Disease: The extraordinary stories of history's deadliest killers

by Mary Dobson

Essays on 50 key diseases, plagues and epidemics function both as self contained mini histories of individual diseases and as part of a larger narrative chronicling the history of medicine. Includes timelines, boxed features on significant medical breakthroughs, fascinating case histories, anecdotes and medical curiosities. Contains 150 color photographs.

Disease is the true 'serial killer' of human history: the horrors of bubonic plague, cholera, leprosy, syphilis, typhoid and the like have had a more devastating impact on humankind than the depredations of warfare, famine and natural disaster. And despite the many advances in treatment over the past two hundred years, disease continues to blight the lives of many millions today, especially in the countries of the developing world. Some of the diseases selected - malaria, rabies and tuberculosis, for example - are ancient in origin - possibly first occurring when humans and domestic animals began to live in close proximity. Others, notably AIDS, are 'new' to human society, emerging only in the recent past.And a few have seemingly come and gone. SARS - the latest of the new and easily transmissible diseases to emerge in the 21st century - spread around the globe in 2003, disappeared and has, so far, not re-appeared. Only one major disease covered in this book - smallpox - has, so far, been effectively eradicated by human intervention. This book is an enthralling, richly illustrated collection of tales of the terror and fascination of plague, pox and pestilence, and a concise and accessible history of disease and humankind's struggle against it over three millennia. It is a timely and revelatory work of popular social history by a writer whose knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, her subject shines out from her every word.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Medical, Medicine, Health, Disease

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tovi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miki got this at the book store for some light reading and since it was lying around I had to pick it up. Very interesting historical information regarding the diseases that have affected the world and some great information on the advances of medicine. I only wish that there was more pictures of what the diseases actually look like (is that morbid?) But sometimes the discriptions made it difficult for me to picture in my mind what it was even talking about and some of them just sound too similar to my unmedically trained mind. Just one note, make sure that you do not read this before bed because it did give me some very creepy dreams.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, beautifully laid out, scary as hell. I didn't know the difference between typhoid and typhus before and the number of things the medical profession still doesn't know is semi-horrifying, besides all the horrible diseases that pop up out of nowhere and then seemingly disappear. Fantastic reference book that is also a gripping, easy read.

[Nora Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since reading the book the broken mirror i wanted to know more about the influenza out break. This book had information in that and 30 more dieses it was a very well wrote and very interesting book. I liked the pictures too

[Leah Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is almost always a 4.

[Virginia Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting book. Much to like.

1. Like you, I love to read but I’m busy. So it’s nice that each disease has its own chapter, about four to five pages. At our house we call these “bathroom” books, but I prefer to think of this one as the delicious 15 minutes I get to indulge in right before bed.
2. Pictures. Lots of them. But not necessarily macabre. If you want gruesome, go to Google with the name of any of these plagues and then click on “Images.” Sobering indeed. At times I had to quickly close the Web page to keep away nightmares. But in the book you’ll see not just 20th century photographs of victims (sans blood and pus ) but a lot of ancient wood cuts, journalism snippets from the time period of the disease’s greatest impact, and other memorabilia from days when microscopic bugs were scaring entire continents absolutely witless.
3. History. I like history, but I don’t love history. I don’t want hundreds of pages of excruciating detail. I do want enough detail to stimulate interest, enough to explain why any particular disease’s impact changed the course of history. This book gets the balance just right.
4. Psychology. Author Mary Dobson delves into the cultural and medical response to the pathogens, the symptoms, and the stigma of the world’s worst plagues (Ebola too). It’s interesting to follow the enemy as it topples governments, provokes mass migration, wipes out populations, and sets the course of public policy.
5. Organization. The book divides 50 diseases into four categories: Bacterial, Parasitic, Viral, and Lifestyle.

What I didn’t like:

Nothing.

And if you find this book and like it, you might also like “Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It,” by Gina Kolata. Gripping story.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get past the school textbook-style layout of this book, you'll find an intriguing history of the human battle against diseases old and new. Time and time again, we are reminded that many of the ailments we in the Western world have ascribed to antiquity are actually still dreaded killers in many other parts of the world.

One comes away from this book with the sense that simply imposing basic sanitation has done as much or more to combat the spread of disease as our scientific studies.

The illustration choices in this book are interesting; it veers much more toward historical etchings rather than predictably showing images of the ravages of illness.

[Linny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is clear and easy to read. It really has been an excellent bedtime read.

