all the American and World History classes I have taken in my life, I can't recall ever studying the 1918 flu. Not in any great detail, at any rate. Which, after having read this book, seems strange considering the massive impact the outbreak had on the entire world.
The number of people killed by the flu - conservative estimates have the number at 20 million, though some experts say the number is as high as 100 million - was staggering. Entire families and in some cases, entire towns, were nearly wiped out by a virus more deadly than anything ever encountered before. There were more fatalities from the 1918 flu than from the Black Death. More soldiers died from the flu than from battle in World War I.
And just as quickly as it began, sweeping through the world's population at an alarming pace, killing people within mere days, it ended. There were subsequent influenza pandemics, but never one as severe. And after the devastation the disease wreaked, it seemed like once it was gone, everyone just wanted to pretend it never happened. No one wanted to talk about it. Out of sight, out of mind.
Only, if it happened once, it could happen again, and a few scientists set out to capture the virus that caused the massively deadly pandemic so they could create a vaccine to stop it in its tracks if it ever reappeared.
Part history book, part mystery story, part science textbook, Flu offers an interesting, at times riveting, story of how modern science techniques can be used to solve a (then) 80-year-old cold case. It's also a tale of hubris and over-caution and personal tragedy. And while I was hoping for a big reveal at the end - the name and details of the deadly virus - I understand that it's never that easy in the real world. And the fact that they were even able to pull fragments of the deadly virus from the frozen lungs of long-dead victims buried in Alaskan permafrost is an amazing feat.
Kolata does a great job of writing a book that balances technical science with poignant history. A very interesting read.
The number of people killed by the flu - conservative estimates have the number at 20 million, though some experts say the number is as high as 100 million - was staggering. Entire families and in some cases, entire towns, were nearly wiped out by a virus more deadly than anything ever encountered before. There were more fatalities from the 1918 flu than from the Black Death. More soldiers died from the flu than from battle in World War I.
And just as quickly as it began, sweeping through the world's population at an alarming pace, killing people within mere days, it ended. There were subsequent influenza pandemics, but never one as severe. And after the devastation the disease wreaked, it seemed like once it was gone, everyone just wanted to pretend it never happened. No one wanted to talk about it. Out of sight, out of mind.
Only, if it happened once, it could happen again, and a few scientists set out to capture the virus that caused the massively deadly pandemic so they could create a vaccine to stop it in its tracks if it ever reappeared.
Part history book, part mystery story, part science textbook, Flu offers an interesting, at times riveting, story of how modern science techniques can be used to solve a (then) 80-year-old cold case. It's also a tale of hubris and over-caution and personal tragedy. And while I was hoping for a big reveal at the end - the name and details of the deadly virus - I understand that it's never that easy in the real world. And the fact that they were even able to pull fragments of the deadly virus from the frozen lungs of long-dead victims buried in Alaskan permafrost is an amazing feat.
Kolata does a great job of writing a book that balances technical science with poignant history. A very interesting read.
thebookcoyote's review against another edition
3.0
This isn’t really the story of the pandemic itself. There’s really only a chapter or two that goes into that. It’s mainly about the scientists trying to figure out what exact type of flu it was. Interesting, but not as interesting as it could have been.