Reviews (10)

Inspiring and Enlightening
Melissa Fay Greene's book is a voice for the millions of orphans unable to speak or understand the brutal reality that is their everyday life. Her diligent research and personal observation has given us insight to a devastation so alarming that it seems incomprehensible that humanity hasn't moved beyond the table talk to actively control the "pandemic". The author introduces us to a woman of remarkable courage, service and commitment as she struggles to heal from her personal losses by opening her heart to orphaned children with a renewed spirit and purpose. I am grateful to the author for tackling a social issue of perplexing magnitude with respect, sincerity and fact.

Heartbreaking, powerful & moving
For years, I have thought about adopting a child from Africa, and this book confirmed for me that this is something I will, and need to do in the near future.This book was heartbreaking, heartfelt, and also showed the power of what simple woman with endless love in her heart can do.Haregewoin Teferra is a true angel here on earth - she took in orphans, some of them infected with HIV, in a country where such a disease is stigmatized.She overcame her own personal heartbreak over losing her husband and daughter and transformed that pain into something amazing and beautiful. She is a true inspiration to me.To hear the statistics of poverty and disease in Africa is mind-boggling.It humbles me and makes me want to do more.We should all want to do more.

Fantastic page turner
First, a confession:My family, joined together through adoption, is mentioned in this book.I admit to wanting to like this book, beginning to read with a certain prejudice, wanting the book to be good.Instead I discovered that Melissa Fay Greene's latest book is fantastic, a page turner, a book that I began one night and then continued to read into the wee hours, finding myself unable to put it down.You will laugh, you will cry, you will be amazed and depressed and convicted and yet you will be so glad you read this book.
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Subjects:  1. Addis Ababa    2. Aids (Psychosocial Aspects)    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Children of AIDS patients    5. Children's Studies    6. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    7. Ethiopia    8. Health & Fitness    9. Health/Fitness    10. Humanitarians    11. Orphans    12. Philanthropy & Charity    13. Services For Children    14. Services for    15. Social conditions    16. Women    17. Social Science / General   

Reviews (2)

A book that is continuously updated
An amazing book.I came to know it by being a student in the class that the authors teach at UC Irvine--AIDS Fundamentals (by far the most informative and interesting class I have ever taken). I read the second edition, originally--the great thing about this book is that it is consistantly updated textbook--if you read each edition as it appears, you keep up with the developments. This is a book to be read over and over.

Great for anyone!
This book is a must-have for anyone who works in health education or is a practitioner of any sort.Fan et al have created an easy-to-read yet detailed account of HIV and AIDS from the views of the epidemiologist, virologist, health care worker, psychologist, sociologist, and anyone else interested in the topic.I first encountered this book in 1999 as a student enrolled in a course on HIV and it's impact on our society.I now use it in teaching County sponsored HIV/STD workshops and mini courses to youth ages 13-19 and to professors and students at my university. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. AIDS (Disease)    3. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    4. General    5. Infectious Diseases    6. Medical    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Social aspects    9. Sociology - General    10. Sociology Of Medicine    11. Family & Health    12. Health & Fitness / General    13. Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects   

Reviews (1)

HIV and the pathogenesis of AIDS
This is really excellent book about HIV. It is easy to understand but contains nearly all advanced recent topics including history, immunology and pathogenesis of HIV. Especially for the students who study HIV, this isthe best reference for general and specific knowledge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. Acquired Immunodeficiency Synd    3. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome    4. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    5. HIV (Viruses)    6. HIV infections    7. Immunology    8. Medical    9. Medical / Nursing    10. Microbiology    11. Pathogenesis    12. etiology    13. HIV / AIDS    14. Medical research    15. Pathology   

Editorial Review

For all the devastation and suffering AIDS has caused worldwide, we have devoted surprisingly little attention to its beginnings. Former UN official and BBC correspondent Edward Hooper hopes to find the source of AIDS in Read more

Reviews (49)

