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On Immunity
On Immunity: An Inoculation | Eula Biss
A New York Times Best SellerA National Book Critics Circle Award FinalistA New York Times Book Review Top 10 Book of the YearA Facebook "Year of Books" SelectionOne of the Best Books of the Year* National Book Critics Circle Award finalist * The New York Times Book Review (Top 10) * Entertainment Weekly (Top 10) * New York Magazine (Top 10)* Chicago Tribune (Top 10) * Publishers Weekly (Top 10) * Time Out New York (Top 10) * Los Angeles Times * Kirkus * Booklist * NPR's Science Friday * Newsday * Slate * Refinery 29 * And many more...Why do we fear vaccines? A provocative examination by Eula Biss, the author of Notes from No Man's Land, winner of the National Book Critics Circle AwardUpon becoming a new mother, Eula Biss addresses a chronic condition of fear-fear of the government, the medical establishment, and what is in your child's air, food, mattress, medicine, and vaccines. She finds that you cannot immunize your child, or yourself, from the world. In this bold, fascinating book, Biss investigates the metaphors and myths surrounding our conception of immunity and its implications for the individual and the social body. As she hears more and more fears about vaccines, Biss researches what they mean for her own child, her immediate community, America, and the world, both historically and in the present moment. She extends a conversation with other mothers to meditations on Voltaire's Candide, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Susan Sontag's AIDS and Its Metaphors, and beyond. On Immunity is a moving account of how we are all interconnected-our bodies and our fates.
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Book_Lust
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“If vaccination can be conscripted into acts of war, it can still be instrumental in works of love.”

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8little_paws
Pickpick

First time I read this about 5 years ago, liked it but didn't love it. 5 years later I absolutely loved sitting in her brain and following her thoughts and musings. Couldn't ask for a more timely book.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Eula Biss approaches the subject of vaccination from the standpoint of a new mother concerned for the safety of her child. She comes down firmly on the side of vaccinations while gracefully and non-judgmentally discussing the reasons for vaccine opposition, their historical roots, and how they are invalid conclusions. I hope anyone concerned about vaccination reads this with an open mind—it‘s accessible and non-confrontational.

Linsy I might need to read this! Might help me talk to family (edited) 4y
Hooked_on_books @Linsy I think it could help for sure! It‘s much more gentle and thoughtful than I think I could be, honestly. 4y
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ghandigl

The belief that public health measures are not intended for people like us is widely held by many people like me.

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ghandigl

If we imagine the action of a vaccine not just in terms of how it affects a single body, but also in terms of how it affects the collective body of a community, it is fair to think of vaccination as a banking of immunity. Contributions to this bank are donations to those who cannot or will not be protected by their own immunity. This is the principle of herd immunity...

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REPollock
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Pickpick

This was an audiobook and it took me a while to finish because I only listen to a book when I am doing housework or sewing or similar, but the amount of time it took me to finish it does not reflect upon its quality. I found this engrossing as a rebuttal to the anti-vaccination movement. This author has really done her research and sets fire to a lot of those strawman arguments.

rretzler 😻 5y
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REPollock
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Next audiobook. I read some of her essays in grad school and have heard great stuff about this one.

rretzler 😻 6y
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Brie
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A few great #indiepresses represented here: Algonquin Books, Melville House, Graywolf Press, and Catapult. #anditsaugust

vivastory Descent sounds intriguing, added to my tbr 7y
Brie Yeah, I haven't read it yet. @vivastory 7y
Brie @vivastory Thank you so much for the CD and other gifts! I got them in the mail today. 7y
See All 6 Comments
vivastory @Brie Great! Sorry it took so long. I should be getting a new computer in the next week or so. I'll make a copy of the second disc when I do. 7y
RaimeyGallant Great pic! 7y
Brie @RaimeyGallant Thanks! 7y
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readsusieread
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Mehso-so

I finished my first book of #Booktubeathon. I technically started this during #24in48, but I'm still counting it! I listened to this on audio. The writing was strong and the framing of all of the history and science around her own motherhood experience was amazing. But I think this was just not a good fit for binge listening during readathons. I wish I'd taken my time with it.

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readsusieread
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#24in48 wrap up part two: books I started/continued (including On Immunity on audio)

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readsusieread
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Finished The Underground Railroad and started On Immunity (both on audio) while making this. #24in48

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Handmade_Redhead
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Mehso-so

Why are vaccines important? What is the history behind them? You get both answers mixed in with a lot of personal antidotes. I was hoping for a bit more, but I never thought of putting the book down.

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BaBaBaBillyAndTheBooks
Mehso-so

Biss provides a thoughtful reminder that debates about vaccinations, seemingly scientific in nature, often reveal our own fears: of power and capitalism, of toxicity, of the Other. As parents are challenged with protecting their children from harms seen and unseen, from the world itself, the author makes the point that immunity is a shared space, requiring everyone. Immunity is "a garden that must be tended together."

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CaroPi
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For those interested in this debate... A great deal in Kindle

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kendrastephaniekaryn
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Recent #ebook purchases, via #kobo and #kindle. All were daily featured deals! The bottom three are deals from today.

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Lacythebookworm
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Pickpick

I'm late to the party on this one, but glad I finally made it! 😊Biss looks at the history and philosophy of vaccinations and our current reactions to them. She was prompted to write the book after the birth of her son. Perfect for readers with an interest in medicine, specifically, and science, generally. 🙌

Adventures_of_a_French_Reader I found this book very interesting, and very accessible. 8y
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LyndseyReads
Pickpick

I love how this book not only looks at the data supporting herd immunity, but Biss also examines the historical context and how myth and storytelling affect what we accept as truth. I will recommend this to all my students interested in pursuing work in the medical field. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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mrldg
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This book is simply superb. No need for debates or arguments about childhood vaccinations (to give or not to give) with anyone, just--everyone go home and read this book!! So smart, so balanced, so so good.

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rayshea
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Airplane book

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JessicaTripler
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From On Immunity by Eula Biss

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JessicaTripler
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For Literature and Medicine book club

brenna I adored this. It's great in audio, too! 9y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment