The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the 1918 Pandemic by John M. Barry (his newest book is Rising Tide: The Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America) is a fascinating peak at US and World History through the microscope provided by a flu epidemic that wiped out somewhere between 20 and 40 million people.
Barry offers a wonderful perspective of the evolution of American medical schools and their development as the premier research institutions on our planet. He traces the inquiry that led to the eventual vaccine that prevented further spread of the disease. This is a unique look at early twentieth century America especially its urban populations. It's filled with precious tidbits of trivia - Did you know that more WWI soldiers were killed by flu (or the pneumonia that the flu instigated) than the actual battles?
Although his 'bird flu' caveats become somewhat redundant, Barry examines the likelihood of future flu epidemics. It's a fascinating read; I'd especially recommend it to anyone in pre-med.
Barry, John M. The great influenza : the epic story of the deadliest plague in history. New York : Viking, c2004.
(OhioLINK)
Submitted by Dr. Schneller