A review by avesmaria
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

4.0

What a terrific read! I think everyone who's read a bit about epidemiology, information science, or remembers middle school biology class has heard about John Snow and the infamous Broad Street pump, but it was so interesting to read a thoroughly researched and well-written account the story. The book chronicles John Snow's research into the causes and transmission of cholera, which killed thousands in the 19th century before people figured out that it was caused by waterborne bacteria, thinking instead it was caused by "miasma" (bad air). Snow's research culminated during a particularly bad outbreak in London in 1853. The story is expanded to include the people he worked with - and against - to stop the epidemic, and also dispels some of the popular myths surrounding the creation and presentation of his famous map. It's very well-researched and engagingly written. The epilogue felt a little tacked-on but was interesting - Johnson talks about the "epidemics" that current cities will face, such as terrorism, biological warfare, and other costs of living in proximity to others. Throughout the whole book, he talks about the science and history of "being wrong," or making mistakes, and the importance of understanding how to look at and interpret data. The connection with statistics and information literacy really made the story resonate with me, since we still struggle with science literacy in the US today, unfortunately. Fortunately, John Snow was able to break free of the biases of his peers to find the scientific and objective truth, and it's to his credit that the field of medicine advanced beyond the miasma theory.