Remarkable bookdealing with a highly probable conclusion.
In view of Ed Hoopers theory on what occured is it possible that criticisers of the author and his exhaustive research have overlooked one important point.(infact among many others)
Forever Inspiring!Opening the Eyes of Science!
As a Biology and Pre-med student in 1999, I purchased this book fresh off the shelf, when it was first being sold.Dedicated to the world of science and research, I was eager to learn more about health, science, diseases, and the epidemic called AIDS.
How so much could go wrong
The title of this book refers to the Congo River of Africa.This great river became famous in Western minds in the 1800s with the journeys of Dr. Livingstone.Later, it would be the setting of The Heart of Darkness.Doctors and scientists in the heart of darkness indeed as The River explains in its long, well-documented, exhaustive tale of secretive, unregulated medical research.This book's author interviews hundreds of individuals involved in this process, goes over countless documents, and from it, pieces together the following story.
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Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. AIDS (Disease)    3. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    4. Contamination    5. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    6. Epidemiology    7. Etiology    8. General    9. History    10. Immunopathology    11. Poliomyelitis vaccine    12. Science    13. Social Science    14. Sociology    15. Medicine   

Subjects:  1. Chemical warfare    2. Diseases    3. Emergency Medicine    4. First Aid    5. Handbooks & Manuals    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Health & Fitness    8. Health & Fitness / First Aid    9. Health Risk Assessment    10. Medical    11. Medical / Diseases    12. Medical / Nursing    13. Microbiology    14. Reference   

Reviews (10)

Correct on metaphor; incorrect on mind-body link and HIV causation
Sontag is spot-on in her analysis of metaphors of AIDS: the military metaphors, the latency metaphors, and the plague metaphors. Her observations are keen and insightful in this regard. It is troubling then, that she seems unwilling to follow her own analysis and that she dismisses "psychological" aspects of disease causation in favor of a purely materialist understanding. Does she not realise that the "de-interpretation" of illness metaphors is itself a psychological act that affects patients? How does she reconcile her dismissal of psychological states with the fact that her very own writings on illness and AIDS are themselves psychological and therapeutic?
Poor Susan
Susan Sontag disparaged the idea that dis-eases are caused by mental states, and her resolutely taking this position illustrates the great and willing blindness of this talented but dis-eased anti-white racist. She had such a beautiful basket of blossoms to offer, and between their leaves and stems crawled poisonous snakes she could not free herself of because she wasn't willing to look in her own basket. Unfortunately her work is forever tainted with her hatred.Sad -

this book misses the point
i think Susan Sontag is missing the political nature of illness.as far as i'm concerned there is a culture of blaming the victim in our society that is not limited to medicine.the victim is blamed because the victim has little power.the ill person is blamed because the tobacco companies are powerful, the oil companies are powerful, the sugar companies are powerful, the retail chains are powerful, the manufacturers are powerful, the health insurance companies are powerful and the governments are powerful.they have armies of lawyers to defend them; they have armies of doctors, scientists, and psychiatrists to fabricate pseudo-scientific evidence to support their self interest, but the victim is powerless to defend themselves against blame.this isn't about language, it's about politics of money and power.language is only one of the tools that the powerful use to blame the ill, and victims more generally. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    3. Diseases - Cancer    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Metaphor    7. Physical Illness (Psychiatric Aspects)    8. Semiotics & Theory    9. Social aspects    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Social Theory    12. Sontag, Susan - Prose & Criticism    13. Tuberculosis in literature    14. Medical / AIDS & HIV   

Reviews (3)

Every dog owner should have this book
"First Aid for Dogs" was one of three similar books I bought and is clearly the best, by a head and shoulders margin.It has almost 200 pages of information about a variety of conditions that can occur at home, in the neighborhood, or in the field.It makes very clear what to look for (symptoms) and then gives a helpful "decision tree" (if this is present, then do or look for ---; if that is not present, then look for or do ---).It is also very clear about what options you have in contacting a vet: Now! Same day. Within 24 hrs.Soon.Phone for advice. Literally, a life saver.
When my wife, Amy, and I bought Sparky, our pet pekinese, we picked up this book, though we hoped to never need it.It was so clearly written and easy to use that the entire family read it.When our oldest son, Ryan, used it to save Sparky from choking on peanut butter, we realized just how valuable the advice in this book is.Thank you, Bruce and Amanda, for saving our dog's life.

