Polio: An American Story Audiobook

" Interesting from a historical or medical standpoint, but pretty dry reading...I guess it would be hard to liven up the history of a vaccine. Educational though. "

" a really enjoyable read about polio and how much is fucked with Americans and how no one could figure it out how it worked for the longest time because they were experimenting on the wrong kinda monkey...really, really interesting and insightful. "

" All about the politics among the researchers, the politicians, and the fund raisers. "

" Very compelling read and taught me much I didn't know about polio and the development of a vaccine. "

" Interesting behind-the-scenes look at the history of polio in the US and the development of the injectable and oral vaccines. A bit too much background on FDR and the founding of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (aka March of Dimes) but the chapters on Salk, who was apparently a celebrity seeker (back in the day when that was not respectable for a scientist) and his bitter rival, Sabin, were entertaining. "

" I found the information on polio, about how it seemed to evolve into a real threat in the early to mid 20th century, educational. I also learned a great deal from the early investigations into vaccine production and about science, medicine, and politics in that time period. The last third or so of the book centered on Salk and Sabin and their rivalry and final years, and it sort of lost steam for me. It is certainly a worthwhile read but sort of a slog toward the end. "

" University of Texas history professor has taken a dry scientific subject and made it extremely interesting. Can't put it down. "

" This book was a good read! Ties together all sorts of historical tidbits, from how the March of Dimes got started to why people turn the sheets over the edges of blankets when making a bed. Great for striking up conversations with elderly friends. "

" Interesting commentary on scientific research and the politics therein. A nice companion movie is "the five pennies" wi Bing Crosby as a trumpet player whose daughter contracts polio. "

" This book was very informative and gave a great insight into the development of the vaccine, the funding antics, and the challenges of those inflicted. "

" Interesting story of science in the 20th century and the politics of science and public health. Even those of us who remember getting polio vaccines in elementary school, now take having safe vaccines for granted, even with the current vaccine issues. "

" Complicated subject rendered totally accessible by this University of Texas history professor. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction and deserved it. A great read. "

" I actually read this within the first month it was out. Growing up with a brother who had polio I found it a fascinating read. I think of how germ a phobic our culture has become, maybe more people should read it. "

" Excellent history of the efforts to eliminate polio, the fear of the disease, and the big personalities of the scientists searching for the cure. "

" All about polio and the climate of disease prevention in the US in the 1950's. "

" Fascinating and well organized book. Mr. Oshinsky did a great job of introducing us to the major players in the race to solve the Polio epidemic in America. "

" I have heard all about Jonas Salk, but I was unfamiliar with the difference between a live virus vaccine (Albert Sabin's contribution) and Salk's killed virus vaccine. Interesting look into the egos of the scientists and the challenges they faced. "

" This one was tough for me to get through, probably because I don't read much non-fiction. But I'm glad I read it - learned a lot about the history of the big fundraising drives, and the fine line between ethical research and the determination to find a cure. "

" The most amazing history I've read about polio which was such a scary thing when I was a kid. I had no idea of the controversy surrounding the release of both vaccines that were eventually used to eradicate this disease. "

" Really enjoyable history of the development of the Polio vaccine. It's been several years since I've read this, and I still find myself recalling some of the stories and lessons I learned from this book. Great for scientists! "

" A fascinating read! Educational, interesting and straightforward narrative of the decades long quest to fight a very scary and widespread disease. It quickly becomes a biographical sketch of Salk and Sabin, their heroics, failures, vaccines and impact on American society. "

" Extremely well researched and well written. "

" Pretty interesting story about the history and politics behind how the Polio vaccine was created. I guess I never realized how this epidemic was not too long ago. Very informative. "

" This is about the American fight to end polio. Learned lots of histoy of the era, FDR is on the American dime as he started the March of Dimes. He was honored by the US Mint with his portrait on the U.S. dime. "

" I have heard all about Jonas Salk, but I was unfamiliar with the difference between a live virus vaccine (Albert Sabin's contribution) and Salk's killed virus vaccine. Interesting look into the egos of the scientists and the challenges they faced. "

" Didn't' finish. Too long and a bit boring. "

" Not the pathology of polio, but the research/social/political/cultural Race for the Cure. "

" Interesting book about the history of Polio in the United States. Details the development of the Salk and Sabin vaccines, including the bitter personal rivalry between the two men. A great read for someone who didn't grow up around Polio. "