[Manja W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aus gegebenem Anlass dachte ich, ich bilde mich mal auf dem Gebiet der Pandemien weiter... Das Buch hat sich gelohnt. Es gibt einen guten Einblick in die Geißeln der Menschheit im Verlauf der Jahrhunderte und einige traurige Erkenntnisse:
-Bisher wurde nur eine einzige Infektionskrankheit ausgerottet
-Es können jederzeit neue hinzukommen
-Krankheiten können mit besseren hygienischen Verhältnissen schlimmer für die Infizierten werden (z. B. Kinderlähmung)
-Wasser für Afrika bedeutet mehr Mücken und damit mehr Parasiten und Viren.
Es wird also auch in Zukunft nicht langweilig...
Warum also nur drei Sterne? Das Buch ist eher ein historisch-sozialer Abriss, es fehlen viele Details zur Krankheitsentstehung, Behandlung und Vorgängen im Körper.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though written in 2007, it's an interesting, detailed introduction to major diseases (bacterial, parasitic, viral and lifestyle). Cancer is included as a lifestyle disease. Scary diseases such as ebola and SARS are described. A disease that affects millions in South America, chagas, is possibly the disease that affected and eventually killed Darwin. Each disease has a synopsis of how dangerous it is, how it is thought to be transmitted and possible future concerns. I appreciated the way alternative possible causes are discussed when there is no definite knowledge. Even though now dated (too old for something like Zitka) it would be a good textbook for an introduction to historical diseases course.

[Cel Jel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many diseases that have killed many humans. Some by sweeping across the face of the earth like the virus is doing this year. Told by a historian who speaks of the first records tellin of the disease, although the name for the condition may have changed, Mary explains the connections looking at the symptoms.
From infections passed from human to human, to animal vectors to human, to finally life style diseases, Mary's book was very interesting.
This hardback book included time lines of first records of the disease, progress in treatment, the person who first isolated the bacterium, virus or other infectious agent.
Well worth a read.

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible and well-written overview of some of the major diseases that have plagued mankind throughout its history. Is it a complete overview? Of course not ... that would lead to an incredibly dense book that only a few people would ever read. I suppose I could quibble with some diseases she left out, but any overview-type of book is going to have that issue.

The style is approachable and the author's voice is appropriate to the material. The insets and factoids are appropriate and informative, and the quality of the book (photos, typeface, etc.) is quite good.

[Green Magritte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemoci nejsou žádný seznamem chorob pro hypochondry, kteří by si v knize chtěli libovat, ale strhujícím příběhem třiceti nejnebezpečnějších zabijáků v dějinách lidstva. Vždyť jaký jiný příběh by to mohl být, když nemoci mají na lidstvo ničivější dopad než všechny války, hladomory a přírodní katastrofy dohromady? Nad tím se zamýšlí Mary Dobsonová ve formě poutavých textů, esejů i drobných historických anekdot o třiceti nejvýznamnějších a nejobávanějších nemocech, které lidstvo sužují často od jeho samotného úsvitu. Strhující kniha!

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally bought this coffee table book about epidemics for the pictures, but then I reached one of those points in my life where I needed something non-challenging to read for awhile. This filled that bill nicely. This is far from a comprehensive or even thought-provoking treatment of the subject, but it was an amusing way to pass a few hours when I didn’t have the brainpower for anything more engaging.

[Manda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens up your entire understanding of the battle against disease. Especially during this COVID19 Pandemic, reading this may give you a better understanding of what it actually takes to fight a disease on it's turf. Scientist and Doctors have been on the front lines for generations! I read this years ago and think this is the perfect time to re-read it.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My preceptor assigned me this to read because I had to take a sick day, and it was a fascinating read. I studied microbiology for my undergraduate degree, but I was largely unaware of the historical context surrounding most of the diseases I've studied. It was very interesting to read about all the historical perspectives surrounded some of the biggest names in medicine and epidemiology!

[Thee Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disease: The Extraordinary Stories of History’s Deadliest Killers by Mary Dobson
Very informative and prescient to the times we are living in. So much so that parts of it made me laugh. Decent coffee table book. Give it a read or you know look up these diseases.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this was a Borders book near the checkout counters, but never got to it until now. Nice little book with snapshots of some familiar or rare diseases. Recommended as a nice place to start for basics of disease and epidemiology in layman's terms.

[Julia Bilderback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than average. I wish that it would have had more diseases and that the last ones, like heart disease, wouldn't have been so long.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative during these times and not too complicated for a novice on this subject such as myself.

[Natália Somsedíková · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it as a little child and was obsessed with this book 😍

[Rick Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book covers most of the common diseases that effect modern man

[Kelly Woodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative read!

