Editor’s note: This review was submitted by a library patron during the 2017 Adult Summer Reading program. We will continue to periodically share some of these reviews throughout the year.
“Get Well Soon: History’s Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them” is great because it does not pretend to be something it’s not. From the onset, the author is unapologetic about her opinions, lets her sense of humor fly with abandon and is clear on her message. It works because she labels her opinions for what they are. There is snarky humor galore and the pages are rife with pop culture references. This topic is one for which laughter really is the best medicine, and making historic events tangible to modern readers is beneficial for being able to internalize the very serious issues at hand. The overarching “stunningly obvious” messages of this book are: (i) learn from the mistakes and successes of the past, (ii) our survival and quality of life during a plague depends on all of us, (iii) diseases do not infect people based on personality traits, income, sexual orientation or sin, and (iv) care about your fellow humans. Yet, as the epilogue reminds us, we continue to make the same mistakes through modern times.
Three words that describe this book: sincere, worthwhile, humorous
You might want to pick this book up if: you are interested in surviving an epidemic and you enjoy snarky humor.
-Shannon
