The Ghost Map
A Street, an Epidemic and the Hidden Power of Urban Networks.
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4.5 • 6 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
In Ghost Map Steven Johnson tells the story of the terrifying cholera epidemic that engulfed London in 1854, and the two unlikely heroes – anaesthetist Doctor John Snow and affable clergyman Reverend Henry Whitehead – who defeated the disease through a combination of local knowledge, scientific research and map-making.
In telling their extraordinary story, Johnson also explores a whole world of ideas and connections, from urban terror to microbes, ecosystems to the Great Stink, cultural phenomena to street life. Re-creating a London full of dirt, dust heaps, slaughterhouses and scavengers, Ghost Map is about how huge populations live together, how cities can kill – and how they can save us.
Customer Reviews
Gripping
Such a brilliant title embracing medical science, popular quackery, politics, sociology, civil engineering and public health, history, statistics, religion. How we've progressed AND regressed (RFK Jr's quackery)!!!
A fascinating read which I could not put down. Johnson is a master storyteller resulting from his extensive research, as illustrated by the enormous number of end notes.
The one downside is in his speculations for us in 21st century, whether they be from H5N1 or nuclear weapons.
But I'm looking forward to visiting the memorial pump and drinking to his memory at the pub bearing John Snow's name in Soho.