This book is wonderful!
i love this book! it tells me what to do when there is an emergencey ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Diseases    3. Dogs    4. Dogs - Care/Health    5. Dogs - General    6. First Aid    7. Pets    8. Small Animal Medicine    9. Treatment    10. Veterinary emergencies    11. Wounds and injuries    12. Pets / Dogs / General   

Reviews (1)

Activities Galore
I was actually a student in Tana's University classroom.It was this book that allowed me to learn a ton of information about ideas to use in the classroom, regarding issues that sometimes hinder emotional well being.It is my hope that all teachers incorporate emotional well being awareness into their everyday classrooms. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Behavior Management    2. Classroom Management    3. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    4. Education / Teaching    5. Educational Policy & Reform - School Safety    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Mental health    9. Mental health promotion    10. Self-esteem in adolescence    11. Self-esteem in children    12. Students    13. Family & Health    14. Health & Fitness / General   

Reviews (1)

The PDR for wilderness injuries & related illnesses
Foregoing knowledge of the existance of this text was unkown, until it was needed in an emergent situation on site. At that time a stingray injury required our immediate attention. With no previous experience in this kind of injury, the book provided immediate no frills information on treatment, backup care and procedures.After this experience, I carefully examined the text at length and was amazed at the comprehensive nature of the topic that was covered.I would recommend this text to be present in allhealth care provider libraries and offices, as it is in mine. Dr. H.J. Willis D.O. Emergency & Trauma Physicia ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Emergency Medicine    2. Environmentally induced diseases    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Mountaineering injuries    6. Outdoor medical emergencies    7. Wildlife    8. First aid & paramedical services    9. Medical / Emergency Medicine   

Reviews (20)

This woman is pure evil,
and a sickening parasite 'The cure for a conscience' is what her next book should be titled. This a disgusting way to mislead, take advantage of and make money off those in dire need dealing with this deadly illness. I hold New Century Press and Amazon.com responsible for promoting this trash.

Outside or Inside
It seems critics usually attack because this is "outside" the accepted medical model. Have any of the critics ever read Dr. Stargell's report in the July 1998 AMA, where it is presented that the accepted medical model kills nearly as many people each year as heart disease? a report by a doctor based on research by doctors.So pehaps there is much offered outside the accepted medical model.
Freedom of making choices
I truly admire Hulda Clark for her great contribution to the human race, with her such books which I've read and applied some of her ideas.It may seem radical yet what's the defintion of "normal" anyway?While some things may not work for an individual, it may work for others.As our bodies as well as our belief systems (which seems to be more important thing than anything) respond to different things, at different stages of Life.There's no ONE way for everyone.It may take some experiment and time to get the kind of results some may seek for, in however way we may find out there, either modern or traditional or such.What Hulda has done is that she offers an alternative way, to give some folks, desperate or not, chance to give it a try after their certain treatments fail or some treatment causing severe side effects turning their lives as unbearable to live.Some may disagree with the books yet there are couple of pratical logical things to do, to safeguard their health, like taking well known toxic stuff out of kitchen or better the entire house, what not to consume or inhale to avoid self-poisoning, healthier products to use for babies, so forth.Rather than condemning the whole book.To those who seem wanting to burn this book of Hulda's...I'm quite glad that we're in democratic society, with such kind of freedom we enjoy i.e. freedom of press.We do have rights to make intimate personal choices for ourselves and our health needs... WITHOUT much interference from those who disagree.Think and feel for yourself, without fear.They do have right to those opinions, that is, without taking or harming this such freedom we have."Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it" - Chinese proverb(US and China, different political systems....hmmm)Read on and see what may help! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. Alternative Therapies    3. Consumer Health    4. Diet / Health / Fitness    5. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    6. Medical    7. HIV / AIDS   

Reviews (1)

informative, well-written, wonderful look into AIDS
i used this book as my textbook for my Understanding AIDS class, a pre-requisite for the degree i'm pursuing in college.
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Subjects:  1. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    2. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    3. Endocrinology & Metabolism    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Life Sciences - Biology - General    7. Medical / Nursing    8. HIV / AIDS    9. Science / Biology   

