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Fauci
Specter has covered Dr. Fauci - and global public health - for more than three decades. In Fauci, Specter traces the doctor’s life from his childhood as a basketball-loving kid in Brooklyn through his leadership during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s to today, when the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of viral research are shaping humanity.
200 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 5, 2020
14 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Michael Specter
12 books41 followersMichael Specter has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1998. His most recent book, “Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives,” was published on October 29, 2009. Specter writes often about science, technology, and public health. Since joining the magazine, he has written several articles about the global AIDS epidemic, as well as about avian influenza, malaria, and the world’s diminishing freshwater resources, synthetic biology and the debate over the meaning of our carbon footprint. He has also published many Profiles, of subjects including Lance Armstrong, the ethicist Peter Singer, Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, Manolo Blahnik, and Miuccia Prada.
Specter came to The New Yorker from the New York Times, where he had been a roving foreign correspondent based in Rome. From 1995 to 1998, Specter served as the Times Moscow bureau chief. He came to the Times from the Washington Post, where, from 1985 to 1991, he covered local news, before becoming the Post’s national science reporter and, later, the newspaper’s New York bureau chief. In 1996 he won the Overseas Press Club’s Citation for Excellence for his reporting from Chechnya. He has twice received the Global Health Council’s annual Excellence in Media Award, first for his 2001 article about AIDS, “India’s Plague,” and secondly for his 2004 article “The Devastation,” about the ethics of testing H.I.V. vaccines in Africa. He also received the 2002 AAAS Science Journalism Award, for his article, “Rethinking the Brain,” about the scientific basis of how we learn.
He lives in New York.
Specter came to The New Yorker from the New York Times, where he had been a roving foreign correspondent based in Rome. From 1995 to 1998, Specter served as the Times Moscow bureau chief. He came to the Times from the Washington Post, where, from 1985 to 1991, he covered local news, before becoming the Post’s national science reporter and, later, the newspaper’s New York bureau chief. In 1996 he won the Overseas Press Club’s Citation for Excellence for his reporting from Chechnya. He has twice received the Global Health Council’s annual Excellence in Media Award, first for his 2001 article about AIDS, “India’s Plague,” and secondly for his 2004 article “The Devastation,” about the ethics of testing H.I.V. vaccines in Africa. He also received the 2002 AAAS Science Journalism Award, for his article, “Rethinking the Brain,” about the scientific basis of how we learn.
He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
December 18, 2021
Fantastic book. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who appreciates fact-based biographical journalism.
It is more than upsetting to hear that a man who just wanted to work in medicine could be so vilified simply for not having all the answers all the time. It's science -- a journey of learning, NOT a destination. No need for death threats.
I found Specter's argument regarding nuclear submarines to be especially compelling. And I want to ask too: Why are we investing billions into preparedness for a nuclear war that likely will never come, or if it does, we probably won't survive to fight anyway? Yet we can't even fund one committee to put some basic pandemic preparations in place, when the science has clearly predicted for decades that viral pandemics are inevitable? Priorities, people. Let's have some.
I was heartened to hear that the universal influenza vaccine idea is not yet abandoned:
"It is hard to know how much the current pandemic has cost the United States. So far the number is probably well into the trillions. COVID-19 should make it obvious that spending billions of dollars to produce a vaccine that could prevent, or even greatly limit this kind of pandemic, would be a bargain. Because today we are living with the fact that the cost of doing nothing has been far greater, in money and in lives, than most of us could have possibly imagined."
And this totally made me laugh out loud:
"America is paying a terrible price for having a president who acts like a 19th century carnival barker, riding the rails and hustling dubious elixirs." *cough cough* Anyone want a Clorox shooter with a side of dish detergent?
It is more than upsetting to hear that a man who just wanted to work in medicine could be so vilified simply for not having all the answers all the time. It's science -- a journey of learning, NOT a destination. No need for death threats.
