Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: chicken leukemia virus, vaccine makers, chick cells, United States, Maurice Hilleman, Nobel Prize (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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*Starred Review* Maurice Hilleman's name isn't well known, and according to infectious disease expert Offit's riveting biography, that is both a shame and a blessing. It's a shame because the outspoken, brilliant, yet humble scientist from Montana invented vaccines that all but wiped out a number of infectious diseases. Thanks to his genius, such diseases as mumps, rubella, measles, and hepatitis A and B no longer claim millions of lives, mostly children's. He merits greater recognition. His obscurity is a blessing because it prevents more people from using his name in vain, for Hilleman's vaccines have recently become increasingly controversial and their efficacy clouded by questions about adverse side effects. Still, Offit pulls no punches in defending Hilleman against those who would crucify him for combining measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines into one shot and for the choice to add thimerosal to extend the shelf life of all vaccines. Despite the fact that Offit's bias on behalf of public health shows, the book is a powerful examination of the kind of single-minded determination it takes to tackle diseases that threaten the world's children. And to do so without bravado—no vaccine bears Hilleman's name, no awards his mantle—is to define what it is to be simply heroic. Chavez, Donna

Review

"This extraordinarily fine, well-researched, and beautifully written book deserves the widest possible readership. More physicians should write this well." (Choice magazine )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian; 1 edition (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061227951
• ISBN-13: 978-0061227950
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #352,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging down-to-earth history of vaccination through a remarkble man's life story by a top expert in the field, December 26, 2007

By	Ying Jin "geektrick" (Gaithersburg,MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is written by a top expert in the field who also developed one of the latest vaccine. And Dr.Offit's writing style is very engaging and yet succint and straight. I am from an engineering background, and I valued the content-to-word ratio(how dense is the content). And Dr.Offit's book beats my yardstick to the ground. It is content heavy yet very engaging. Also Dr.Hilleman's life story spearks for itself too. Salute to Dr. Offit for letting Dr.Hilleman's achievement recognized by more people. Highly recommend.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A visit to a different world... the US 60 years ago, September 6, 2008

By	C. Clark (upstate, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases (Hardcover)

I love this book. I appreciate the realistic portrayal of Maurice Hilleman and his contemporaries, and how realistic the portrayal of the way vaccines were created in the 1950's, including the fact that the scientists tested out the vaccines on themselves and their families. I think I will always remember the pictures of Hilleman's daughters including the one who had been the host of the mumps virus that her father turned into a vaccine for mumps. It is officially called the Jeryl Lynn mumps strain even today. Hilleman encouraged his daughters to study science.

I also like Dr. Offit's style of writing.

15 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, Entertaining, and Educational, August 29, 2007

By	D. Cragin - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many diseases of old have become so rare that people now often fear the vaccine more than the disease itself. This book gives a window into what life was like before the introduction of vaccines as well as the challenges involved in creating them. The book also provides an interesting contrast in terms of how vaccines are developed today versus yesteryear.

While I often speed read books, Offit has an engaging style that kept my eyes glued to every page. If you have interest in history or medicine or just are looking for a book to entertain and educate you, I can highly recommend Vaccinated.