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The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World
 
 
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The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World (Paperback)

by Steven Johnson (Author)
Key Phrases: waterborne theory, miasma theory, cholera deaths, Broad Street, Golden Square, John Snow (more...)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The idiosyncratic thinker and cultural historian Johnson leaps from trumpeting video games (in his previous book Everything Bad Is Good for You) to uncovering the history of murderous cholera infestations in London and the scientific research that revealed the microbial origins of the outbreaks. Sklar reads Johnson's engaging book with a deep, measured baritone that is the embodiment of solidly backed reasonability. Sklar makes each word sound as if it has been chipped into a block of marble, there to rest for all eternity. This is not always conducive to following the flow of Johnson's narrative, but Sklar does well with his voice what Johnson seeks to do with his book: insert a slip into the history book, adding the mundane deaths of working souls and the audacious efforts of scientists into the story of the European march of progress.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Bookmarks Magazine
In books such as Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software, Steven Johnson neatly draws connections between seemingly unconnected aspects of life—think of James Burke in the digital age. The Ghost Map is no different in applying a 21st-century sensibility to a 19th-century cholera epidemic. According to critics, Johnson makes a single tactical error in the last pages, where he attempts to link the events he describes to too many other contemporary historical trends while ignoring some real-world realities. Regardless, the story is in capable hands, and the lives of individuals and a culture on the cusp of technological and medical advance resonates with readers 150 years later.

Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details
Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
waterborne theory, miasma theory, cholera deaths, weekly returns, poultry workers, terrible outbreak, asymmetric warfare
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Broad Street, Golden Square, John Snow, Board of Health, Henry Whitehead, Benjamin Hall, Vestry Committee, William Farr, South London, Edwin Chadwick, Berwick Street, East London, The Lancet, Victorian London, Board of Governors, Cross Street, Regent Street, Lion Brewery, Little Marlborough Street, Poland Street, Reverend Whitehead, Sarah Lewis, Susannah Eley, East End, Great Stink
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The New Public Health by Theodore H. Tulchinsky
 

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Customer Reviews

117 Reviews
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4.1 out of 5 stars (117 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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100 of 107 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating: A look at the past, A look into the future., October 29, 2006
This review is from: The Ghost Map (Hardcover)
This is surprisingly, one fascinating and important read that spins the historical reality of pathogenic disease with a well crafted story regarding the plight of a society facing a treacherous epidemic. Combining an in-depth view regarding the indefatigable energy and brilliance of Dr. John Snow in his quest to solve the deadliest outbreak of cholera in the history of London, with the history of epidemic plagues, `The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic- And How it Changed Cities, Science, and The Modern World' provided me with one page-turning, gripping historical tale that also provided further insight into the plight free societies face today in lieu of the possabilities of biological or chemical attacks on innocent people.

When I was recommended to read Steven Johnson's book, it was not for the sake of diving into a good read, but rather to `browse' through it for further insight on the origins of water contamination and how, thru these origins, terrorist could look at contamination for horrific purposes. As a writer with an interest in international affairs, and a tendency to use fiction storytelling to share my views, I opened Steven Johnson's book and within pages was completely hooked on this extraordinarily written, well researched tell all of the London epidemic of cholera that killed so many lives.

With reflection on how science viewed pathogenic outbreaks during the midpoint of the 19th Century, it was startling to find that there really existed a classification system that gave all sorts of bizarre reasons why a disease would spread, including a weight based upon wealth and financial disposition! We sure have come a long way . . . or have we? I guess we can still look at Africa with great outrage and clearly say we're back in London during 1854! And this folks is important: in Johnson's attempt to share the history of the past, what he really is doing is talking about the immediate needs of to protect the most impoverished with assistance to medical treatment, and ongoing diligence to understand the nature of disease and how wide-spread health concerns effect not only those who are directly in contact with a pathogenic, but equally as important: how societies infrastructure's essentially crumble when epidemic disease spreads.

Writing with such an easy style that readers will not get lost, Johnson takes us on a fascinating trip with Dr. John Snow; clearly one of the scientific pioneers whose actions have saved the lives of untold people. Take your time and sit back with `The Ghost Map': it may bring you a bit closer to acting in a socially responsible way that connects all of us a bit further. It may even cause you to open your wallet and send a few much needed dollars to health care organizations attempting to follow the lead of Dr. Snow: determining pathogenic causes and feverishly attempting to help those in need. Steven Johnson's `The Ghost Map' is simply brilliant.
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars History With A Warning, November 13, 2006
This review is from: The Ghost Map (Hardcover)
The Ghost Map is an engrossing tale of medical detection and discovery. In 1854 a London neighborhood was suddenly plunged into a massive cholera epidemic. The actual disease was awful enough, but ignorance added to the fear felt by Londoners, because no one understood the true method by which cholera spread from one victim to another. Prevailing medical opinion held that cholera, like nearly all other diseases, was spread through miasmas, bad air and bad smells.