I found Specter's argument regarding nuclear submarines to be especially compelling. And I want to ask too: Why are we investing billions into preparedness for a nuclear war that likely will never come, or if it does, we probably won't survive to fight anyway? Yet we can't even fund one committee to put some basic pandemic preparations in place, when the science has clearly predicted for decades that viral pandemics are inevitable? Priorities, people. Let's have some.
I was heartened to hear that the universal influenza vaccine idea is not yet abandoned:
"It is hard to know how much the current pandemic has cost the United States. So far the number is probably well into the trillions. COVID-19 should make it obvious that spending billions of dollars to produce a vaccine that could prevent, or even greatly limit this kind of pandemic, would be a bargain. Because today we are living with the fact that the cost of doing nothing has been far greater, in money and in lives, than most of us could have possibly imagined."
And this totally made me laugh out loud:
"America is paying a terrible price for having a president who acts like a 19th century carnival barker, riding the rails and hustling dubious elixirs." *cough cough* Anyone want a Clorox shooter with a side of dish detergent?
October 17, 2020
Fauci
By: Michael Specter
This is a good book to learn more about Fauci personally as in his personality, life history, education, family, work education, challenges, notable accomplishments, and more. There is personal interviews, pieces of speeches, and interviews with his wife too. I found it very enlightening!
By: Michael Specter
This is a good book to learn more about Fauci personally as in his personality, life history, education, family, work education, challenges, notable accomplishments, and more. There is personal interviews, pieces of speeches, and interviews with his wife too. I found it very enlightening!
October 12, 2020
’We don’t have an actual leader... Fauci is the closest thing.’
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recognition has soared since the pandemic began, as well as the general public opinion of Fauci rising while the President has intentionally played down the significance of the virus, as well as suggested alternate, potentially lethal, treatments. DJT’s suggestion of injecting bleach created another level of panic where Clorox and Lysol immediately were forced to inform the public not to inject or ingest their products.
This audiobook covers Fauci, the current pandemic, but it also shares a more personal side of Dr. Fauci, covering his childhood, his decisions that led to him becoming involved in medicine, and viral research, and - ultimately - to being instrumental in the changes made in the handling of malaria, avian bird flu, tuberculosis, swine flu, Zika, Ebola, as well as HIV / AIDS, and now being the trusted voice for COVID-19, as well as other research.
This is only available through Amazon’s Audible, so unless you have a subscription to Audible, or opt for a Free Trial - which allows for one free month / one free book - it is not be available in book, or other format, and it will not be made available to libraries, either, apparently.
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recognition has soared since the pandemic began, as well as the general public opinion of Fauci rising while the President has intentionally played down the significance of the virus, as well as suggested alternate, potentially lethal, treatments. DJT’s suggestion of injecting bleach created another level of panic where Clorox and Lysol immediately were forced to inform the public not to inject or ingest their products.
This audiobook covers Fauci, the current pandemic, but it also shares a more personal side of Dr. Fauci, covering his childhood, his decisions that led to him becoming involved in medicine, and viral research, and - ultimately - to being instrumental in the changes made in the handling of malaria, avian bird flu, tuberculosis, swine flu, Zika, Ebola, as well as HIV / AIDS, and now being the trusted voice for COVID-19, as well as other research.
This is only available through Amazon’s Audible, so unless you have a subscription to Audible, or opt for a Free Trial - which allows for one free month / one free book - it is not be available in book, or other format, and it will not be made available to libraries, either, apparently.
October 27, 2021
Animal torturer and mass murderer. Arrest Fauci now!!!
October 28, 2020
Incredible job by Specter, the information was well fact checked. This is a book for all, whether you be Democrat, Republican or Independent this book remains on the topic of science and a quick look at Fauci’s life story on how he came to be ‘Fauci’ and his contributions to the field. A must read for those who what a better understanding of what has and what could await us.