[Isabelle Danforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, Disease, by Mary Dobson, was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. It starts with a fascinating description of the first Black Plague and goes into amazing detail about how scientists attempted to solve the mysterious and mutating Plague. She offers a small timeline of events from 540 to the 21 century all about the Plagues of the years. Mary Dobson also includes quotes from people living in Europe and the descriptions are very interesting. She includes artistic renderings and a map of how the first plague is thought to have spread.On the side lines she includes headlines such as, "Why Me? Why Here? Why Now?". After giving an intricate explanation of the plague and the knowledge and effect of it in Europe in the 1300s, she continues with the discovery of the bacillus, Yersinia Pestis, in 1894.
All her chapters from Syphilis to Cancer are arranged in this manner. I was also impressed at the number of diseases covered. She goes through, the Black Plague, Leprosy, Syphilis, Typhus, Cholera, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Puerperal Fever, Encephalitis Lethargica, Malaria, African Trypanosomiasis, Chagas' disease, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, hookworm, onchoceriasis, smallpox, measles, yellow fever, dengue fever, rabies, polio, influenza, ebola, AIDS, SARS, scurvy, kuru, CJD, cancer, and heart disease. 30 diseases in all and every one of them is well described, the bacillus is identified and fascinating first hand stories emerge.

I found this book particularly fascinating because it does not have a level of vocabulary that is incredibly advanced and it is suitable for 13 year old like myself. It is nonetheless extremely detailed and in depth. It is a very scientific book and every virus, parasite or bacterium is stated. " Its causative organism, a bacterium called Treponema pallidum was identified in the early 20th century...". This quote shows how interesting this book can be. I tend to enjoy fiction but this book is so unbelievable that it seems to be fiction though it clearly i nonfiction.

The second reason I liked this book was the history of the diseases. I thought it was an excellent idea to include a timeline of events and also to include quotes from people at the time. Robert Koch says this on the subject of Tuberculosis, "In the future struggle against this dreadful plague of the human race, one will no longer have to contend with an indefinite something but with an actual parasite". By this Mr Koch means that his new discoveries have resulted in the possibility of future knowledge and understanding of plagues and epidemics. In this regard, he is correct. Prior to his discoveries doctors helped to spread diseases such as puerperal fever by spreading the parasites and viruses from patient to patient.

In conclusion, I adored this book because of its incredible detail and because of the history of the disease. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning amusing science

[Luke Maraffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important aspect to consider upon thinking about reading this book is that if you don't like disease because it creeps you out, or the history of disease and the stories behind the most rare ones in the world does not fascinate you, then this is not the right book for you. However, I personally do not think disease is a joke or fun to have, but the science and history behind it is very interesting to me. This book covers a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitical diseases that have made very negative and consequential impacts in today's society and in history. From ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, and many of the extremely deadly and vigilant plagues in history, this book deeply explains the causes and story behind each of the diseases. The novel is also very informative because it is not written in a very hard manner, so someone with little medical or scientific knowledge can easily understand the information. A wide variety of pictures in color with describing captions are also very helpful and interesting to analyze. The book is very informative and I really enjoyed reading and learning about the diseases and how they started and what occurred. Also, some interesting facts like how great people in history had some of the diseases like Stalin, who had measles, was very interesting to read.

[Duzzlebrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge glossy lavishly-illustrated coffee-table book (for the Addams Family's coffee table, I think). It gets five stars just for being such a physically attractive publication.

The book is subdivided into four sections for Viral, Bacterial, Parasitic and Lifestyle diseases, and each of the 30-odd diseases gets at least a couple of double-page spreads so that a reader can dip in and browse. There are supporting blocks of background information, and plentiful quotes. The writing isn't terribly in-depth, but that hardly matters when the general idea is to fascinate, entertain and whet the appetite for more.

[Patricia Joynton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange as it may seem, this is a wonderful coffee table book. It's an easy read with many graphic pictures (ever see a guinea worm being pulled out of a person's leg?). Also, so much of literature, especially from 1700-1800 mention diseases we don't know about (typhus, yellow fever, malaria)so it can be used as a good reference book. I enjoyed it.

[Maureen Forys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for people like me who have an interest in medical history but have essentially no knowledge of science (is it magic? Who knows). Very eye opening to realize that through human history, thousands upon thousands upon thousands of lives would have been spared if people just stopped shitting near the water supply. Thank God for modern sanitation/plumbing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very disappointed by some of the choices that the author made as to what to include in this book. For instance, although they fall into the parameters, cancer and heart disease are not exactly what I expected to find included. That's on me for not reading the table of contents more thoroughly. Some of the choices are interesting though, such as scurvy. Not a bad read but I was let down.

[Jessica D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read if you are interested in this topic. This is the book that made me realize I wanted to go into microbiology/epidemiology and not pharmacy. Great pictures, great history and facts about each disease. So easy and interesting to read :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book instead of studying for my physics finals. I loved the story of Typhoid Mary! This book covers "popular" diseases very thoroughly but in an easily understandable manner. It includes timelines and lots of art.