The Great Influenza

Very interesting look at early 20th century medical practices (scaaaaary...). Fascinating to consider that this flu outbreak caused the rise of Nazism - Wilson very likely was suffering from the flu while negotiating the Versailles Treaty. Hm.

Do not read this book and “The Stand” at the same time. Just don't.

(more notes found on Google Drive)

Highlights: Holy Toledo Woodrow Wilson was a nutjob * This is a very good book.

What I Took Away:
Wilson out-McCarthied McCarthy
Total focus of gov't on war war war

Bizarre non-education required for doctors in this country at turn of century. Johns Hopkins Univ set up modeled on German universities where medical students actually saw live patients, studied chemistry and biology, worked with cadavers. Most of the people who worked on figuring out what the flu was came through the Johns Hopkins system.

H#N# refer to design of virus - hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The “H” binds tightly to the cells in the respiratory tract, and worms its way into the cell itself, allowing it to hide from the immune system. The “N” acts like little knives, cutting off any sialic acid that could grab onto the virus as it explodes away to infect other cells. 15 basic shapes of “H” and 9 of “N”

This version of the flu was so deadly for the young (20-40 yo) because it overstimulated the immune system. “cytokine storm”

Death toll in this country wasn't as high as in other places (e.g. India) but it was still pretty awful. Philadelphia was the worst hit. Mass graves, bodies still in houses for days after death. Civilization teetering on the brink. (do NOT read this book and “The Stand” at the same time!)

Gov't inaction, denial made people more fearful and paranoid. People wouldn't help because they didn't understand the way the infection worked (who did?) didn't want to catch it. Families starved because no one would bring them food.

Wilson probably had flu in Europe, affected the way he negotiated the settlement at the end of the war. Flu responsible for Nazis/WWII?

[Dave Garner pointed out that this is a major part of US history that NO ONE TALKS ABOUT]

Two things kept me from enjoying this book. The first was that it could have used some editing. It was so long that Audible split its audiobook file into three parts, and a huge portion of the first section was concerning, not the 1918-1919 pandemic, but the history of medical education in America. The second was petty on my part, I admit, but it was slightly annoying that the author kept referring to John Hopkins University as “The Hopkins”. The nickname just seemed too informal for the context of this book.
The listening was much enhanced by the narration by Scott Brick, however.

2.8 stars

The editor went seriously AWOL on this one. The writer couldn't decide what exactly to write about so wrote about everything & everyone. The narrative is part biography (of multiple people, mind you), part investigative journalism and part death registry. And that doesn't even include the parts when I was spaced out.

Such wasted promise.

Very informative book given the era of pandemic we are in. This book is taking a deep dive regarding 1918 pandemic as well as other epidemic throughout civilization; It is picturing what we know about different types of Influenza their pathology and epidemiology.

John Barry illustrates the horror humanity go through during 1981 pandemic and how close civilization come to edge of collapse. Within the conclusion author revels the inevitability of another pandemic based on scientific study and how unprepared we are.

This book covers history of the viruses, key figures that have major contribution for discoveries about the virus as well as historical events such as word war II and significant political and medical decisions that end up saving or losing a lot of life.