Two men, Dr. John Snow and Rev. Henry Whitehead, began to suspect that the true culprit was water from the neighborhood pump and conducted an assiduous investigation that finally proved them right. Although most doctors and scientists were reluctant to discard the miasma theory, eventually the weight of the evidence convinced them that Snow and Whitehead were correct.

Like all good histories, The Ghost Map branches from the main story to trace the many different ways in which Snow and Whitehead's investigations helped lead to the development of modern cities. I especially enjoyed the final chapters and epilogue, in which Johnson identifies many ways in which our modern mega-cities are both more vulnerable (yet thanks to technology and communications safer and better able to cope with threats as well) than was London in 1854.

The Ghost Map is an engrossing read, well written, scholarly, yet dramatic too. It will appeal to historians and fans of medical detection alike.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful book about the 1854 Cholera outbreak... but oddly named., February 28, 2007
By M. Strong (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Ghost Map (Hardcover)
The Ghost Map uses the Cholera outbreak in London in 1854 to weave together a compelling story of science, demographics and superstition. Rather than just engaging in a straightforward narrative about the outbreak, Johnson dives into a truly interesting analysis of the fear with which people viewed city living in the 1850s. Back then, nobody knew if a city of 2 million people, like London, would simply crumble under its own social weight. He also digs deeply into the science and medicine of the time (or lack thereof) and how it treated an outbreak like 1854's. In addition, he lays out the story of John Snow doing true scientific work, finding the real cause of the outbreak, winning some important converts, failing to win others, but ultimately saving many lives.

What makes the book so good is the way it places you into the mind of someone living in London in 1854 and making you understand why it was so hard for them to accept the true cause of the disease when it seems so obvious to us today. That experience makes a thoughtful reader wonder what things we take for granted today that will seem so obviously wrong in 150 years.

The book stays at four stars, not five, for several reasons. First off, the actual namesake of the book, The Ghost Map, is little more than a tacked-on afterthought at the conclusion of the book. It's interesting, but more of a post-script than anything else, and certainly not appropriate as the title of the book - somebody must have thought it sounded like it would sell books. No worries though, the book it sells is a good one.

Also, Johnson goes on some odd tangents at the end of the book talking about city life and trying to tie internet technology back to the work Snow did. It's a reach and not terribly relevant. I get the feeling it was fun for Johnson to write his pet theories, but they don't really fit here and probably could have been the basis of an interesting book on their own.

All in all, this one has some flaws, but is a thought-provoking an interesting book the takes your mind back 150 years and gives you a fresh perspective. Well worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Main Story Line Doesn't Need The Additional Claims
This well written description of the cholera outbreak in early Victorian London has a number of important points relating to official institutional behavior when presented with... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Chuck Brooks

3.0 out of 5 stars fascinating history
This is a fascinating story of how the cholera outbreak in 19th century London was finally attributed not to the air and smells but to water taken from a specific pump. Read more
Published 17 days ago by sas

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Teaching Book!
In my opinion, the book isn't "just" about cholera or the ways in which Dr. Snow found its causes. Rather, it's a fascinating and compelling story about the ways in which we... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Someone's Mom

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Relevant and Entertaining
Given the recent outbreak of swine flu and the national reaction to the virus's spread The Ghost Map seemed especially appropriate to add to my reading list. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Todd Jansson

4.0 out of 5 stars Vivid descriptions... but few maps!
I am a reader of non fiction only if it tells a good story with lots of interesting facts included. This is exactly what the Ghost Map does. Read more
Published 3 months ago by bhr

5.0 out of 5 stars Fallacious Reasoning Can Be Deadly
Cholera devastates cities, a lethal enemy that has killed countless millions. The Ghost Map takes us to 1854 when a cholera epidemic ravaged London's Soho district, claiming more... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Charlie Wingard

4.0 out of 5 stars A page turner
I bought this book based on other reviews. If you like a detective story and are interested in Victorian times, this is a real page turner. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Moriarty

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read - holds your attention
The Ghost Map is basically a medical detective story. When cholera devastates a London neighborhood, a brilliant doctor and the local preacher team up to find out what caused the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gunny

5.0 out of 5 stars great
This is an exhaustive telling of John Snow and companies great detective work. This book is a truly remarkable account of dedication and perseverance. Read more
Published 4 months ago by sam

4.0 out of 5 stars Ghost Map: Well Written History
I enjoy well written history and thoughtful commentary on the links between history and our contemporary world. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jude

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