February 25, 2021
This was really interesting! I didn't know too much about Fauci before the current crisis and I enjoyed learning about his role in managing previous epidemics, especially the HIV/AIDS one. I was moved by Fauci's openness to learning from people with lived experience with different illnesses and his ability to go against the current in order to fight for what is right.
October 13, 2020
More about Anthony Fauci. The person he is the reason why he does what he does.
Working with infection disease is very hard for Fauci. He isn't God and trying to come up with the science to help all with an infection disease put him in the limelight of the world and politics.
There's some people that isn't happy with him not agreeing with Trump when he's just following the science.
He's warned the world that something like this can happen such as the COVID 19 if there's no plan set in time.
He's had his hands involved in so much since becoming a doctor. I applaud him for his hard work. In sticking to telling the world the truth and not sugar coding it.
This nonfiction is told through the eyes of Michael Spector right along with audio interviews and old recordings.
Working with infection disease is very hard for Fauci. He isn't God and trying to come up with the science to help all with an infection disease put him in the limelight of the world and politics.
There's some people that isn't happy with him not agreeing with Trump when he's just following the science.
He's warned the world that something like this can happen such as the COVID 19 if there's no plan set in time.
He's had his hands involved in so much since becoming a doctor. I applaud him for his hard work. In sticking to telling the world the truth and not sugar coding it.
This nonfiction is told through the eyes of Michael Spector right along with audio interviews and old recordings.
Read
October 8, 2020If a coronavirus vaccine were approved tomorrow, it would only be revolutionary if there were a plan to make it available to everyone. Ironically, this biography of Dr. Anthony Fauci--a highly produced program that walks the line between audiobook and long-form podcast--will only be available to those who pay for a monthly membership to Audible. As such, the publisher has chosen to withhold this literary work from purchase by digital library collections and prevent it from being sold by competing audiobook retailers (Apple, Libro.fm, Audiobooks.com, etc.). Unfortunately this inhibits the free and equal access to information that libraries stand for and contributes to the monopolistic hold that Audible/Amazon has on the audiobook marketplace, so I cannot in good conscience say "Everyone must listen to this!", because, to put it frankly, they can't. It's a shame, because the program is quite good.
I received this free review copy from the publisher for coverage consideration on Book Riot but was not told in advance that it would be an Audible exclusive.
I received this free review copy from the publisher for coverage consideration on Book Riot but was not told in advance that it would be an Audible exclusive.
January 30, 2021
While I do hold a lot of respect for Dr. Fauci, and generally agree with the author’s portrayal, I’m probably not the intended audience of this book.
Starting in February - March 2020, pretty much all Americans started hearing about Dr. Fauci’s role in the NIH, as he briefed the US public about the dangers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus / COVID-19 disease. And then the pandemic hit the US. If you’re an obsessive, (need-to-)know-it-all person like me, then you’ve been reading every (trustworthy) scientific article you can find, usually from The Atlantic or National Geographic since at least mid-March, as well as paying attention to the actions of the White House and other key government organizations. So there was very little that any book published in October 2020 could do to educate me on how the events of the pandemic unfolded, because I’ve been living through it for the past ~8 months.
Then, this May, through sheer coincidence, I read How to Survive a Plague by David France, which is a long book that details how the AIDS crisis unfolded in the US in the 1980s. That was how I came to hear of Dr. Fauci’s role as lead researcher and head of the NIAID during that time, and his tension with — and eventual friendship with — major AIDS activists.
Which is to say that the two biggest epidemics where Dr. Fauci played a key role — AIDS and COVID — were events I that was already familiar with. Which means that this short, 3-hour audiobook really didn’t have much to teach me. (Yes, the book also covered a bit about Dr. Fauci’s childhood, as well as his role in responding to the 2001 anthrax attacks and to Ebola, but AIDS and COVID took up the majority of the book.)
So who do I think might be the intended audience of this book?