Editorial Review

In the first major book on AIDS, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Randy Shilts examines the making of an epidemic. Shilts researched and reported the book exhaustively, chronicling almost day-by-day the first five years of AIDS. His work is critical of the medical and scientific communities' initial response and particularly harsh on the Reagan Administration, who he claims cut funding, ignored calls for action and deliberately misled Congress. Shilts doesn't stop there, wondering why more people in the gay community, the mass media and the country at large didn't stand up in anger more quickly. The AIDS pandemic is one of the most striking developments of the late 20th century and this is the definitive story of its beginnings. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

The Best Book I Read in 2005
And the Band Played On is an act of phenomenal research and writing, and a very frightening book on many levels because of the political wrangling, political bumbling, and political disregard for a medical crisis which cost the lives of so many, the scientific in-fighting which slowed medical break throughs and sacrificed lives, and the insanity of national agencies which were supposed to be saving lives, but which in this case knowingly risked the lives of many either because they didn't want to do the work, didn't want to spend the money, or didn't want to anger certain political groups.Gay men were deemed to be utterly dispensable by so many.
AIDS: A Biography
Good stories work on several levels; they are multi-dimensional views of the same event. To honor the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, I reread Randy Shilts's groundbreaking work, which was published a mere six years after the reports of a `gay cancer' first surfaced at the CDC.
One of the most important books written the previous century
To me this important expose on the begining of the AIDS crises and Reagan's response is extremely important.It's now classic and old information.But it's a valuable history lesson we all must read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. American    3. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    4. Current Affairs    5. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. History: World    8. Political aspects    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Social aspects    11. United States    12. AIDS: social aspects    13. Central government policies    14. USA   

Reviews (3)

Great for Newbies
With so many books written for advanced HIV and AIDS, this one stands alone.It is the perfect resource for someone who is recently infected.It also is a great resource for others, but this is the only book I re-read and refer to time and time again.I even met Dr. Kaiser for a consultation, and he offered pratical advice that focuses on overall health.I see a difference already, and I'm still med free and doing great!If you have or know someone with HIV - this is a MUST have.If you know someone who recently discovered their HIV status or who recently became infected, read this book ASAP and bring it to your HIV specialist right away.

My New Bible
This book has caused me to look at my HIV infection much differently.Unlike many HIV/AIDS "experts" out there, Dr. Kaiser does not advocate any one way to treat HIV.His two-pronged approach.. Natural & Herbal remedies and when needed, retrovirals, makes sense even to those of us who are new to this whole thing.For example, Dr. Kaiser recommends testing for any intestinal parasites or abnormalities BEFORE initiating drug therapy.Many times parasites are present, and the drugs irritate them causing much discomfort.Doctors take the person off that regimen and switch them to a new one therby eliminating one possible combination that can be used in the future.Having knowledge of the presence of a parasite BEFORE starting the drugs allows a doctor to treat thus eliminating possible "side effects".The nutritional information in this book is also very helpful.I read this book twice- The second time I took LOTS of notes and wrote down many questions to ask my doctor should the need arise.This book is worth many times what I spent on it....

Combining Mainstream and Natural HIV Treatment Approaches
The book has many specific practical suggestions. And readers will appreciate the effort that has gone into making them easy to understand and apply.Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Alternative Medicine    3. Alternative Therapies    4. Consumer Health    5. Diet / Health / Fitness    6. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    7. HIV infections    8. Healing    9. Health & Fitness    10. Health/Fitness    11. Immunological aspects    12. Treatment    13. Popular medicine    14. HIV    15. Immune System    16. Nutrition   

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. AIDS (Disease)    3. Administration    4. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Medical    7. Medical / Nursing    8. Prevention    9. Preventive Medicine    10. Medical / Administration    11. Public health & preventive medicine   

Reviews (11)

One of the better options?
When my paramedic class began Cardiology and ECG's, I needed to find something other than what was in the textbook (Brady). It didn't offer anything more on ECG strips then the Brady textbook perhaps. The one attribute this book has is that each section is color-coded. It has some good illustrations on heart anatomy and function. I'm not sure how this book compares to the AMA ACLS book because I haven't looked at it yet? When you see how many types of ECG rhythm's there are and how many they keep inventing, it's hard to find a book that explains every rhythm or how to read these strips! This is good for ACLS review including meds, airway, etc.

