Randy Shilts

An examination of the AIDS crisis exposes the federal government for its inaction, health authorities for their greed, and scientists for their desire for prestige in the face of the AIDS pandemic.

Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic

And The Band Played on

I can't read anything, can't finish a thing at the moment. My brain has gone wrong, but I was really involved in this for about a week and a half

Really interesting, but was this Gaetan guy really that evil/selfish? Sounds a bit too tidy.

Upon it's first publication twenty years ago, And The Band Played on was quickly recognized as a masterpiece of investigatve reporting. An international bestseller, a nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and made into a critically acclaimed movie, Shilts' expose revealed why AIDS was allowed to spread unchecked during the early 80's while the most trusted institutions ignored or denied the threat. One of the few true modern classics, it changed and framed how AIDS was discussed in the following years. Now republished in a special 20th Anniversary edition, And the Band Played On remains one of the essential books of our time.

And the Band Played On

Laura Mauler

Someone tries to do something to fight the spread of AIDS, and everyone else tries to thwart that person. Repeat for 605 pages. One of the most emotionally brutal books I've ever read.

Extensively researched (Shilts interviewed over 1,000 people), weaving together personal stories with political and social reporting And the Band Played On is a masterpiece of investigative reporting (comparable to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood) and it led to Shilts being described as "the pre-eminent chronicler of gay life" ('The New York Times'). And the Band Played On was awarded the Stonewall Book Award, it became an international bestseller (translated into 7 languages) and was made into a major movie in 1993 starring Richard Gere and Ian McKellen. Randy Shilts exposed why AIDS was allowed to spread while the medical and political authorities ignored (and even denied) the threat. And the Band Played On is one of the great works of contemporary journalism, and provides the foundation for the continuing debate about the greatest medical epidemic faced in our time.

Melody Izard

I had really thought the things I had heard about the Bath Houses was a bit of exaggeration. But it seems, no. I had not even heard all. I pretty much knew Reagan was an ass, the book confirms. 

I had a few issues with the writing style. Sometimes the things he quoted, were a bit of a cliche rather than something that seemed like it would merit a quote. There were an awful lot of stereotypes presented as truths - but perhaps they were. But overall this seems to me to be a very important account of the politics of medicine, science and academics. Full of personal stories and, at times full of a bit too much repetition. Glad I persevered and read it though.

I now want to read Dr. Michael Saag's book Positive

Ellie Vanderlip

Paige Wanner

Helen Bright

Allison Dempsey

mina nayeri

katherine

Kemie G

Upon it's first publication twenty years ago, And The Band Played on was quickly recognized as a masterpiece of investigative reporting. An international bestseller, a nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and made into a critically acclaimed movie, Shilts' expose revealed why AIDS was allowed to spread unchecked during the early 80's while the most trusted institutions ignored or denied the threat. One of the few true modern classics, it changed and framed how AIDS was discussed in the following years. Now republished in a special 20th Anniversary edition, And the Band Played On remains one of the essential books of our time.

And The Band Played on Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic

Reviews