A review by bren_09
Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy

5.0

Many of us think of history from the standpoint of what one group does or another. But as this book so eloquently points out, history is likely far more affected by the health of the groups than it is by the strategy and might of those waging war. The author takes a look at the effects during a variety of different times in history: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Ancient, Medieval, Colonial, Revolutionary, Industrial, and Plagues of Poverty. He traces the historical events but also talks about the conditions that affect how the events progress.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in history or especially how the world developed over time. And while not identified specifically in the book, there are parallels to our world today in the way we treat homelessness. He does talk more broadly about how countries focus their resources; I found much of this very interesting. And yes, today the disparity between the wealthy and the poor nations continues in part because of infectious diseases.