The Histories of HIVs

"“The most comprehensive account yet published of HIV’s emergence and dispersal across the African continent, this richly detailed, multidisciplinary collection traces the varied origins of the multiple strains of HIV. This superb book adds new understanding to the ecological, medical, and sexual contexts within which AIDS epidemics first developed.” “The Histories of HIVs sets the tone for how collaborative science can and should tackle the emergent pandemics of our time. In combining epidemiology, virology, history, and anthropology, the contributors demonstrate powerfully how the origin and spread of epidemics can be uncovered: causes must not be isolated to viral fragments moving between simians and humans but should instead encompass the social and cultural history of the people whose lives and illnesses generated this history. Required reading for anyone interested in epidemic disease.” “The Histories of HIVs provides a balanced examination of the emergence of HIV viruses. This impressive volume, which combines historical epidemiology and anthropology with the main achievements of virology and immunology, contributes to our understanding of the ways some HIV viruses provoked epidemics or became pandemic. The Histories of HIVs is a brilliant achievement that is a pleasure to read.” ""Compared to conclusions based solely on biomedical/molecular analyses, this multidisciplinary approach offers a perspective not readily available through conventional epidemiologic paradigms. Adding another layer to ongoing investigations of the many mysteries surrounding HIV/AIDS, this multiauthored text highlights multiple potential pathways of viral spillover and continued transmission. Schneider … has edited an informative, well-written book that will be of considerable interest to students of epidemiology, infectious diseases, and the history of medicine. Highly recommended. * Choice * “I particularly admire the authors’ collective ability to distill such a breadth of interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research into language that is accessible to newcomers to the field, including undergraduate students. The methodical approach, the ways authors refer back and forth to each other’s work, and their fair-minded treatment of various claims including those that lack evidentiary support, build steam…. [For the ] many readers who have legitimate worries about the integrity of scientific research and Western health interventions in African history … the way authors acknowledge those concerns and take the time to walk us through critique and countercritiques will be profoundly eye-opening and likely convincing.” * International Journal of African Historical Studies *"