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A review by rebelbelle13
Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.75
Pathogenesis is a fascinating look at human history and how it has been shaped by disease. I would say that the introduction/first chapter is by far the most interesting, with general knowledge dispensed about virus and bacteria. After that, the author takes the reader on a tour through history, beginning with pre-historic man and leading up to the present with the coronavirus.
I picked up several important points here, and they are worth repeating. Firstly, disease probably was responsible for the survival of homo sapiens over neanderthals. Secondly, only so much credit can be given to conquerors, generals, and other political leaders for winning wars and broadening their empires- much of their success had to do with widespread disease and devastating loss on the opposing side. Thirdly, racism and slavery (primarily in the United States) has its roots in malaria, and those who were immune to it, and those who were not. Finally, poverty has much to do with the spreading of disease, and eliminating poverty by providing healthcare, employment, and sanitary living conditions would dramatically decrease deaths and save trillions in healthcare.
At times this reads like a textbook, and I found my attention drifting- however, the research done for this novel, the points it makes and the importance of the author's findings cannot be denied.
This is a whole new way of looking at our past, and anticipating the future. It's at times frightening, and incredibly sad, and others hopeful and intriguing.
I picked up several important points here, and they are worth repeating. Firstly, disease probably was responsible for the survival of homo sapiens over neanderthals. Secondly, only so much credit can be given to conquerors, generals, and other political leaders for winning wars and broadening their empires- much of their success had to do with widespread disease and devastating loss on the opposing side. Thirdly, racism and slavery (primarily in the United States) has its roots in malaria, and those who were immune to it, and those who were not. Finally, poverty has much to do with the spreading of disease, and eliminating poverty by providing healthcare, employment, and sanitary living conditions would dramatically decrease deaths and save trillions in healthcare.
At times this reads like a textbook, and I found my attention drifting- however, the research done for this novel, the points it makes and the importance of the author's findings cannot be denied.
This is a whole new way of looking at our past, and anticipating the future. It's at times frightening, and incredibly sad, and others hopeful and intriguing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, and Colonisation
Minor: War