A review by dashadashahi
The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels, and the Business of AIDS by Elizabeth Pisani

3.0

This book has high highs and low lows. On the whole, I think it is a worthwhile read, even if it is a bit old. Pisani is a good writer and provides a critical and insider perspective on HIV research and politics that is incredibly interesting (I mean, I didn't expect Billy Graham to pop up in this narrative). I found her discussion of waria in Indonesia interesting, as its a topic and group I had never previously read about. And while she clearly presents her perspective she also highlights the voices of the waria themselves.

The lows include her very very dismissive discussion around sex trafficking that boils down to "I haven't seen it so it's probably over-reported" and her dismissing one woman who told her she was sex trafficked by her family by quipping "I'm sure her life story would make a good movie." I could say HIV isn't a big deal because I haven't interacted with anyone with HIV at the hospital I worked at, but of course, that's stupid.