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Jonathan Kennedy

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J_J_Kennedy

Genre

Science, Nonfiction

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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 · 12,292 ratings · 1,918 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

3.94 avg rating — 12,305 ratings — published 2023 — 25 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...

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The Overstory

by Richard Powers

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Feb 20, 2025 02:18PM

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Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

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 liked Judy F's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: ""Pathogenesis" is both a world history and a cogent argument for the historical and contemporary importance of disease as a significant factor in shaping the course of human events. Although I found Kennedy's treatment of both the Reformation and the" Read more of this review »
May 20, 2026 02:49AM · 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 liked justgeck007's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "The title was a bit misleading, suggesting the author to cover 8 plagues but instead the book discussed various different plague events that shaped history and the outcome of various conflicts, conquests, and the initial birth of modern humans. This " Read more of this review »
May 20, 2026 02:49AM · 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 Geoff Atwater's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "Fascinating I had known about plagues that had changed the course of history, such as the decline of the Roman Empire. Had no idea that plaques, or rather built up immunity by Homo sapiens, led to the disappearance of other humanoids. Or that plagues " Read more of this review »
May 20, 2026 02:49AM · 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 Erin's review of Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues: "4.5"
May 14, 2026 01:41AM · 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 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
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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
Aug 04, 2025 11:55AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Cancer Code by Jason Fung. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Cancer Code by Jason Fung <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Jonathan Kennedy wants to read Heart of the Hive: Inside the Mind of the Honey Bee and the Incredible Life Force of the Colony by Hilary Kearney (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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Jonathan Kennedy wants to read Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life by David R. Montgomery (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
Mar 03, 2025 01:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Growing a Revolution by David R. Montgomery. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Growing a Revolution by David R. Montgomery <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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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

“it has been estimated that viruses account for 30 percent of all genetic mutations since our species’ divergence from chimpanzees.[25]”
― Jonathan Kennedy, Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues

1 likes

See all Jonathan Kennedy's quotes »

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