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The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History

Written by:
John M. Barry
Narrated by:
Scott Brick

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
163
Narrator
18
Release Date
March 16, 2006
Duration
19 hours 27 minutes
Summary
In the winter of 1918, at the height of World War I, history's most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four weeks than AIDS has killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision between modern science and epidemic disease. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, THE GREAT INFLUENZA weaves together multiple narratives, with characters ranging from William Welch, founder of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, to John D. Rockefeller and Woodrow Wilson. Ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, this crisis provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.
Reviews
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Gary G.

This should be a must read for all of us given the current pandemic we are experiencing. It puts what we are going through into perspective, and exposes many parallels between the two pandemics. "Those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it" This book could help us cope today.

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Glenn G.

This is a brilliant book. At times, the detail can be a bit overwhelming. The contributions of the scientist presented in the book is truly remarkable. They deserve considerably greater recognition than they have received. I felt the criticisms of President Wilson however, were a bit excessive.

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Patrick M.

Very engrossing narrative that is so fitting after the past few years.

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Marian P.

Fully informative. Fascinating, given the events of this past year.

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JMR

A great story a great achievement

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Mudassar B.

The books highlights the horrors of the 1918 influenza, horrors which were inadvertently exacerbated by a US government at war which ironically was trying to keep the spirits of its population high.

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Richard B.

I tell my friends this is a thriller! John Barry lays out in graphic detail the epic saga of the battle between scientists and the greatest pandemic in history. Ultimately science prevails and today has demonstrated that no disease has a chance against modern technologies. Because of the genius of many, Taiwan was able to STOP COVID-19 IN ITS TRACKS and has already reopened schools and donated millions of masks to the US and Europe. Taiwan only had 5 deaths as of 3/4/2020 from C19 and showed the world how to properly react to a highly contagious and lethal plague.

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Anonymous

One of the best books I ever read!

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Carina Ward

Great book. Super interesting. I was on the edge of my seat.

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