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Title: Germs, Genes, & Civilization: How Epidemics Shaped Who We Are Today
Author: David P. Clark
Narrator: Summer McStravick
Format: Unabridged
Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
Language: English
Release date: 12-09-11
Publisher: Pearson
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 56 votes
Genres: History, World
Publisher's Summary:
The stunning, hidden interconnections between microbes and humanity.
AD 452: Attila the Hun stands ready to sack Rome. No one can stop him - but he walks away. A miracle? No... dysentery. Microbes saved the Roman Empire. Nearly a millennium later, the microbes of the Black Death ended the Middle Ages, making possible the Renaissance, Western democracy, and the scientific revolution. Soon after, microbes ravaged the Americas, paving the way for their European conquest.
Again and again, microbes have shaped our health, our genetics, our history, our culture, our politics, even our religion and ethics. This book reveals much that scientists and cultural historians have learned about the pervasive interconnections between infectious microbes and humans. It also considers what our ongoing fundamental relationship with infectious microbes might mean for the future of the human species.
Critic Reviews:
"With wit and humor, the author turns death, an ever-heavy topic, into an engrossing exploration of the course of mankind." (Publishers Weekly)
Members Reviews:
Amazing Introduction!
This book is an excellent introduction regarding genetics and DNA. It is fairly long, approximately 7 hours or so, and at times can be a little dry. Overall though I have not seen any works that do a better job at introducing the basic principles of genetics and applying real life examples. To date I have listened to it twice and will likely listen to it more down the road.
Thouroughly enjoyable
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Highly recommended, a clear eyed view of historical events highlighting the role of infections in shaping them. Spanning from early history to recent events.
Cheery and chirpy plagues and catastrophes
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Perhaps. There are nuggets of information that create interesting speculations on the impact of infectious diseases on the course of history: the rise and fall of civilizations and religions, conquerors and the conquered. Sound science. A little loopy in construction, as some anecdotes make multiple appearances in the text.
What didnt you like about Summer McStravicks performance?
The narrator went to smile school, and read everything in sing-song cheeriness, as if reading a children's book to a slightly dense toddler. The jarring impact of hearing a voice like that talk about pestilence, cholera, devastation and death is, to say the least, distracting. Also, the mispronunciations made me wonder if there was adult supervision. Honestly, "prelate" is *not* pronounced pree-late.
Any additional comments?
On balance, if you're a science fan, grit your teeth and get through it.
An Adventure in Listening
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, the way the narrator keeps you on the edge of your seat (earphones actually) is amazing. As a history book it is second to none - as a scientific thriller it is excellent. Absolutely enjoyable.
Rgds
Patrick
What does Summer McStravick bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
Great voice
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Think
Disappointing
I had hoped for more, but this book is pretty much what you would expect from a biologist playing at being a historian.
