Rats, Lice and History (Social Science Classics Series)

This book changed my life I suspect. It was a required read on the summer reading list somewhere along the way when I was in high school in the mid 1960's. I was recently sharing its importance with a young relative still in high school. At the time I don't believe I understood WHEN it had been written! Whoa, now that I'm retired after 40 some years as a college professor I return to see how it influenced me. Not an easy read, but knowing a bit more about the history of the sciences I'm enjoying the reread! I doubt very much I got any of the "humor" in it back then....

Even though this book was required for a class, I found it to be entertaining and informative. This book is about how "vermin" have influenced humans throughout history, and why we have certain perceptions about rodents and insects. The book is pretty comprehensive, covering human history from the birth of agriculture to the industrial age to the present day. I think of rodents as misunderstood, so this really resonated with me and helped me understand why some people hate them so much. This book is a pretty short, quick read, so if you're interested in the history of rodents, bugs, and disease, check it out.

It's a classic, and I'm glad to have it to read, but reading it is not a nice experience. This is a nearly worn out old paperback -- wood pulp, so not holding up well. It probably isn't actually dirty, but it feels dirty. If I'd found it at the Goodwill, I would not have bought it.

My all-time favorite history-and-disease book. First read it as a teen many many years ago, and it probably played a part in focusing my interest in biology. Dr Zinsser shines through on every page, making it highly readable as well as good science (and sociology) history.I highly recommend it.

This book met all of my expectations, and more. It was interesting to read the stories of how diseases and parasites had played major roles in the history of the world. A fascinating book.

I love this book! Originally published in 1934, it has withstood the test of time. Clearly, the writer loves his subject. His writing is sly, witty and informative, as he draws the reader in to a growing appreciation of this unusual subject.

Studying it and taking a class on the Sociology of health and Illness really helped me understand the nature of disease. I wrote a paper for college on this book and received a 98!

Not every book leaves you wiser than when you began. This one does. It makes sense out of the bits and pieces of history that are often neglected by the historians.

I discovered this book when I read Laurie Garrett's "THE COMING PLAGUE: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance", she listed it in the bibliography. Intrigued by the title I looked for it and found it to be more about humanities penchant for war and destruction than a book about disease. Although it was a real page turner it made me think just how much rats and humans have in common and how absolutely stupid war truly is. There is no purpose what so ever to war it destroys what laboring hands and minds make and causes the increase of typhus on the battle field of dead rotting humans(once alive living, laughing, loving, learning and breathing). This book was written a long time ago in the 30's and I wonder how different the writers views on war were met by other scholars of his day. Thank you professor Zinsser, I will never forget this great book and I often tell others to read it too.

This book is a hoot as well as a thought-provoking thesis regarding what kills people or makes them suffer.

I was disappointed by this book. It is supposed to be about typhus but it rambles all over the place and I learned very little.

Rambling waffle. Hard to get to the point.

perfect thanks