In 1993, Helen Epstein, a scientist working with a biotechnology company searching for an AIDS vaccine, moved to Uganda, where she witnessed firsth...
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Aug 08, 2007
laura
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You don't really think a book written by a molecular biologist and activist could be that interesting...you would be wrong. This book is an amazing synthesis of sociology, anthropology, feminism, and public health. It speaks of the AIDs crisis in South and East Africa with amazing clarity. If you are remotely interested in the subject read this. If you are up to date on policy/developments in this region of the world it may be a little simplistic.
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Mar 08, 2009
Max
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Well-done book. An excellent critique of the international response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Epstein examines the efforts of Western donors and African governments and finds both wanting. She doesn't try to do too much. The book is critical of the naive and condescending Western-funded programs which have been so ineffective. It is also critical of the African government policies that have contributed to the sense of shame associated with the disease. Epstein proposes no magic eli
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May 11, 2008
Sushila
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I really enjoyed this book. I think the best part is Helen Epstein. Her perspective as a molecular biologist, turned public health advocate/sociologist is so rare, yet pivotal to unraveling the problem of AIDS in sub-saharan Africa. I really enjoyed her analyses of prior theories and why they have failed to fully explain the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Her writing is smooth and clear, yet very evidence-based. I only wish that the new theories she proposes, such as the importance of concurrent
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Mar 31, 2009
Colleen
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There were more than a couple of times during this book that I wished for more or better editing. However, the information about AIDS in Africa that she conveys is really what's important. I guess I'd thought that the problems with the AIDS epidemic in Africa was an unwillingness to use condoms. Although she does indicate that condom use could be greater, she also shows how that's not really the main problem; the main problem--long term sexual relationships with more than one partner (what sh
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May 17, 2011
Kristina
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This is a telling book about how Western cultures try so hard to help, but only wind up hurting other cultures. The case argued here is AIDS relief in Africa. The double edged sword is that we want to help, but in doing so, we also tell them how they should do things when our cultures are vastly different. In many cases by forcing them to accept our methods we destroy not only their culture, but in many cases their social structures, economies, and political structures in the process. We need to
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Dec 12, 2010
Yorgos
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I think nearly everyone should read this - if they're going into health care, or public health, or working with HIV in the developed world or the undeveloped one. Helen Epstein really takes us through the history of HIV in Africa and the challenges in addressing it lucidly and with balance, without shying away from past failures or the good intentions (or bad) that fed those failures. Throughout the book she remains passionately convinced that we can do better, that we mustn't despair. The book
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May 12, 2011
Kelley
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The Invisible Cure sets up a timeline for HIV and AIDS and describes particular approaches towards treating/curing the disease that have or have not worked. Epstein does a great job of conveying the political, monetary, and religious aspects of the situation. This book is intelligent and enlightening, but was a bit repetitive at times. The parts I enjoyed most were the introduction and epilogue, where the author honestly confronted how she dealt with the sufferers of AIDS in the past, and how sh
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Feb 14, 2011
Diana
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This was an interesting perspective on the problems with AIDS programs in Southern Africa. Helen Epstein's interest was picqued when she went to Uganda in the early 1990's to do AIDS vaccine research and sees the difference in community response to the AIDS crisis. Her quest to get to the ground truth is amazing. I was worried that I would tire of reading about this topic (especially since the book is almost 300 pages) but I found that I really enjoyed the way she told her story. The chapter
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Apr 09, 2009
Ania
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A great book for anyone interested in the HIV situation in Africa.i read this as preparation for working in Uganda.
As with all this type of stuff, you have to be a little objective when reading it as this is the kind of book that uses scientific statistics to prove the authors suggested public health methods.nethertheless, its gripping and shocking in the right places, also very read-able for anyone without a scientific background.
As with all this type of stuff, you have to be a little objective when reading it as this is the kind of book that uses scientific statistics to prove the authors suggested public health methods.nethertheless, its gripping and shocking in the right places, also very read-able for anyone without a scientific background.
Oct 07, 2008
Heather
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Both personal memoire and background on the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Helen seeks to answer the question that has been plaguing the world since the mid-eighties. Why is the AIDS epidemic in Africa so severe? Various researchers and authors have pointed to cultural, social, and biological reasons for the high prevalence of HIV in Africa. Epstein points to the cultural and political factors, such as the high rates of concurrent sexual relationships and the international aid communities tendency to
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May 31, 2010
Betty
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The book provided a look at the impact of foreign aid on HIV/AIDS in Africa with a critical eye. It offers glimpses of hope by looking at what worked in Uganda to lower the infection rates. It is well-written, mixing statistics with personal stories that help bring a face to HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Aug 05, 2011
Kenyon
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The invisible cure might be an interesting read for people who want to understand the HIV epidmeic in East and Southern Africa, because it goes to the heart of some of the major racist tendencies in epidemiology, behavioral and biomedical research that was funded for many years by the US and Europe-based NGOs. But it may also be informative in light of the release of the 2006-2009 HIV incidence data from the CDC showing that Black "men who have sex with men" have the largest increase i
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Jan 09, 2010
AJ
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I thought this book was really great. It really delved into the reasons HIV/AIDS has spread so far and so fast in Africa - and how the people there might be able to combat it.
