Science and Inquiry discussion

For October 2025, we will be reading Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green.

Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

I may not be able to read this book on time. I put a hold on the ebook at one of my libraries, but the wait time is estimated at 16 weeks. I may have to break down and buy it.

It's all checked out at my library too. 9 weeks wait. $14.99 on Kindle ugh.

I am #59 on 31 copies at my library system for the book. So I may get it sometime in October! :)

I read this already. I couldn't wait, and it was worth it. As with most science books, I like to read and explore other content in parallel to deepen my understanding. I paired it with these videos, which I found really helpful. Hope you enjoy the book too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D-gx...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44fiX...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLb5...

GR currently has a giveaway offer for this book.

When libraries see a high number of hold requests, they often add more copies. (My 90 year old mother no longer uses her library card so I use it for holds.)

The audio is $9.45 at Audible for members. The author does a great job narrating his books so I’ll probably get it.

I read this back when it first came out in March - it's good, but it's also very pop-sci. If you're okay with pop-sci then you'll enjoy, but if you're looking for lots and lots of details you may be disappointed.

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is included with my membership on Spotify premium so I started listening today.

I already see what J means about it being very pop-sci. I am normally a fan of the details but this book is short and I'm going to keep reading. The author wants to inform but he also wants to make you feel something. This being the same author that writes books like "The Fault in Our Stars" that's not really very surprising.

Jessica wrote: "This is included with my membership on Spotify premium so I started listening today.

I already see what J means about it being very pop-sci. I am normally a fan of the details but this book is sho..."

I really enjoyed the variety of topics in his essays in The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, but its not heavy science. It was very easy bedtime reading. It’s very popular pop-science. I hope it led some readers to explore climate and environmental issues.

I don’t think anyone else could have published a book about Tuberculosis that was an immediate best seller. Maybe it will inspire deeper follow up reading.

NancyJ wrote: "I don’t think anyone else could have published a book about Tuberculosis that was an immediate best seller. Maybe it will inspire deeper follow up reading.."

That is absolutely correct. If an unknown journalist had written this book, it would still be sitting on library shelves unread rather than sitting on every library waiting list. There are just so many books to read that I sometimes get overwhelmed, so when I find an author I think I can trust, I keep going back.

I finished this book today and it's interesting the way the author talks about his "megaphone" and his efforts to use it only thoughtfully (and admitting to sometimes failing as we all do). This makes me respect the author even more. The account of Henry's personal story was compelling and hopeful and I think the author did a good job with his megaphone on this book.

Of interest to me was the way that people thought TB made you more creative, poetic, etc. I think that's true of any disease that saps the body but leaves the mind intact. It's not a result of the TB or disease but a result of the body's need to rest while the brain is so active. (At least that's been my experience, not with TB but with other chronic illness.) I wonder how many people are more creative, introverted, or quiet than they might otherwise be if it wasn't for illness.

I bought the book and I am starting it today. It is good science books get popular, but libraries can’t buy enough copies for the demand! I can’t wait, so.

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I bought the book and I am starting it today. It is good science books get popular, but libraries can’t buy enough copies for the demand! I can’t wait, so."

Yeah. My wait list is still 4 weeks. I'm going to have to buy a copy.

I think the book is too repetitive in writing about the failure of the rich Pharma companies and wealthy western countries to understand they could actually cut the occurrences of TB, which is the mission after all, and thus save lives if they made a little less money for their shareholders. But I also think it is a valid ask as well as a valid frustration.

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I think the book is too repetitive in writing about the failure of the rich Pharma companies and wealthy western countries to understand they could actually cut the occurrences of TB, which is the ..."

You are right. The book was repetitive and I read it so quickly that I skimmed through a lot of those parts. It was not a very long book either so it was a bit short on details, as someone said above, so I went into it with the proper expectations which I think really helped my reading experience.