On Immunity: An Inoculation
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On Immunity: An Inoculation
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On Immunity: An Inoculation
'Imagine Eula Biss as herself a vaccine against vague and incoherent thinking, as a booster to the acuity of your thought, as a thermometer taking the temperature of our ideas about purity, contagion, individuality, and community. This book is a magnificent piece of research and of writing.' - Rebecca Solnit
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! DescriptionOn Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss delves into the intricate and often misunderstood world of immunity, offering a thought-provoking exploration that blends personal narrative with a rich tapestry of historical and cultural analysis. The book thoughtfully addresses the pervasive feeling of fear that surrounds us—fear of governmental control, the medical establishment, and the myriad potential dangers lurking in everyday objects and practices, from the air we breathe to the vaccines we administer to our children.
As a new mother, Biss reflects on her own experiences and anxieties, considering how these shared fears shape our understanding of immunity. She investigates the metaphors and myths that have long influenced public perception, analysing their implications for both individuals and society as a whole. Her inquiry is deeply informed by literary and philosophical works such as Voltaire's Candide, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, and Susan Sontag's AIDS and Its Metaphors, each contributing to a broader conversation about vulnerability, protection, and communal responsibility.
On Immunity is not just a compelling account of a mother's journey through the medical landscape, but also a broader commentary on how our bodies are interconnected with the environment and with each other. Biss's writing is both poetic and accessible, providing a powerful inoculation against the fears that can cloud our judgement and isolate us from one another. Through her meticulous research and empathetic insights, she encourages readers to reconsider what it means to live in a world where our fates are inevitably intertwined.
Whether you are a parent grappling with questions about vaccination or a reader interested in the cultural significance of health and disease, On Immunity offers a profound and enlightening perspective on the universal quest for safety and understanding in an uncertain world.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
On Immunity by Eula Biss uses science, myth, and literature to advocate for vaccination. Reviewers praise its approach, comparing it to Susan Sontag's work, but note Biss's unique, compelling prose. The book's narratives are described as elegant and informative, stressing the urgent societal need for vaccination.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780992974749
Publisher: Fitzcarraldo Editions
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 18 February 2015
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Fitzcarraldo Editions
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 125.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 208
About the Author
FEula Biss is the author of The Balloonists, Notes from No Man's Land: American Essays, which received the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, and On Immunity. Her essays have appeared in The Best American Nonrequired Reading and The Best Creative Nonfiction, as well as in the Believer and Harper's. Her writing has been supported by fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Howard Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Biss holds a BA from Hampshire College and an MFA in nonficiton writing from the University of Iowa. She teaches at Northwestern University and lives in Chicago.
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