Outbreak! Plagues That Changed History [Hardcover]

Bryn Barnard (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Did the Black Death destroy the feudal system? Did cholera pave the way for modern Manhattan? Did yellow fever help end the slave trade? Remarkably, the answer to all of these questions is yes. Time and again, diseases have impacted the course of human history in surprisingly powerful ways. From influenza to small pox, from tuberculosis to yellow fever, Bryn Barnard describes the symptoms and paths of the world’s worst diseases–and how the epidemics they spawned have changed history forever.

Highlighted with vivid and meticulously researched illustrations, Outbreak is a fascinating look at the hidden world of microbes–and how this world shapes human destiny every day.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–This well-written volume explores specific plagues that have impacted society. Barnard begins with an introduction to microbes and the positive and negative effects that they can have on humans. A history of the study of microorganisms follows. The bulk of the book then focuses on specific plagues with a chapter devoted to each, including the Black Death, smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, tuberculosis, and influenza. The final chapter discusses the modern struggle against disease. A thorough glossary and a detailed list of sources are included. The evocative paintings help to clarify the text. Browsers and report writers alike will find this to be a fascinating and informative resource.–Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT
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About the Author

Bryn Barnard has illustrated numerous books and is the author of Dangerous Planet: Natural Disasters That Changed History. The author lives in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375829865
• ISBN-13: 978-0375829864
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.4 x 12.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, July 10, 2006

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Outbreak! Plagues That Changed History (Hardcover)

In this interesting book, author Bryn Barnard looks at six diseases that changed history - the Black Death, smallpox (in its effects on the New World), yellow fever, cholera, tuberculosis, and the Spanish Flu of 1918. Each disease is given its own chapter, where its history, causes and effects are all discussed in depth.

Now, it is true that the author does allow his political biases to intrude in the narrative - for example condemning British use of smallpox as a weapon, while merely glossing over the Mongol use of bubonic plague as a weapon, or holding up the Cuban health system as a model for future emulation. But, I do not think that it detracted too much from the overall excellent job that the author did in covering the diseases.

Now, it must be said that the book should be subtitled "Plagues that changed modern history," as even the author admits that such pre-modern plagues as Justinian's Plague of A.D. 542 and the 430 B.C. Plague of Athens changed history. But, that said, I did find this to be a very interesting read, one that is sure to please any reader interested in the history of disease.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, May 21, 2006

By 

Jean Wright "Jean Wright" (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outbreak! Plagues That Changed History (Library Binding)

This is an exciting and scientificaly accurate description of how the interaction of humans, culture and microbes have changed the world and the course of history through the centuries. It begins with the story of the Black Death (plauge) and brings us up to where the world is now poised on the brink of another flu epidemic like the Spanish flu of 1918. The writing is direct and imaginative with clear relationships established between various illnesses and there affects on human societes. I recommend this to anyone interested in current or past world events. And shouldn't that be all of us?

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for health care workers, July 28, 2011

By 

OUTFOX Prevention - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outbreak! Plagues That Changed History (Hardcover)

We found this book to increase the general interest of health care workers. OUTBREAK gave hospital employees different perspectives dealing with their fight against infection. It is a recommended read since it deepens the understanding of how our actions and habits can change history.

OUTFOX
OUTFOXprevention.com