{"product_id":"plagues-upon-the-earth-disease-and-the-course-of-human-history-9780691230597","title":"Plagues Upon the Earth: Disease and the Course of Human History","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA sweeping germ's-eye view of history from human origins to global pandemics\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlagues upon the Earth\u003c\/i\u003e is a monumental history of humans and their germs. Weaving together a grand narrative of global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics, Kyle Harper explains why humanity's uniquely dangerous disease pool is rooted deep in our evolutionary past, and why its growth is accelerated by technological progress. He shows that the story of disease is entangled with the history of slavery, colonialism, and capitalism, and reveals the enduring effects of historical plagues in patterns of wealth, health, power, and inequality. He also tells the story of humanity's escape from infectious disease--a triumph that makes life as we know it possible, yet destabilizes the environment and fosters new diseases. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePanoramic in scope, \u003ci\u003ePlagues upon the Earth\u003c\/i\u003e traces the role of disease in the transition to farming, the spread of cities, the advance of transportation, and the stupendous increase in human population. Harper offers a new interpretation of humanity's path to control over infectious disease--one where rising evolutionary threats constantly push back against human progress, and where the devastating effects of modernization contribute to the great divergence between societies. The book reminds us that human health is globally interdependent--and inseparable from the well-being of the planet itself. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePutting the COVID-19 pandemic in perspective, \u003ci\u003ePlagues upon the Earth\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of how we got here as a species, and it may help us decide where we want to go.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Princeton University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/25\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780691230597\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 704","brand":"Kyle Harper","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42753379172533,"sku":"9780691230597","price":23.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_68ed092d-d156-4dd4-b015-c0d1b3feb671.jpg?v=1677594288","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/plagues-upon-the-earth-disease-and-the-course-of-human-history-9780691230597","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}