Name: Plagued
ISBN: 9781950665754

John Froude

A comprehensive look at the history of pandemics and pesitlence, detailing how plagues have shaped human history from the moment Homo sapiens appeared on earth 300,000 years ago to the present day.

Pandemics from the Black Death to Covid-19 and Beyond

Plagued

From the Black Death to Covid-19, pandemics have shaped and reshaped human society. Science and history can give us insight into two urgent questions: Why do they persist? And how can we survive them? Pandemics have been with us since Homo sapiens appeared on earth nearly 300,000 years ago. Forty percent of our genes are made of DNA from viruses. Yet we still remain vulnerable. Today, we are engulfed by a new pandemic: SARS-CoV-2 or the coronavirus that originated in China and, within four months, had spread to every country in the world. Thanks to advances in molecular biology and new tools with which to probe them, we are also in the midst of a golden age of understanding when it comes to our tiniest enemies. DNA technology is rewriting history, resolving disputes that have persisted for decades—and giving us crucial insights that may safeguard our future. Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Froude has worked on four continents over nearly 50 years, treating sufferers of plagues that arose over a century ago and never left us (like malaria and cholera) and battling new threats (like AIDS and Covid-19) as they emerge. In Plagued, he offers a gripping and timely account of the pandemics that have driven our evolution and shaped our history. Plagued tells the stories of yellow fever, smallpox, syphilis, the bubonic plague, influenza, typhus, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, and Covid-19. Blending science and narrative, Froude explores not only the unstoppable march of pestilence and its effects, but our intimate relationship with bacteria and viruses. He also explores the complex wonder that is human immunity, which itself is the consequence of an arms race between microbes and our animal ancestors that started 3.5 billion years ago. Along the way, we meet the dogged geniuses who have brought us back from the brink and see what it might take to do it again. Plagues arise without warning. But as we watch the current cataclysm unfold in real time, we have a unique opportunity to forge a path ahead that avoids both denial and panic. This timely book illustrates how lessons from the past, both distant and recent, may be the key to understanding why pandemics continue to plague us, and what can be done to stop them.

Monri

Review/Reseña en Español/English 


  Español


Este libro trata de las diferentes pandemias que han ocurrido en el mundo a lo largo de los años, teniendo un enfoque histórico, social y biológico. Cada capítulo hace referencia a una enfermedad y, a su vez, este es dividido en tres partes; historia, impacto y el microorganismo causal: su fisiología y en algunas instancias mecanismo de acción.

Primeramente, me gustó mucho el comienzo, en cuanto comenzó llamó mi atención y la mantuvo a lo largo del libro. Me agrado que, si bien, presentó un enfoque histórico de cada pandemia no fue lo principal, con esto, la estructura de cada capítulo hacía que la lectura fuera fluida y no aburriera. Debo mencionar, que personalmente no siento que sea necesario tener un alto nivel de conocimiento previo, ya que, lo “complicado” sería la explicación biológica/bioquímica del microorganismo y siento que es explicado de manera clara, pero eso lo dejo a consideración de cada persona.

Explica las bases de inmunología para comprender qué pasa en el cuerpo al ser atacado por microorganismos i.e. virus y bacterias. También, no solo se enfoca en el punto de vista fisiológico sino cómo afecta social y económicamente a la sociedad, considerando puntos de vista religiosos de algunas personas.

Me gustó que hablará la realidad que diferentes razas y etnias han sufrido por la pandemia, haciendo mención especial de la colonización que sufrió América y como los colonizadores trajeron diferentes enfermedades, así como la discriminación racial que han sufrido cientos de asiáticos en América por décadas debido a diversas pandemias, datándose desde la peste negra hasta el día de hoy con el Covid-19. Es muy necesario hablar de cómo el racismo, la ignorancia, pobreza y la avaricia política influye y afecta el control de las pandemias a un nivel global.

De igual forma, se trata la importancia del uso de instrumentos estériles y nuevos en tratamientos, sobre todo el correcto desarrollo de las técnicas de laboratorio. Fue interesante leer cómo la humanidad fue avanzando tecnológicamente y, con esto adquiriendo conocimiento de una gran variedad de microorganismos. Los experimentos realizados, si bien cuestionables, son los que ayudaron en su época a comprender y estudiar los microbios.

