Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I think I can pretty say that this book by Steven Johnson isn't going to be for everybody. It tells the story of how several men tried to cope with and understand a massive outbreak of cholera in London during 1854. Yeah, riveting, right? |
Didn’t Like It “I read half of this book. My imagination is so vivid that I could smell, see, and taste all of the muck, including the invisible germs. I kept gagging, so I just couldn't finish it. If that doesn't bother you, it is a very interesting and informative book. His description is superb.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Really enjoyed this one. Great piece of history.”
Mike H wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The the ghost map was a very interesting book. At some moments in the book it would really get your attention and you couldn't just stop. So, i suggest people to take time to read the book. ”
Kenneth W wrote this review Thursday, November 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I read half of this book. My imagination is so vivid that I could smell, see, and taste all of the muck, including the invisible germs. I kept gagging, so I just couldn't finish it. If that doesn't bother you, it is a very interesting and informative book. His description is superb.”
Sue M wrote this review Tuesday, October 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Brilliant book about the beginnings of epidemiology. (sounds boring but is un-put-downable)”
Kae10 wrote this review Saturday, October 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Clever, informative, engrossing. Wow, I loved this book. Who knew an epidemic could be so interesting.”
Shawna L wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The text of the book (story) was fantastic. I got bogged down with the end notes and postscriptions. They were 25% of the book. My husband is now reading it. He is a history nut and has read a book called London by Edward Rutherfurd. I immediately thought of the can scavengers in the area around the shopping center that recycle. New way of achieving the old system I think.”
Bcubed B wrote this review Tuesday, August 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This book looks at the cholera epidemic in London, England in 1854. It looks as the people and region of London affected by it. It follows the attempts of Snow, a doctor, to track down the source of cholera to try to control the spread of the disease. It is an interesting view of medicine and medical research in the mid-1800's. One thing that I didn't enjoy so much was the author repeatedly getting up on his soap box and waxing on about his view that huge cities are superior to rural living or even living in smaller cities.”
Karen N wrote this review Sunday, August 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Cool read about Victorian London.”
VernDude wrote this review Sunday, June 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This was the best part of the reading list from a graduate Stats class. It's far more compelling that you'd think and a fascinating read.”
shuangxi wrote this review Thursday, June 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is an utterly fascinating book!! It literally has something for almost everyone. There is a medical mystery to solve, a look inside the life of a neighbourhood in Victorian London, not one, but two intelligent, incredibly persistent protagonists determined to bring the truth to light in spite of a myriad of ignorant dogma and superstition, a demonstration of how scientific method ultimately became accepted in an era where ideas that seem ridiculously foolish to us now, were accepted without question.
Kristen R wrote this review Sunday, June 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I literally could not put this book down once I began reading it! I was completely engrossed in the way the story and the actions of the people involved played out. Although the book is a scientifically structured and accurate historical examination of the cholera epidemic that raced through the Soho neighbourhood in 1854, it honestly reads more like a Dan Brown or Tom Clancy thriller. The people and the details of the time and the place are so well-written and real that you cannot help but be drawn completely into the story.
In addition to the story about the epidemic itself which is more than enough to hold your attention, the author Steven Johnson has clearly done a meticulous amount of research on every aspect of the time, the place and the people. He sprinkles throughout the book intriguing details such as the fact that Karl Marx and his family were living in the area at the time of the epidemic, and the fact that at that time there were more people living per acre (432) in that area than are currently living per acre in present day Manhattan (approximately 100).
Truly, I cannot recomment this book highly enough!!
The only warning I would note, is that anyone who is especially squeamish may find the detailed descriptions of both the symptoms and effects of cholera, and the unbelieveably squalid and filthy conditions in which the poor of that time and area were forced to live. They are quite frank, but important to understand the other things that go on, and the ultimate understanding of what caused the outbreak.
One of the most interesting books I have ever read.
”
