The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History

by Molly Caldwell Crosby

This book really opens eyes about mosquito carried diseases! The tale of Memphis in 1878 was horrible while the telling was excellent. We have no idea as to the death Yellow Fever caused in just this one epidemic. That year, Memphis had a population of over 40,000. When fevers started, all but 19,000 left the city, and of that 19,000 - 17,000 died.

The book goes on to relate the story of Walter Reed and his work in Cuba. Long ago, I saw a black/white movie about Walter Reed, but it was highly romantisized. I am very glad to have read this book, and to learn about a man whose name I have known my entire life, without really knowing the reason why I knew his name.

Comments

Strange History

This book is exactly what it promises - bits of information delivered quickly and primarily for entertaining purposes. Being published by the Bathroom Readers Institute, you will appreciate its delivery and humor. Strange History by Bathroom Readers' Institute Printers Row Publishing Group Portable Press

Dragon's Teeth - by Michael Crichton

What a fun story based on history! The plot winds around the animosity between paleontologists Marsh and Cope, as told by a fictional member of the dig party. We are taken (in the form of our protagonist, William Johnson) to the Badlands, Deadwood, into Indian raids, labeled as a traitor, attacked on all sides by all kinds of people, and then we get home a changed young man. If you know history, you will enjoy they way Crichton weaves momentous events and remarkable historical persons into the story. You will find yourself thinking "I know what's coming," because you do, if you know anything about the WEST in the 1870's, or know some of the background with Marsh and Cope. I listened to this story as a traveled each week, getting about 2 hours of the book on each trip. After each two hours, I wanted more, but I forced myself to wait for the next week. I was sad to be finished with it yesterday.

Aroused

I am currently teaching a small 5 week class at USM/OLLI on Our Glands, and how aging affects those glands. I looked for a book to read to refresh my memory, and found this... Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything by Randi Hutter Epstein. Don't get excited by the title (or go ahead and get excited). This is the story of the development of Endocrinology and it is NOT an textbook!!! This is a pleasant read. There are many case studies from as early as 1900, many stories of parents struggling to get hormonal treatment for their children in the early days (1960's), and advancements in treatments. This book is worth your time, and you may find you do what I do...diagnose people as they walk past you in malls and airports.

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