{"product_id":"epidemic-disease-and-human-understanding-charles-de-paolo-9780786425068","title":"Epidemic Disease and Human Understanding: A Historical Analysis of Scientific and Other Writings","description":"\u003cp\u003e For more than three thousand years of recorded history, human beings have struggled to understand the epidemic--the rapid spread of a contagious disease throughout a human population. This book draws on an extensive list of primary texts to present a comprehensive history of epidemiological thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The book is primarily concerned with the human experience of epidemic disease and the various ways this experience has been conceptualized and communicated. Part I examines ancient religious, mythological and philosophical paradigms used to comprehend and interpret epidemic disease. Following the ancient period, perceptions changed; epidemics were understood as natural phenomena rather than as instruments of divine purpose. This transition is covered in Part II and illuminated by historical documents, such as Thucydides' description of the plague of Athens. Systematic examination of biomedical phenomena, which began in the seventeenth century and developed into modern medicine, is the focus of Part III.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Finally, Part IV considers the ways in which epidemic disease has been treated in various works of literature. The discussion includes eyewitness accounts as well as such popular works of fiction as Sinclair Lewis' \u003ci\u003eArrowsmith\u003c\/i\u003e and Albert Camus' \u003ci\u003eThe Plague\u003c\/i\u003e. In surveying human responses to endemic disease, the book draws connections between three sub-genres of epidemiological writing: the encyclopedia, the intellectual history, and the biographical collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Charles de Paolo\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0786425067\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780786425068\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/24\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 268\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.80lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 5.92w x 0.59d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eReference and Research Bk News\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/01\/2006 pg. 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eScitech Book News\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2006 pg. 64","brand":"Charles de Paolo","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48448936804607,"sku":"9780786425068","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_08330fab-7ccd-4ebd-b080-951050d396c1.jpg?v=1777261243","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/epidemic-disease-and-human-understanding-charles-de-paolo-9780786425068","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}