The author had a lot of experience in the regions she wrote about, and she wrote about them well and with little bias. She seemed to cover all of the pertinent information and discuss the impact of HIV and AIDS and programs to combat the disease in Uganda and southern Africa.
I enjoyed it a lot. If yo More...
The author had a lot of experience in the regions she wrote about, and she wrote about them well and with little bias. She seemed to cover all of the pertinent information and discuss the impact of HIV and AIDS and programs to combat the disease in Uganda and southern Africa.
I enjoyed it a lot. If yo More...
Jun 14, 2011
Khloe
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Great book for understanding why HIV/AIDS progresses differently in Africa than in the Western world. I liked that it went past the over-emphasized idea that specific risky behaviors cause HIV to be more prevalent in Africa and instead described how differences in sexual networks due to culture and other circumstances cause this disparity. Some of the word choice could be seen as criticizing African cultural practices, but I thought that overall Epstein did a good job of presenting her find
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Jan 16, 2008
khalil
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It turns out that mutual aid and community solutions are the way to stop the spread of AIDS, not Western intervention! WHO KNEW
I did learn that STDs spread more quickly and throughly through populations with stable long-term polyamorous relationships than through populations who have lots of one-time sex. Because HIV is only spread around once in 100 times the infected person has sex, they are much more likely to give it to their several long-term partners, who give it to their sever More...
I did learn that STDs spread more quickly and throughly through populations with stable long-term polyamorous relationships than through populations who have lots of one-time sex. Because HIV is only spread around once in 100 times the infected person has sex, they are much more likely to give it to their several long-term partners, who give it to their sever More...
Aug 20, 2007
Christina
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The Author explains why the African rate of infection is higher than anywhere else... long term concurrent relationships creating sexual networks. The book touches on the topic of gender inequality without demonizing the African male or perpetuating negative stereotypes about African sexuality. The role Western interventions may have had in creating the stigma against AIDS victims is discussed. The Author also highlights the importance of home grown response to the epidemic (rather than top d
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May 16, 2010
Emas
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This book took me forever to read, mainly because of the redundancy and poor editing. Epstein has clearly done her research on the topic of AIDS in Eastern and Southern African and comes to clear, logical conclusions, but the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. It's unclear whether it's a lack of editing or underestimation of the readers' intelligence that leads her to repeat details chapter after chapter, but the result is a frustrating and slow read. Nevertheless, the book posits numer
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Mar 02, 2010
Chau
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Good book, well written. Nice break down of the science, some African social history, and analysis of why HIV programs fail. Smart and a great teaching tool.
May 31, 2008
Crystal
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in a world that is supersaturated with books/portrayals/accounts of the african aids epidemic, this one is a true gem. one of my committee members is mentioned in it a few times, and the documenting of sources and lists of references is impressive. it is very well-researched. i think you, well, everyone, should read it. one of the most realistic portrayals of a problem that despite being much-discoursed remains plangent. furthermore, this book doesn't buy into but rather critiques the whole "
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Jun 14, 2009
Ryann
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Informative and educational. It's not as dry as you'd expect, though there's not much of a plot. More a series of stories and observations from Epstein's time in Africa and research. It starts out fairly scientific and medical research oriented, but it becomes a much more enjoyable, fast read when it turns more towards social and public health issues than a cure or vaccine.
Jul 24, 2010
Maryrose
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Amazing. Super accessible for having been written by a microbiologist. Very worth it if you're looking for insight into the AIDS epidemic in Africa without all the value statements. Very fair.
Apr 19, 2009
Ebony
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As a PCV I read this book looking for answers to an age old quest 'An Invisible Cure'. Although, I really enjoyed this book it left me probably even more disappointed. Of course I knew I would not find 'a cure', but what I was hoping for was some insight as to how I as a PCV could address the situation in Botswana-I didn't find that. All I found were things I already knew. I won't get too deep or political in this review, so I will just leave it at: A good read. Somewhat insighful to those
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Jul 30, 2008
Kat
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Everyone should read this book. It is about AIDS. It is about post-colonial society is Sub-Saharan Africa. It is about people. It is about women. It is about men. It is about America, the government response to AIDS in Africa. It is about post-colonial society in Europe, the blood-on-our-hands effect. It is one of those books that, because of its brutally honest analysis of one thing, brings into clear view one hundred issues circling that one thing.
Oct 20, 2007
Dave
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This book is an excellent primer for all of the pitfalls in the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is an easy read and accessible to even the most casual reader. It even bashes and praises my employer in the same paragraph. I must add that I don't agree with all Helen has to say, she sometimes contradicts herself, and she is short on any practical alternatives. That being said I do recommend it.
Dec 17, 2009
Becca
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Epstein presents a thoroughly readable, engaging discussion of the realities of confronting HIV/AIDS. She discusses the challenges of using Western techniques to confront AIDS in Africa and offers solutions using successful examples. I really enjoyed her ideas and found it easy to read. However, fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS is a complicated issue and her answers seem a bit easy.
Aug 06, 2010
Cara
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Very thorough, honest and accessible overview of the AIDS epidemic. A great starting place for anyone interested in learning more about the AIDS crisis as it pertains to Africa in particular.