• Someone who did not obsessively follow the unfolding of the pandemic in the US, from March to October 2020
• Someone who did not doom-scroll social media these past few months
• Someone who is unfamiliar with the AIDS epidemic in the US
• A young person in a few years (say, 2025), who did not pay much attention to the news in 2020 because they were too young to understand, but would like to learn at a high level about the US government response to COVID-19
All that said, I would absolutely be curious to read a full-length biography/memoir on Dr. Fauci, as I’m sure he has a fascinating life story to tell. This short audiobook simply wasn’t it for me.
Starting in February - March 2020, pretty much all Americans started hearing about Dr. Fauci’s role in the NIH, as he briefed the US public about the dangers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus / COVID-19 disease. And then the pandemic hit the US. If you’re an obsessive, (need-to-)know-it-all person like me, then you’ve been reading every (trustworthy) scientific article you can find, usually from The Atlantic or National Geographic since at least mid-March, as well as paying attention to the actions of the White House and other key government organizations. So there was very little that any book published in October 2020 could do to educate me on how the events of the pandemic unfolded, because I’ve been living through it for the past ~8 months.
Then, this May, through sheer coincidence, I read How to Survive a Plague by David France, which is a long book that details how the AIDS crisis unfolded in the US in the 1980s. That was how I came to hear of Dr. Fauci’s role as lead researcher and head of the NIAID during that time, and his tension with — and eventual friendship with — major AIDS activists.
Which is to say that the two biggest epidemics where Dr. Fauci played a key role — AIDS and COVID — were events I that was already familiar with. Which means that this short, 3-hour audiobook really didn’t have much to teach me. (Yes, the book also covered a bit about Dr. Fauci’s childhood, as well as his role in responding to the 2001 anthrax attacks and to Ebola, but AIDS and COVID took up the majority of the book.)
So who do I think might be the intended audience of this book?
• Someone who did not obsessively follow the unfolding of the pandemic in the US, from March to October 2020
• Someone who did not doom-scroll social media these past few months
• Someone who is unfamiliar with the AIDS epidemic in the US
• A young person in a few years (say, 2025), who did not pay much attention to the news in 2020 because they were too young to understand, but would like to learn at a high level about the US government response to COVID-19
All that said, I would absolutely be curious to read a full-length biography/memoir on Dr. Fauci, as I’m sure he has a fascinating life story to tell. This short audiobook simply wasn’t it for me.
October 26, 2020
Fantastic short little book, but gives a great image on Fauci’s worries of the future and the responsibilities that he holds not only for the world but all of humanity.
Truly he is the smartest man in the room when it comes to this Pandemic, it’s a shame that he is being blamed for a Presidential Office, that clearly can’t understand, therefore disagrees with and doesn’t believe in the “real” science.
I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn a little more about this prevalent news figure.
Truly he is the smartest man in the room when it comes to this Pandemic, it’s a shame that he is being blamed for a Presidential Office, that clearly can’t understand, therefore disagrees with and doesn’t believe in the “real” science.
I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn a little more about this prevalent news figure.
November 2, 2020
Fall 2020 (October);
This book was so eye-opening in so many ways. I have already always understood what was at stake in our country, with the denials and muting of Tony Fauci, but this gave me an even deeper understanding of just how much he should have been listened to. Not only that, the number of decades he's done this job and how many presidents have listened to/relied on him and how many plagues he has already seen us through in his five decades leading this field.
I believe in him even deeper and I'm even more tragically saddened for what's happened to him and his family this year.
This book was so eye-opening in so many ways. I have already always understood what was at stake in our country, with the denials and muting of Tony Fauci, but this gave me an even deeper understanding of just how much he should have been listened to. Not only that, the number of decades he's done this job and how many presidents have listened to/relied on him and how many plagues he has already seen us through in his five decades leading this field.
I believe in him even deeper and I'm even more tragically saddened for what's happened to him and his family this year.
July 28, 2021
This was not what I expected. It was more.
