The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator

Description

**The instant New York Times bestseller** *An international bestseller* "Hugely impressive, a major work."-- NPR A pioneering and groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction that offers a dramatic new perspective on the history of humankind, showing how through millennia, the mosquito has been the single most powerful force in determining humanity's fate. Why was gin and tonic the cocktail of choice for British colonists in India and Africa? What does Starbucks have to thank for its global domination? What has protected the lives of popes for millennia? Why did Scotland surrender its sovereignty to England? What was George Washington's secret weapon during the American Revolution? The answer to all these questions, and many more, is the mosquito. Across our planet since the dawn of humankind, this nefarious pest, roughly the size and weight of a grape seed, has been at the frontlines of history as the grim reaper, the harvester of human populations, and the ultimate agent of historical change. As the mosquito transformed the landscapes of civilization, humans were unwittingly required to respond to its piercing impact and universal projection of power. The mosquito has determined the fates of empires and nations, razed and crippled economies, and decided the outcome of pivotal wars, killing nearly half of humanity along the way. She (only females bite) has dispatched an estimated 52 billion people from a total of 108 billion throughout our relatively brief existence. As the greatest purveyor of extermination we have ever known, she has played a greater role in shaping our human story than any other living thing with which we share our global village. Imagine for a moment a world without deadly mosquitoes, or any mosquitoes, for that matter? Our history and the world we know, or think we know, would be completely unrecognizable. Driven by surprising insights and fast-paced storytelling, The Mosquito is the extraordinary untold story of the mosquito's reign through human history and her indelible impact on our modern world order. Review: A fascinating topic that will make you view history with a new perspective. - Style is a bit journalistic and use of language a bit too clever for my taste, but the book is thoroughly researched and well constructed. It is estimated that 52 billion of the 108 billion humans who have ever lived died from mosquito-borne diseases The bulk of the book is a sweeping survey of the impact that this had on human history (and evolution). It will make you see familiar events in a fresh light! Review: Fascinating insight in to how mosquitos have shaped the world - Interesting read, particularly at first, but it became more about listing wars and less about the machinations and influences of mosquitos about halfway through - repetitive, could’ve condensed it. First few chapters were absolutely fascinating though and well worth a read.