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Jonathan Kennedy

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Twitter

J_J_Kennedy

Genre

Science, Nonfiction

Member Since

December 2022

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Jonathan Kennedy teaches politics and global health at Queen Mary University of London. He has a PhD in sociology from the University of Cambridge.

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Jonathan Kennedy’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 10,814 ratings · 1,682 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

3.94 avg rating — 10,814 ratings — published 2023 — 21 editions

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Spring is the season of abundance: a time of lengthening days, flowering blossoms, and—for hopelessly devoted readers—giant stacks of...

Jonathan is Currently Reading

Jonathan Kennedy is currently reading

The Overstory

by Richard Powers

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Feb 20, 2025 02:18PM

Jonathan Kennedy is currently reading

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction

by Patrick Radden Keefe

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Feb 16, 2025 03:15PM

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The Serviceberry: An Economy of Gifts and Abundance

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Jan 28, 2025 11:21AM

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Jonathan Kennedy voted for One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This as Readers' Favorite Nonfiction in the Final Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 25, 2025 01:49PM · like
Jonathan Kennedy liked Hunter Seech's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "Such an interesting telling of world history in relation to infectious disease! Extremely detailed and well researched, I learned more about history through this book than nearly any school course lol. It’s certainly a bit dense at times, but absolut" Read more of this review »
Nov 25, 2025 06:21AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jonathan Kennedy and 2 other people liked AJ's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "4.5"
Nov 24, 2025 12:52PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jonathan Kennedy and 1 other person liked Linds's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "An incredibly interesting and truly heartbreaking summation of human history by way of germs. From bubonic plague, to cholera, to covid — we really haven't learned much at all. Highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, it is both informative and " Read more of this review »
Nov 24, 2025 12:52PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Jonathan Kennedy rated a book really liked it The Cancer Code: A Revolutionary New Understanding of a Medical Mystery by Jason Fung (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Quotes by Jonathan Kennedy (?)

“Pathogens thrive on inequality and injustice.”
― Jonathan Kennedy, Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

tags: disease, hope, injustice

4 likes

“There is one universally incorrect choice: do nothing. This didn't work when humans thought that plagues were a punishment sent by angry gods. Nor does a laissez-faire approach help stop disease when it is a deliberate policy choice.”
― Jonathan Kennedy, Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

tags: cynicism, disease, fatalism, hope

4 likes

“The image of Neanderthals picking wildflowers to line the grave of a loved one really brings home how similar they were to us. Solecki claimed that his discovery revealed “that the universality of mankind and the love of beauty go beyond the boundary of our own species.”
― Jonathan Kennedy, Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

2 likes

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