Personalmente, mis capítulos favoritos fueron los enfocados a los virus y bacterias, tenía mucha información interesante la cual desconocía, por lo que, fue muy grato aprender algo nuevo. Me encanto la mención de cómo la desinformación afecta en gran medida el curso de las pandemias, creo que actualmente esto ha quedado demasiado claro. Con esto, el autor hace mención de los diferentes tipos de coronavirus y explica de manera general cómo funcionan las vacunas, para personas que no confían en ellas, lo que se rescata de esos capítulos es: actualmente hay una gran variedad de bases de datos; genes, proteínas, investigaciones, etc. Que ayudan a que el conocimiento científico avance aún más y, con la ayuda de las tecnologías biotecnológicas esta tarea se vuelve más fácil y eficiente, en conclusión vacúnense.

Para finalizar, sinceramente entre sin grandes expectativas pero definitivamente me sorprendió, me encantó, el libro es increíble, es bastante completo, educativo y entretenido, definitivamente lo recomiendo.


  ¿Es este libro para ti? 


  Perfecto para: 
 Interesados en microbiología, pandemias e historia.

  ¿Lo recomiendo?
 Si.


  English


This book it's about the different pandemics that have occurred in the world over the years, taking a historical, social, and biological approach. Each chapter refers to a disease and, in turn, this is divided into three parts; history, impact, and the causal microorganism: its physiology and in some instances mechanism of action.

First of all, I really liked the beginning, as soon as it started it caught my attention and kept it throughout the book. I am pleased that, although it presented a historical approach to each pandemic, it wasn't the main point, with this, the structure of each chapter made the reading fluid and not boring. I should mention that personally, I don't feel that it's necessary to have a high level of prior knowledge, since, the "complicated" would be the biological/biochemical explanation of the microorganism and I feel that it's explained very clear, but I leave that to the consideration of each person.

It explains the bases of immunology to understand what happens in the body when attacked by microorganisms i.e. Virus and bacteria. Also, it not only focuses on the physiological point of view but how it affects society socially and economically, considering the religious points of view of some people.

I liked that mentions the reality that different races and ethnic groups have suffered from the pandemic, making special mention of the colonization that America suffered and how the colonizers brought different diseases, as well as the racial discrimination that hundreds of Asians have suffered in America for decades due to various pandemics, dating from the Black Death to the present day with Covid-19. It's necessary to talk about how racism, ignorance, poverty, and political greed influence and affect the control of pandemics on a global level.

In the same way, the importance of the use of sterile and new instruments in treatments is discussed, especially the correct development of laboratory techniques. It was interesting to read how humanity was advancing technologically and, with this, acquiring knowledge of a great variety of microorganisms. The experiments carried out, although questionable, are those that helped to understand and study microbes in their day.

Personally, my favorite chapters were those focused on viruses and bacteria, it had a lot of interesting information which I was unaware of, so it was very pleasant to learn something new. I loved the mention of how misinformation greatly affects the course of pandemics, I think this has become very clear in this age. With this, the author makes mention of the different types of coronavirus and explains in a general way how vaccines work, for people who don't trust them, what is rescued from these chapters is: currently there is a great variety of databases; genes, proteins, research, etc. That helps scientific knowledge to advance even more and, with the help of biotechnological technologies, this task becomes easier and more efficient, in conclusion, get vaccinated.


  
     Literate educated societies behaved in the 21st century as illiterate uneducated societies did in the 17th. Man, the impossible primate, must understand that compulsions to denial, tribalism, xenophobia, conspiracy theories, and scapegoating in a plague will only increase the number who die.
  

To finish, I honestly entered without great expectations but it definitely surprised me, I loved it, the book is incredible, it's quite complete, educational, and entertaining, I definitely recommend it.

And as Shi Zhengli said:

  
     It was nature punishing the uncivilized habits and customs of humans.
  

  Is this book for you?  
  Perfect for:   Interested in microbiology, pandemics, and history.
  Do I recommend it?   Yes.


  My thanks to the author John Froude, BenBella Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review

Plagued Pandemics from the Black Death to Covid-19 and Beyond

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