Disease: The Extraordinary Stories Behind History's Deadliest Killers [Hardcover]

Mary Dobson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Quercus Books (February 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847240143
• ISBN-13: 978-1847240149
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, easy to read and very detailed!, June 3, 2009

By 

Amanda (Milwaukie, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disease: The Extraordinary Stories Behind History's Deadliest Killers (Hardcover)

I am a Microbiology major at my University, and in my senior year learned about all 30 of the diseases covered in this book. When I picked it up, I expected many of the scientific details to be glossed over, but was amazed at how much detail was in each chapter, detail that I was tested over in my classes! This book was extremely straight forward, interesting and easy to read. I bought it as a gift for my father upon my graduation because he always seemed so fascinated by my coursework in Microbiology. I haven't yet given it to him, but I know he is going to love it! This book is so well done and so informative for anyone curious about the many amazing and horrific diseases that have affected humans and animals.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book, December 29, 2008

By 

Wise Reader "mom-of-two" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Disease: The Extraordinary Stories Behind History's Deadliest Killers (Hardcover)

If your children are ready to graduate from Horrible Histories and DK Eyewitness books, or if you are an adult wanting an enjoyable lay persons explanation of disease, this might be the place to start. My 12 year old daughter came home from school very inspired by her science class in which they were studying disease and I bought her this book. She has barely put it down and can't wait to take it to school when winter break is over to show her teacher.
There are four subsections: Bacterial Diseases (plague, leprosy, syphilis, typhus, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, puerperal fever, enephalitis), Parasitic Diseases(malaria, african trypnosomiasis, chagas' disease, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, hookworm, onchocerciasis), Viral Diseases (smallpox, measles, yellow fever, dengue fever, rabies, polio, influenza, ebola, AIDs, SARS), and Lifestyle Diseases(scurvy, kuru&CJD, cancer, heart disease).
Each disease is represented by approximately 2-4 two page spreads with timelines, excerpts from journal and other literature, illustrations, maps and explatations. The Plague for example begins by discussing how it is transmitted, discussion of the fictional novel "LaPeste" by Albert Camus, and smaller subsections such as: 'Dead rats and modern Imagination', 'The First Great Plague', 'The Origins of the Black Death', 'The Sorrow and the Pity', 'Rotting Corpses and Silent Bells'.
The book describes treatments, how people thought the disease was spread and the causes vs. what the modern realities are. A small but significant warning for some families: this is for kids who are ready for more mature content. For instance, the section on cancer shows an 'older type' drawing in which a woman's cancerous breast is being cut off with a big shears. Very barbaric, not at all sexual or nudity explicit, but some of the content would be shocking for kids and some adults not ready for this. It doesn't use as many euphamisms and no cartoony styles as do books for elementary age kids on the same topic.
I highly reccomend this book and would definitely use it if we were still homeschooling. It is a welcome addition to our library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully done!, December 5, 2008

By 

Samantha Tracy (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disease: The Extraordinary Stories Behind History's Deadliest Killers (Hardcover)

I just recently bought this book. I've read many books on diseases and infections, and this was definitely not just another repeat. It has an informative and easy-to-read background on the discovery and documented history of the aforementioned. It is the first book like this that I have acquired that has beautiful glossy pages, artwork/photos, and easy-to-read print. I'd venture to say it's readable by 11 y/o plus. I paid an amazing $13; definitely going on my coffee table when I'm through reading it. ;)