For readers of Mary Roach and Jared Diamond, an innovative look at the
histories of different epidemics and what it meant for society,
alongside what lessons different diseases have to teach us as society
battles the novel coronavirus.
Throughout history, there have been numerous epidemics that have
threatened mankind with destruction. Diseases have the ability to
highlight our shared concerns across the ages, affecting every social
divide from national boundaries, economic categories, racial divisions,
and beyond. Whether looking at smallpox, HIV, Ebola, or COVID-19
outbreaks, we see the same conversations arising as society struggles
with the all-encompassing question: What do we do now?
In "poignant yet relevant detail" (Niki Kapsambelis, author of The
Inheritance), Quarantine Life from Cholera to COVID-19 demonstrates
that these conversations have always involved the same questions of
individual liberties versus the common good, debates about rushing new
and untested treatments, considerations of whether quarantines are
effective to begin with, what to do about healthy carriers, and how to
keep trade circulating when society shuts down.
This vibrant social and medical history tracks different diseases and
outlines their trajectory, what they meant for society, and societal
questions each disease brought up, along with practical takeaways we can
apply to current and future pandemics--so we can all be better prepared
for whatever life throws our way.
