America's Forgotten Pandemic (Second Edition)

The Influenza of 1918

De: Alfred W. Crosby

Narrado por: Rick Adamson

Between August 1918 and March 1919, the Spanish influenza spread worldwide, claiming over 25 million lives - more people than perished in the fighting of the First World War. It proved fatal to at least a half-million Americans. Yet, the Spanish flu pandemic is largely forgotten today.

In this vivid narrative, Alfred W. Crosby recounts the course of the pandemic during the panic-stricken months of 1918 and 1919, measures its impact on American society, and probes the curious loss of national memory of this cataclysmic event. This edition includes a preface discussing the then-recent outbreaks of diseases, including the Asian flu and the SARS epidemic.

©2003 Alfred W Crosby; Copyright 1989 by Cambridge University Press (P)2021 Tantor

A full account with lessons for today

An easy listen for the most part. There are sections with lots of numbers and figures that might be best seen in a printed copy. However, there are endless captivating stories in here. They are mostly from Americans, but the book takes you to US ships, bases, and territories around the world to explore a more global perspective. These deeply explore almost all aspects of the flu you can think of. If you have burning questions, especially how this flu relates to modern pandemics, this is a great book. Factual, spiritual, philosophical questions about terrible pandemics are all tackled here.