Review of: iBioSeminars and iBioMagazine

285 Volume 14, Number 2 either the security we crave or the commercial freedom essential to our prosperity” (p. 281). With well over 100 footnotes per chapter and an extensive bibliography, this book is noteworthy for its ambitious scope and objectivity. While Contagion will certainly appeal to serious students of the history of medicine, this book may not be suitable for a general audience due to its overabundance of dates, acronyms, and historical minutiae. Unlike many popular science books that bring infectious diseases to life through harrowing personal narratives or fictionalized imaginings, this tome is an exemplary tribute to historical scholarship. All readers will appreciate that the dense text is partially supplemented in two sections with reproductions of paintings, photos, sketches, and original documents spanning the 1500s to the present day. All of these figures are well worth poring over and are accompanied by insightful captions. Instructors may take advantage of Harrison’s extensive research and use specific examples from primary source material to present case studies in public health policy. In addition, some of the figures depicting artwork, cartoons, and public notices may be used as starting points for class discussions or homework. Undergraduate biology students will find this a challenging read, but those who undertake the task will find themselves with a new perspective on our collective history.