Thorough, Thorough, Thorough ... and he used his Thesaurus

books:

	• The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the ... Steven Johnson Riverhead Trade, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 103 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Interesting but flawed book

This book deals with the London cholera epidemics of the time around 1850 (several are covered), focusing on the development of the theory that cholera is transmitted through the water supply (as against the "miasma" theory that it is spread by bad air). Johnson tells the story through the actions of several men -- a local pastor, a well-connected doctor, and several bureaucrats, journalists, and victims of the epidemic.

Johnson's story is very enjoyable and compelling, reading like a mystery story. The facts are presented clearly, logically, and in a well-organized manner, leading the reader through a day-by-day and almost hour-by-hour account. Johnson tells a fascinating tale.

On the other hand, the conclusion of the book is weak. After spending most of the book revealing how Dr. John Snow developed and confirmed the water-borne nature of the epidemic, Johnson's conclusions are that Snow's actions at the time weren't really all that decisive to the acceptance of his theory. In that case, why write the book? It's a fascinating story of medical detective work but an unsatisfying explanation of why it was important.

for more information click here

Scientific Mystery

This is an engaging account of how Dr. Snow proved that cholera was a waterborne disease in the years before microscopy. His epidemiological approach was ground-breaking, especially when one considers that bacteria was not yet known to exist. What brings the story together nicely is that the Rev. Whitehead, a local minister and sceptic of Snow's theory, helped him prove it in his attempts to debunk it. The two men, so apparently unlike each other, joined to establish the theory.

Mr. Johnson also gives valuable insights into urbanization, both during Victorian times and present day. His descriptions of London in 1854 were breath-taking as, apparently, were the smells of the city then.

There are times when the author stretches the book a bit. The redundancies slow it down and there is some dry philosophizing, but overall, this is a scientific historical mystery worth reading.

for more information click here

Thorough, Thorough, Thorough ... and he used his Thesaurus

Steven Johnson is a fine writer, and, most damnable in this reader's opinion, he knows it too. He puts his Roget's to heavy use, every verb is active, and he probably went cross-eyed from all that research he waded through to complete this book. Johnson carries out a rather redundant variation-on-a-theme style of narrative, seemingly simply to build each chapter into a nice, authoritative size. Certainly not from the less-is-more school of description.

That said, I did get a nice feel for the fetid, foul, fusty, gamy, infested, mephitic, musty, nasty, nauseating, noisome, noxious, offensive, pestilential, poisonous, polluted, putrid, rancid, rank, reeking, rotten, smelly, stenchful, stinking, tainted, vile, loathsome, putrescent, fumescent, malodorous, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, yecchy city that London had become in 1854, sprawled too big for its waste products and ripe for an epidemic. And the character of John Snow (*my hero!*) comes off admirably, as he battles singlehandedly the wrongheaded public health figures of the day and brings them tottering down into their own smelly soup.

That the epidemic was begun by a single sick baby is indeed tragic. That the theories of the scientific community centered around illness coming from bad smells and "tainted" air is amazing. And when all is said (and said and said) and done, something was actually learned from it all and put to good use is ultimately redemptive.

for more information click here

Interesting but somewhat superficial account

I found this to be an informative but mediocre essay. First, as other reviewers have pointed out, the same material could have been covered in way fewer pages. Much of what is said is redundant, and much space is devoted to reiterate how intelligent and hard working and determined etc etc the main characters of the events have been. Second, the book does not seem to contain much original material, but it feels more like a long summary of work done by others. Third, the book value added seems to be mostly limited to a series of anecdotes and generalizations proposed without much scientific insight, and with way too much effort to find a sale pitch to attract readers. This is especially true in the last pages, where the author builds short and very superficial connections between the London epidemics and current events such as the bird flu epidemic, the trend towards urbanization or the threats of terrorism. Many parts of the epilogue are truly embarassing and can be safely be skipped. Overall, I think you will not waste your money and time if you decide to read this book, but you should be prepared to an interesting but overlong story filled with repetitions and unsubstantiated claims.

for more information click here

reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

search for books
the story of, changed, cities, epidemic, london, modern, science, terrifying

Impressum / about us