I began reading this knowing it would cover topics that interested me in [Guns, Germs, and Steel] and wasn't disappointed. The book covers mankind's encounters with disease from prehistory to the 20th century. I was especially interested in how he discusses macroparasitism in addition to microparasitism. The latter is very familiar to us, while the former may be something many of us have never consciously thought about. McNeill explains that in the same that parasites strike a balance with their hosts in which neither kills the other off too quickly, civilizations and social classes that prey upon the labor and resources of others must too be mindful of not taking too much and depriving them of resources needed to survive. He maintains this concept throughout much of the book, though I was a little disappointed he abandons the concept somewhat as he approaches modern history. Still, the book will encourage many readers to see history in a new light. ( )

Damn good. This is what chapter 11 of guns, germs and steel wants to be. ( )

an insightful look at how the most important things we export and import are sometimes the least visible or intended. ( )