by Juvoni Beckford@juvoni
Before readingWhy I picked it up
I wanted to learn more about the psychology of crowds and how they behave during times of great distress as well as how to influence people for the better in those kinds of environments.
After readingPosted
Stories about the origins and resolutions to some of the worst plagues in human history. Although, medical advancements had a lot of do with some of the breakthroughs, simple sanitary and cultural changes had even bigger effects and it was interesting to read how people lived back then and how difficult they were to persuade on matters that are common sense to us today to protect our health.
Three reasons to read it
- A humorous book about history's worst plagues
- Stories of the heroic figures who fought to ease their suffering
- Cultural and Sanitary changes to lessen the spread of illnesses
Notable quotesJennifer WrightMore in Quotes
When we are electing government officials, it is not stupid to ask yourself, “If a plague broke out, do I think this person could navigate the country through those times, on a spiritual level, but also on a pragmatic one? Would they be able to calmly solve one problem, and then another one, and then the next one? Or would bodies pile up in the streets?
Parents refusing to vaccinate their children are doing something akin to allowing their kids to run about in traffic because they are irrationally afraid of sidewalks or they believe being struck by an oncoming car might be good in the long run.
But the bubonic plague never went away entirely. It still exists today. The World Health Organization reports that in 2013 there were 783 cases worldwide; 126 people died.35
Notes for this book are still being transcribed.
