Sign in with Facebook
Em's Reviews > Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
by
by
Somewhere between a 3 and 4.
I was very hesitant to read this. As an epidemiologist, reading a book about an infectious disease by someone who honestly just doesn’t have the expertise is a bit of a head scratcher.
If there’s one thing I took away from this book is that John Green cares so much and tried so hard to be cultural appropriate and avoid stigmatizing perspectives. I am struggling a bit with intent vs execution.
I had two major problems with this book.
1. I wanted him to further expand on white man savior syndrome and the impact ministry and mission work has on his perspective - especially when it comes to foreign aid.
2. He toes the line of historian and scientist many times. I think, while John Green has proven he is dedicated to putting in the work, he is not a scientist and this must be acknowledged.
Where this book really did amazing was its discussion of the moral quandary of disease. I think this was the absolute best thought out and laid out part. Disease, no matter what shape or form, is somehow placed on the person and the stigma that comes with that is a lot. He used great examples (cancer, HIV, and his own experience with OCD).
Finally, John Green used a person who had TB who he knows throughout the story to bring a personal and human experience at every turn of the story. As an epi, stats are more than numbers, they are real people and tho I think at times I didn’t love how he handled it, using Henry to ground the book was a genius move.
I was very hesitant to read this. As an epidemiologist, reading a book about an infectious disease by someone who honestly just doesn’t have the expertise is a bit of a head scratcher.
If there’s one thing I took away from this book is that John Green cares so much and tried so hard to be cultural appropriate and avoid stigmatizing perspectives. I am struggling a bit with intent vs execution.
I had two major problems with this book.
1. I wanted him to further expand on white man savior syndrome and the impact ministry and mission work has on his perspective - especially when it comes to foreign aid.
2. He toes the line of historian and scientist many times. I think, while John Green has proven he is dedicated to putting in the work, he is not a scientist and this must be acknowledged.
Where this book really did amazing was its discussion of the moral quandary of disease. I think this was the absolute best thought out and laid out part. Disease, no matter what shape or form, is somehow placed on the person and the stigma that comes with that is a lot. He used great examples (cancer, HIV, and his own experience with OCD).
Finally, John Green used a person who had TB who he knows throughout the story to bring a personal and human experience at every turn of the story. As an epi, stats are more than numbers, they are real people and tho I think at times I didn’t love how he handled it, using Henry to ground the book was a genius move.
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Everything Is Tuberculosis.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Lexi
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Mar 28, 2025 07:11PM
I understand point one, however I think it would have taken away from some of the other issues he touches on in the book. It is a huge aspect and that shouldn’t be understated, but it feels very nitpicky to say that he didn’t have enough of one thing when this book is so clearly an introduction about TB and its societal impacts that it would be difficult to go more in depth on certain topics without losing a majority of readers interest. I agree with your second point but I do think if he approached it from a purely historian perspective it would have gained more criticism. He definitely should have made a disclaimer about not being a doctor. That being said, he does have a couple sections in the end of the book that includes his readings and references, and I think that’s important to acknowledge as well.
reply
|
flag