Specter unravels and reweaves Fauci’s intellect, character and integrity with the context in which he approaches medicine and science.
The result is a greater understanding of the evolution of the man, our culture and science.
Whether you are interested in Fauci, the evolution of science or advocacy for patients, this delivers.
Specter unravels and reweaves Fauci’s intellect, character and integrity with the context in which he approaches medicine and science.
The result is a greater understanding of the evolution of the man, our culture and science.
Whether you are interested in Fauci, the evolution of science or advocacy for patients, this delivers.
December 12, 2020
This audio biography of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci by Michael Specter provides an excellent overview of the famed doctor’s career, along with excerpts from interviews recorded along the way. Covering more than three decades of work and discovery, from his childhood in Brooklyn to his pioneering research and advocacy for patients with AIDS, up to the current global pandemic with COVID-19.
In addition to its fact-based case for science, its also an illustration of the power of grounding yourself in facts. Faced with a tidal wave of emotion, and too often misinformed rage, Fauci kept his cool and his self-esteem intact by sticking to facts as the foundation for his even-handed, often generous, response to his critics and those intent on bullying. A casebook for going high, when your critics go low.
In addition to its fact-based case for science, its also an illustration of the power of grounding yourself in facts. Faced with a tidal wave of emotion, and too often misinformed rage, Fauci kept his cool and his self-esteem intact by sticking to facts as the foundation for his even-handed, often generous, response to his critics and those intent on bullying. A casebook for going high, when your critics go low.
October 8, 2020
This was a treat.
It really put into perspective on what exactly goes on behind the scenes and how much crap this man has to put up with.
Death threats - really!?
I love the line in the book about people wanting him to be God and punishing him for not being God.
That is so accurate its not even funny. Dr. Fauci can only do so much. He is indeed NOT God and only God can speed along the ending of this pandemic. Especially when it is changing on a daily. The information Dr. Fauci gives us might be valid and true when he gives it to us. However the next day this virus can change and make what Dr. Fauci said yesterday un true. Its crazy.
But I love the delivery of this book. It shows both sides of the coin.
It really put into perspective on what exactly goes on behind the scenes and how much crap this man has to put up with.
Death threats - really!?
I love the line in the book about people wanting him to be God and punishing him for not being God.
That is so accurate its not even funny. Dr. Fauci can only do so much. He is indeed NOT God and only God can speed along the ending of this pandemic. Especially when it is changing on a daily. The information Dr. Fauci gives us might be valid and true when he gives it to us. However the next day this virus can change and make what Dr. Fauci said yesterday un true. Its crazy.
But I love the delivery of this book. It shows both sides of the coin.
October 7, 2020
Great book. It is definitely designed as an audio book. In many ways it feels like listening to a long podcast, more than an audio book. With live audio excerpts from interviews and conversations with Fauci and others. It's a great listen.
This is simply a book about Fauci and his involvement with the AIDS epidemic and then avian and swine flu out brakes.
Although it has two chapters on the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is really light on details just telling a little more about how Fauci is often ignored by Trump. Its probably still a little too early to tell in depth about his actions for COVID-19. Perhaps this is the reason if feels more like a podcast than a regular audio book its coming out in the midst of the events it is talking about.
This is simply a book about Fauci and his involvement with the AIDS epidemic and then avian and swine flu out brakes.
Although it has two chapters on the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is really light on details just telling a little more about how Fauci is often ignored by Trump. Its probably still a little too early to tell in depth about his actions for COVID-19. Perhaps this is the reason if feels more like a podcast than a regular audio book its coming out in the midst of the events it is talking about.
December 12, 2020
An interesting, short listen. Made me appreciate Fauci even more as an effective and principled leader. Covered his days battling, then teaming up with Larry Kramer and the ACT UP crew, and then tpuched on his current dilemma with Covid and Trump. One thing he has done throughout is to maintain a conviction in the strength of science over emotion and politics.
