Customer Reviews

The History of Syphilis

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This book is not about a bacterium. It is, instead, about the cultural effects of the bacterium and how a simple germ was transformed into an avenging demon which destroyed the lives of millions.
Epidemiology is generally not considered the topic for a page turner, but the ebb and flow over the centuries of the reactions of various authorities to a problem of public health makes one remember that there are only two truths in our reality: the infinity of our universe and the infinity of human stupidity. And of these truths, his book supports the view that the latter is the absolute.
The implications of Quetel's book to the current HIV epidemic is obvious and for this fact alone it is worth reading. We cannot banish HIV without first banishing our ignorance about human sexuality. And as for syphilis, since there is now a huge epidemic in China as well as the continued high rates in the US, one can see that the most secure road to illness is placing self defined religious notions of moral purity above common sense. It is in not accepting that all of us are sexual beings.
I recommend this book strongly.