The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic
by Steven Johnson
In The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson explores the cholera epidemic in London of 1854. It tells the story of how John Snow, a doctor working in the Soho area and the Reverend Henry Whitehead, a local priest, put together, thanks to their local knowledge and Snow’s scientific interests, the real source of the epidemic and how it was transmitted—through drinking water—and overturning other widely held views that had as much to do with social prejudice (that the poor were dirty and unhygienic) as science.
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“The Ghost Map is a book that I oftentimes give to people to show them how cool and exciting and accessible and gripping stories about scientific discoveries can be. It’s nice in that it’s not a 500 page book that is going to be too heavy to read on your lawn and it totally unfolds like the most exciting thriller. It really does show how the practice of science — which certainly today we mostly think of as occurring in sterile antiseptic labs and people very removed from the stuff of day-to-day life — is not only remarkable and fascinating and life-changing, but also really exciting and kind of cool.” Read more...
Seth Mnookin, Science Writer
“Johnson looks at London during a specific moment in time, August 1854, and focuses on a particular incident, an outbreak of cholera in Soho, in Central London. Cholera was then all too common. What made this outbreak significant was that it was observed by two people – Henry Whitehead, a Church of England priest, and a prominent doctor called John Snow. Between them, they deduced that cholera was a water-borne illness – not one transmitted through air as had hitherto been believed. With the cause established, steps could be taken to eradicate the disease by dealing with water pollution.” Read more...
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Stephen Evans, Diplomats & Former Diplomat