Excellent
- Well organized. Buy this book for your ACLS class!
I am an RN and I recently passed the ACLS course given at my hospital.It was a two day course that was more of an overview of the information than a teaching session.I work on a floor with very sick patients, but we rarely have a code situation.I wanted to take ACLS in order to feel more comfortable when a code does take place.If I had not done as much preparation before the course as I did, I doubt I would have passed.This book helped me immensely to prepare for the class and understand all the information needed.Deffinately get this book before the classes take place, because there is so much information in the study guide and you don't want to go into information overload.As far as I know, this book contains the most up to date information from the ACLS authorities.Get this book and Dale Dubin's "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" for your next ACLS course, especially if it is the first time you're taking it.Good Luck!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Emergency Medical Services    2. Cardiology    3. Cardiovascular Diseases    4. Emergency Medicine    5. Medical    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Reference    8. Test Preparation & Review    9. First aid & paramedical services    10. Medical / Cardiology   

Reviews (51)

An Important Chronicle...
Dr. Verghese's depiction of AIDS in Johnson City is a powerful book about the way this disease first entered the American consciousness. As an outsider - an Indian doctor in the Midwest - writing about his experiences with the gay community and others who were first diagnosed with HIV and AIDS provides a unique perspective into the way people ostrasized and condemned, often in the name of God, those who were first diagnosed. One reviewer commented that the book is dated, but in fact, Verghese's account remains an important one as it not only describes a disease that has shaped and continues to shape our collective consciousness, but is also applicable for the way it reminds us how terrible we can be when faced with an unknown and how easy it can be to attack those we don't understand.
Tells an important story, but is too dated for 2006 readers
I love to read medical non-fiction, about doctors, nurses and their experiences in the world of medicine. Since I was a fan of Verghese's work from The Tennis Partner, I picked this book up with a lot of enthusiasm.
Outstanding
This book chronicles the life and experiences of an infectious disease doctor in rural Tennessee during the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.The book is part history, part personal commentary, & part "portrait into a doctor's life".The involvement and compassion the doctor had with and for his patients was remarkable...a moving read.I suspect that this book is powerful enough to change a future clinician's perspective on what it means to practice medicine, that is, the book breathes life back into the patient as a person - not just a disease, or symptom, or infection.Truly a great read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Biography    3. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    4. Johnson City    5. Medical - General    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Physicians    8. Social aspects    9. Sociology    10. Tennessee    11. Verghese, A    12. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    13. Sociology, Social Studies    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (6)

5 stars ain't enough!
My favorite reading matter is bios and autobios, and when I heard about this book, I knew even before getting a copy I'd enjoy it.It's one of those "Oh my God I can't put it down!" reads and definitely worth re-reading... and even more importantly, TELLING ALL YOUR FRIENDS to read it!You simply gotta admire a guy with a sense of humor staring constantly into the face of death...and making you laugh along with him.And you gotta admire his mom and dad, who are two of the coolest and most loving parents on the face of the earth.And then there's Gwenn...What a lucky guy!

Great book!
I have been looking forward to reading this book since I saw a recent article in POZ magazine.Shawn Decker is so sincere, honest and funny!I have not even finished reading the book yet, but when I'm done reading it, I plan on reading it again.I had to find all outlets online to praise Shawn for this book.His honesty and humor are a breath of fresh air!I hope to read more from him in the future!

2006 Book of the Year!
I do a lot of reading, and don't always have a chance to pick up a book a second time, but I have already read and re-read My Pet Virus, and I'm hoping for a sequel.The book handles some pretty heavy subject matter with an incredible sense of humor and wit.After reading this one, you feel like you really know author Shawn Decker, and you like him. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    7. General    8. HIV-positive persons    9. Hemophiliacs    10. Medical - General    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Virginia    13. Biography & Autobiography / Medical   

Reviews (87)

Well I'll be damned
I got a first edition, hardcover version of this book from the booth of an 'alternative health' organistion, in a fair in Belgium back in 96. I bought it out of sheer curiosity, not being aware at the time that a dissident movement even existed on the AIDS question. Well, after spending a couple days and nights glued to thie book, I can say that my view of AIDS and the health-business environnement around it changed drastically. Of course as a non-scientist it's impossible for me to prove or disprove anything Duesberg says, but if he wasn't being serious, why would a high-flyer like him (and other co-authors such as Nobel Prize G. Mullis) stick his neck out like that? I'm convinced.

A classic of political agenda masquerading as science
If it was possible, I would rate this item even lower than this.This books is a classic example of a political agenda triumphing over scientific fact.All of of the data that Duesberg claims supports his assertion is either cherry-picked and presented out of context, is from questionable sources, or is simply outdated and supplanted by more solid scientific research.What little reliable data he uses actually fails to support, or even refutes his claims when viewed in it's original context.
Epidemic by bureaucratic decree

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Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. Consumer Health    3. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    4. Etiology    5. HIV (Viruses)    6. HIV infections    7. HIV / AIDS    8. Medical / General    9. Medical research   

Reviews (6)

Very important book
well-researched, written over a twenty-year period; intriguing prose that pulls you on to read the many, many important details that reveal an alternate reality

Quality Of Armor
Yes, the questions Farber raises are important. Yes, she should not be attacked, ostracized or ignored simply for raising these questions. Yes, the subject matter itself is so inherently polarizing that the consequences of exploring any dimension of the story other than the mainstream version inevitably results in a cataract of vitriol and condescenion - when anyone even bothers to acknowledge the existence of alternate dimensions - so far out of proportion to the reportage in question that an objective observer might easily question the sanity of anyone involved in the debate, on either side. Yes, Farber has an agenda: an undeterred desire to dig up a core truth that may in fact be undiscoverable, ever, or for years. To the apparent detriment of her career, in the face of death threats and accusations of "murdering" those who've made the (evidently suicidal) mistake of taking her journalism seriously, she trudges on, bears up, moves forward. Why? No earthly idea. I only know that the writing on display in this book, as writing, is unusually passionate, articulate, and alive in ways that most writing about any subject is not. And that whatever drives Farber to continue in the face of the abuse and hatred she's endured through the twenty years it took for this book to be written - well, it's not money, it's not fame, and it's certainly not common. Facile comparisons to Orwell aside, Celia Farber is one of our most important contemporary writers because of her rare courage, and her still more rare ability to convey the complexities of an impossible issue in human terms. Whatever biases you might diagnose as flaws in this collection of stories are doubtless present, because she makes no attempt to bury her emotions. She writes, in sum, with both head and heart. Agree or disagree, but to ignore her adds only to your own ignorance.

Unanswered Questions
Because of its catastrophic impact and the unique time and place it struck, AIDS very quickly became more than a medical story. It took on tremendous political, moral, sexual, religious, intellectual and economic significance as well, and Farber argues that these elements soon came to dominate and distort the medical science. If she's right, pretty much everything we've been told about AIDS--what it is, what causes it, how it spreads, how it may be resisted and cured--is wrong, a collusion of panic, politics and greed. AIDS became a dogma, and anyone who questioned it a heretic. At great cost to her career, Farber has questioned the dogma for 20 years. This book is a fascinating alternate history of AIDS, a chronology of how she and other "heretics" believe it all went wrong. This is not kooky conspiracy theory. Ultimately, it's an Orwellian treatise on intellectual totalitarianism in our time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. AIDS (Disease)    3. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    4. General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: American    8. Medical / Nursing    9. United States - 20th Century    10. History / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Explanation of a Complex Issue
The problem with AIDS in this world never really seemed to hit me as a crisis.I had seen tv specials on the problem, but many of them had to do with the free spirit of the 80's and a general lack of information.I guess you could call me a skeptic.After reading the first paragraph and faced with the statement, "Three million people die each year from AIDS, a death toll that has been compared to twenty fully loaded 747s crashing every single day for a year," it seemed evident that there was more to this disease than I first thought.I remembered how many stories I saw on the news about airplanes crashing and the news coverage that followed.I can't remember the last news story I watched about AIDS.Dale Hanson Bourke presents this pandemic in social, political, and scientific views without losing the reader in advanced biochemical terms.Every single page shocked and disturbed me with the magnitude of the situation and the need to get involved in some way.Her writing enhanced my knowledge of the disease, the science was interesting but not overly complicated, and her style of challenging common misconceptions in a Q&A format made me fly through this book.An excellent read for anyone living in today's world.
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Subjects:  1. Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Consumer Health    4. Diseases - AIDS & HIV    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Religion