Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the search for the Virus that Caused it By Gina Kolata. AKA longest book title yet.I started this book about 2-3 years ago when the Avian Flu was scaring the pants off of everyone and drugs companies started selling Tamiflu in somewhat indecent and very profitable haste. And the book in and of itself is a hard one to read as it leaves behind a traditional narrative for a disjointed series of biographies and episodic events in the modern life of H1N1 and the virus we call influenza.
A series of obsessive people and half completed hypothesis and experiments with little to show at the end of the day except more questions. One thing it does leave you with though is the sense that we overreact badly to certain things. And that sometimes scientists can be so stupid so as to beggar belief that they represent the greatest minds among us.
On an unrelated note the book also introduced me to the logical tool of Alexanders Question. What information if presented to you would make you change your mind? An excellent exercise in logic and counterargument if you need one.
Done early this week - 2 days of reading and done. May have to pick something longer this week since I have a greater window of opportunity. Charlie Brooker may have to wait.
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