"Meticulously researched and with a sophisticated approach to history, this is also an exciting and compelling story. After reading it, I dreamt about being lost and scared at night in the filthy lanes of Victorian London."--Andrew Cunningham, Senior Research Fellow in History of Medicine, University of Cambridge
"This book is one of those rare gems that thrills like fiction but is based on fact. It tells of the clear thought and quiet endeavour of a man who, without seeking honour or fame, persisted in overcoming prejudice and separating fact from fancy. john Snow discovered the way in which epidemic cholera was caught and nearly always killed us. By doing so he not only told the world how to prevent it, he laid the basis for the the prevention of all the world's medical ills--the science of epidemiology."--Dr. Mike Smith, Former NHS Director of Public Health (UK), and current 'resident' GP for Channel 5 News.
"This vivid book about the victories of science over ignorance provides
Insight as we head towards the next epidemic."--Dr. Paul Volberding, Director of the Center for AIDS Research, University of California, San Francisco
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I generally liked this book, which does a nice job of telling the story of the cholera epidemics in Britain in the 1800s and John Snow's role in solving the mystery of how cholera is transmitted. However, this book is not just about John Snow's work --- there are many tangents to examine other prominent historical figures of the time, some of which I found forced and distracting, and the afterward on global climate change seemed like a hasty afterthought. Still, if you are interested in the origins of modern epidemiology you will like this book.