January 13, 2021
This right-sized (3 hours) biography is both entertaining & solidly informative without being long-winded. In addition to Dr. Anthony Fauci's current work in the fight against COVID-19, Specter devotes considerable time to Fauci's achievements against AIDS (& elsewhere). There's enough early biographical info to give listeners a sense of Fauci as a person, but the focus of this audiobook is on his work against viruses -- and, to a lesser extent, on America's struggles to get up to speed on the latest one. Specter also includes information on the future of viral research, a topic as hopeful as it is deeply frightening.
Anyone curious about the human behind the headlines will find this a worthwhile listening experience, though it's obvious that Specter (reading his own work) is very enthusiastic about his subject, and has some political views of his own.
Anyone curious about the human behind the headlines will find this a worthwhile listening experience, though it's obvious that Specter (reading his own work) is very enthusiastic about his subject, and has some political views of his own.
Read
October 29, 2020I got this from the free audible books list and it was well worth it. I enjoyed the added interviews with Dr. Fauci. It was an interesting perspective as I don't normally follow the world of infectious diseases, but his background is incredible.
October 23, 2020
Thank you, Dr. Fauci, for leading with science and heart.
November 4, 2020
This short biography is not only about Fauci but it gives a good history and explanation of pandemics in our past and what we can expect in the future.
November 15, 2020
Learned Fauci's intriguing career and how his view of science and medicine and activism has changed over time.
January 17, 2021
Thank the universe for people like Dr. Fauci! This is a great quick listen and I'm soooo glad we'll have a new president in a few days who will listen to scientists like Tony!
August 3, 2021
‘‘Twas good.
October 30, 2020
I learned some stuff. The editing annoyed me but otherwise it was a good audio book.
January 8, 2021
Anyone who is not familiar Fauci’s work and accomplishments prior the Covid19 Pandemic needs to read this. It’s free to listen if you have an Audible subscription.
December 4, 2020
This book is not just about Fauci but about other players in the COVID-19 pandemic. Also a very interesting history of how the US handles health care.
December 13, 2020
A very informative background for the man behind much of today's headlines. Well done!
December 30, 2020
‘Fauci by Michael Specter’ 4/5 ⭐️
Before I begin, let me set the expectations straight, Fauci is a short 3-hour audiobook (audible exclusive, unfortunately) so don’t go in expecting it to be an exhaustive biography, it’s more like a five-part podcast on Dr. Fauci’s life and even if you have closely followed the unfolding of the COVID pandemic in the US it still has a lot to offer to a keen listener.
When I picked up this audiobook in November, I was sick of the Fauci bashing and the growing anti-intellectual sentiment in the country and I think subconsciously my mind was seeking refuge in this book, I hoped to hear soothing tales of how science saved the day in the past pandemics and why we must continue to believe in it. Surprisingly, however, this book didn’t exactly tell me what I wanted to hear instead it made me humbly reflect on my work as a scientist like no other book has in a while.
The section of the book that gave me the most to think about was Dr. Fauci’s transformation from a conventional bench scientist to a public health activist in face of the AIDS epidemic. In the 1980s when AIDS was raging havoc on the gay community and the Reagan administration’s glacial indifference wasn’t making things any easier, desperate for action, AIDS activists from ACTUP stormed the NIH and held historic demonstrations in front of the FDA. These activists weren’t angry for no reason, they had informed themselves of FDA’s drug approval process and were demanding very specific amendments to its obstructionist policies. At the time, FDA’s policies prevented patients treated with an experimental drug to participate in another clinical trial, while this made sense to most scientist to protect the sanctity of trial results, it seemed unethical to block access to a potentially life-saving drug for a patient given HIV’s death sentence. Ethical questions were raised against the use of placebos in these trials as well. The attitude amongst methodical scientists, doctors, and regulators at the time was to stick to the rules, trust the intellectual superiority of the medical establishments, and ignore the protestors. Dr. Fauci as the director of the NIAID and the face of the administration was relentlessly criticized by the activists. Larry Kramer one of the most prominent AIDS activists even compared him to Adolf Eichmann. Despite the growing divide, Dr. Fauci recognized that these hugely motivated and informed activists were not a threat, they in fact shared the same passion as him to make the system better and reduce suffering. Instead of barricading the institute, he opened the doors to his office and engaged in dialogues with the activists and patients, and eventually found allies in some of his harshest critics. What followed after is a case study in how the AIDS crisis brought a broad range of stakeholders with diverse perspectives and talents to work together to develop effective therapies, redesign investigational studies, expedite the drug review process and increase access for as many patients as possible.
