Pathogenesis, Jonathan Kennedy
Pathogenesis, Jonathan Kennedy
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Pathogenesis
A History of the World in Eight Plagues

Author: Jonathan Kennedy

Narrator: Jonathan Kennedy

Unabridged: 9 hr 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/18/2023

Synopsis

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A “gripping” (The Washington Post) account of how the major transformations in history—from the rise of Homo sapiens to the birth of capitalism—have been shaped not by humans but by germs

“Superbly written . . . Kennedy seamlessly weaves together scientific and historical research, and his confident authorial voice is sure to please readers of Yuval Noah Harari or Rutger Bregman.”—The Times (U.K.)

According to the accepted narrative of progress, humans have thrived thanks to their brains and brawn, collectively bending the arc of history. But in this revelatory book, Professor Jonathan Kennedy argues that the myth of human exceptionalism overstates the role that we play in social and political change. Instead, it is the humble microbe that wins wars and topples empires.

Drawing on the latest research in fields ranging from genetics and anthropology to archaeology and economics, Pathogenesis takes us through sixty thousand years of history, exploring eight major outbreaks of infectious disease that have made the modern world. Bacteria and viruses were protagonists in the demise of the Neanderthals, the growth of Islam, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the devastation wrought by European colonialism, and the evolution of the United States from an imperial backwater to a global superpower. Even Christianity rose to prominence in the wake of a series of deadly pandemics that swept through the Roman Empire in the second and third centuries: Caring for the sick turned what was a tiny sect into one of the world’s major religions.

By placing disease at the center of his wide-ranging history of humankind, Kennedy challenges some of the most fundamental assumptions about our collective past—and urges us to view this moment as another disease-driven inflection point that will change the course of history. Provocative and brimming with insight, Pathogenesis transforms our understanding of the human story.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Dax on May 10, 2023

This should be required reading for every single politician, especially those who serve on the international stage. This bottom up re-telling of human history underscores how susceptible the human race is to pathogens and the role bacteria and viruses have played in shaping our world into what it is......more

Goodreads review by Hannah on September 07, 2024

I learned so much! I generally enjoy books like this - a record of world history through a single lens. This was better than some of the others I’ve read like this book. I found it informative, engaging, and thought provoking. It evoked anger, sadness, and the delight that comes with the connection......more

Goodreads review by Trish on September 27, 2023

There are a lot of things we were all taught in school. Like how advanced Roman civillisation was as evidenced by their impressive architecture and general hygiene. But WHAT IF those bathhouses had been cesspools for microbes and bacteria, spreading disease and ultimately helping in bringing the emp......more

Goodreads review by Peter on November 27, 2023

Big picture history is hard to write, particularly if what we are talking about is the scope of entire human history and even how we evolved. Pathogenesis takes this on as a topic, and tries to be as comprehensive as it can be. Its a solidly accessible read and one whose general thesis (that our ent......more

Goodreads review by fourtriplezed on February 03, 2024

A topical subject considering the pandemic and that I have long covid. I listened to the author tell his own research via audio, and I have no problems with his tone of voice or the pace he spoke at. First, the criticism of the book would be the use of Pop culture to use as analogies. I am never tha......more

Quotes

“[Kennedy] wrangles an astonishing breadth of material into easily accessible, plain prose. . . . Even readers familiar with the material will find [Pathogenesis] fascinating. . . . Kennedy will leave readers galvanized by the time they flip to the last page, having assured us that we could win the narrative back from germs—if we’re able to muster the political will to do so. Pathogenesis puts us in our rightful tiny place in the universe as this great, big—and terrifying, at times—world spins. But, Kennedy reminds us, we are not helpless.”—The Washington Post

“Full of amazing facts . . . Pathogenesis doesn’t only cover thousands of years of history—it seeks radically to alter the way the reader views many of the (often very well-known) events it describes.”—The Guardian

“Well-timed . . . compelling . . . Kennedy’s book manages to end on a somewhat hopeful note. Yes, our trajectory is defined by microbes. But it’s also influenced by our reactions to them—and our acknowledgment of their power.”—The Atlantic

“Entertaining . . . Kennedy marshals a dizzying range of material, from the transition from feudalism to capitalism in Europe to the rise of the slave trade.”—The Economist

“[Pathogenesis] shines when it brings cutting-edge science to bear on these questions, something that Kennedy treats with great care. . . . Pathogenesis shows a microbial world that is as complex, dynamic, and alive as the human one, and just as consequential.”—Financial Times

“Great historical changes are often conceived of as being brought about by the genius and tenacity of great men, or occasionally women, but Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs are largely responsible for everything, from the decline of the Neanderthals to the current poverty of sub-Saharan Africa. . . . [He] offers a different lens to view many of the big events of the past.”—Associated Press

“The fluency of Kennedy’s narration is remarkable, weaving Tolkien, Game of Thrones, and Monty Python into memorable and accessible explanations of genetics, evolutionary biology and demography. . . . Impressive and enjoyable.”—The Spectator

“A virtuoso analysis of the fallout from encounters between deadly viral and bacterial pathogens and human populations that lacked immunity. . . . The result is a fascinating look at history from the perspective of its tiniest protagonists.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“It’s not often you pick up a book that promises to alter your entire understanding of the story of humanity.”—Lit Hub

“Thrilling and eye-opening . . . Jonathan Kennedy explores the enormous role played by some of the tiniest life on earth: the power of plagues in shaping world history.”—Lewis Dartnell, author of The Knowledge

“This book challenges some of the greatest clichés about colonialism and leaves you wondering why you ever gave them the time of day. . . . A revelation.”—Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland

“A fascinating, readable, and superbly researched account of how infectious diseases have shaped our history.”—David Christian, author of Origin Story

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