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dianevr's review against another edition
4.0
A page-turner! Yes a book about the 1918 influenza, couldn’t put it down.
marcella's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good for a pop science book. I found it much less repetitive than I anticipated/feared/am used to in this genre. It's more about how science happened and has some juicy academic drama and near-scientific misses that work at the last second. Not bad, not bad.
Also, how could I forget the hilarious poems about the flu near the end?! It's always nice when prominent scientists pursue other interests and are very mediocre at them.
Also, how could I forget the hilarious poems about the flu near the end?! It's always nice when prominent scientists pursue other interests and are very mediocre at them.
somechelsea's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at a part of our history that can get glossed over sometimes. Unfortunately, this was focused more on the science that went into deciphering the flu rather than the history of the flu itself. While it was an enlightening read, and some of the people who worked on this project were extremely driven, fascinating people, mostly it just made me want to read a good old fashioned history book about the influenza pandemic.
My one real issue was the completely unnecessary pages of lists that Kolata put in - naming every. single. doctor. who attended a particular conference, for instance. It's a waste of space and it mostly just made me drift, especially when two thirds of those doctors and scientists were never mentioned again.
My one real issue was the completely unnecessary pages of lists that Kolata put in - naming every. single. doctor. who attended a particular conference, for instance. It's a waste of space and it mostly just made me drift, especially when two thirds of those doctors and scientists were never mentioned again.
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