Plagues and the Paradox of Progress: Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome Ways

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Thomas J. Bollyky

Plagues and the Paradox of Progress

Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome Ways

Thomas J. Bollyky

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English

Massachusetts Inst of Tec
01 October 2019

International relations; Medicine; Environmental factors; Infectious & contagious diseases

Series: The MIT Press

Why the news about the global decline of infectious diseases is not all good.

Plagues and parasites have played a central role in world affairs, shaping the evolution of the modern state, the growth of cities, and the disparate fortunes of national economies. This book tells that story, but it is not about the resurgence of pestilence. It is the story of its decline. For the first time in recorded history, virus, bacteria, and other infectious diseases are not the leading cause of death or disability in any region of the world. People are living longer, and fewer mothers are giving birth to many children in the hopes that some might survive. And yet, the news is not all good. Recent reductions in infectious disease have not been accompanied by the same improvements in income, job opportunities, and governance that occurred with these changes in wealthier countries decades ago. There have also been unintended consequences. In this book, Thomas Bollyky explores the paradox in our fight against infectious disease- the world is getting healthier in ways that should make us worry.

Bollyky interweaves a grand historical narrative about the rise and fall of plagues in human societies with contemporary case studies of the consequences. Bollyky visits Dhaka-one of the most densely populated places on the planet-to show how low-cost health tools helped enable the phenomenon of poor world megacities. He visits China and Kenya to illustrate how dramatic declines in plagues have affected national economies. Bollyky traces the role of infectious disease in the migrations from Ireland before the potato famine and to Europe from Africa and elsewhere today.

Historic health achievements are remaking a world that is both worrisome and full of opportunities. Whether the peril or promise of that progress prevails, Bollyky explains, depends on what we do next. A Council on Foreign Relations Book

By: Thomas J. Bollyky
Imprint: Massachusetts Inst of Tec
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 19mm
ISBN: 9780262537964
ISBN 10: 0262537966
Series: The MIT Press
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 01 October 2019
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Thomas J. Bollyky is the Director of the Global Health Program at the Council on Foreign Relations and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University.

Reviews for Plagues and the Paradox of Progress: Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome Ways

A thought-provoking book that should be required reading for anyone working in public health or public policy arenas. -Library Journal A thoughtful reminder of the social, economic and political complexities inherent in sustainable public health. -Nature A remarkable new book. -Financial Times A remarkable new book. -Financial Times [This book] brings to the task a remarkable command of history, science, technology, medicine, public health, and political science. Bollyky combines his scholarship with an unusually fluid, writing style that invites readers to read more. In mapping his many 'worries', Bollyky carefully treads a middle path between pessimism and optimism. -The Lancet Plagues and the Paradox of Progress provides a smart warning about our future without discounting the successes of our past. -Health Affairs The book is beautifully written, packed with great one liners and historical anecdotes. -OXFAM