My favorite bit from the book is Mark Harrington’s reminder to the scientific community that moving fast and having more compassion need not be mutually exclusive.
Before I begin, let me set the expectations straight, Fauci is a short 3-hour audiobook (audible exclusive, unfortunately) so don’t go in expecting it to be an exhaustive biography, it’s more like a five-part podcast on Dr. Fauci’s life and even if you have closely followed the unfolding of the COVID pandemic in the US it still has a lot to offer to a keen listener.
When I picked up this audiobook in November, I was sick of the Fauci bashing and the growing anti-intellectual sentiment in the country and I think subconsciously my mind was seeking refuge in this book, I hoped to hear soothing tales of how science saved the day in the past pandemics and why we must continue to believe in it. Surprisingly, however, this book didn’t exactly tell me what I wanted to hear instead it made me humbly reflect on my work as a scientist like no other book has in a while.
The section of the book that gave me the most to think about was Dr. Fauci’s transformation from a conventional bench scientist to a public health activist in face of the AIDS epidemic. In the 1980s when AIDS was raging havoc on the gay community and the Reagan administration’s glacial indifference wasn’t making things any easier, desperate for action, AIDS activists from ACTUP stormed the NIH and held historic demonstrations in front of the FDA. These activists weren’t angry for no reason, they had informed themselves of FDA’s drug approval process and were demanding very specific amendments to its obstructionist policies. At the time, FDA’s policies prevented patients treated with an experimental drug to participate in another clinical trial, while this made sense to most scientist to protect the sanctity of trial results, it seemed unethical to block access to a potentially life-saving drug for a patient given HIV’s death sentence. Ethical questions were raised against the use of placebos in these trials as well. The attitude amongst methodical scientists, doctors, and regulators at the time was to stick to the rules, trust the intellectual superiority of the medical establishments, and ignore the protestors. Dr. Fauci as the director of the NIAID and the face of the administration was relentlessly criticized by the activists. Larry Kramer one of the most prominent AIDS activists even compared him to Adolf Eichmann. Despite the growing divide, Dr. Fauci recognized that these hugely motivated and informed activists were not a threat, they in fact shared the same passion as him to make the system better and reduce suffering. Instead of barricading the institute, he opened the doors to his office and engaged in dialogues with the activists and patients, and eventually found allies in some of his harshest critics. What followed after is a case study in how the AIDS crisis brought a broad range of stakeholders with diverse perspectives and talents to work together to develop effective therapies, redesign investigational studies, expedite the drug review process and increase access for as many patients as possible.
My favorite bit from the book is Mark Harrington’s reminder to the scientific community that moving fast and having more compassion need not be mutually exclusive.
December 25, 2020
Audiobook Only: This was a fascinating listen on one of the most influential individuals in the public domain. I knew he had been around through multiple administrations but did not fully appreciate just how long that has been. I am impressed with his ability to stay focused and not be deterred despite encountering a lot of political challenges. Additionally, I was also impressed to hear about his willingness to engage with activists directly to gain a broader understanding other than viewing these issues from a purely scientific standpoint.
September 3, 2021
Short, informative and timely. I knew that Anthony Fauci had been around for a long time, but to hear the different medical happenings he had been part of really put his expertise into play.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews