Journal Entry 1 by itpdx from Portland, Oregon USA on Monday, November 12, 2007

I really enjoyed most of this book. I like history and, call me weird, epidemiology, so this well written account of an 1854 cholera epidemic in London and the men that found the source of transmission is right up my alley. The author's (Steven Johnson) observations of how cities evolved and the problems (including disease) that people encountered in the process were new to me. He used the stories of two of the men instrumental in discovering the source of the epidemic as a demonstration of how what appears to be genius discoveries are the result of a combination of talents, knowledge, unwillingness to accept conventional wisdom, local knowledge, and meticulous work.
I got a little impatient with the end of the book where Johnson speculates on what may be in store for our cities and the world in the future. 

Journal Entry 2 by itpdx from Portland, Oregon USA on Friday, November 30, 2007

This is going as a RABCK to ajsmom. Thank you sooo much for organizing the Secret Santa--what fun! 

Journal Entry 3 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Monday, December 10, 2007

Received today, thank you very much! I look forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 4 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, January 20, 2008

I agree with most of itpdx's postive comments. However! The title is The Ghost MAP and Johnson spends considerable time discussing the value of the map created - and it took me some time to figure out that the faded pictures in the book were reproductions of the map. It should have been referenced, or appendixed, or something!!

I too, got annoyed at the end of the book. I don't live in a big city (although I'm from one) and found his musings on how we should all live in a metropolis a little narrow-minded. Where does concrete come from? Wood for 2x4's? Aluminum? Steel? From rural areas, of course. But I'm sure a large metropolis could figure out how to produce those things...

In any case, it was a very informative read and I'm glad for the RABCK! Thank you, itpdx! 

Journal Entry 5 by ajsmom from Quesnel, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, August 29, 2009

This book is heading out on a ray! Here is the shipping order:

rockyhorror1978 -- Canada
collectorkerri -- US
Genevalove -- US
twinkpuddin -- US
etherea -- US
glade1 -- US
Katethegreyt -- US ---> book is here June 5, 2010
flambard -- UK
 

Journal Entry 6 by rockyhorror1978 from St. Catharines, Ontario Canada on Thursday, September 10, 2009

Received today. I'm very excited to read this book. It looks like a fascinating read. 

Journal Entry 7 by rockyhorror1978 from St. Catharines, Ontario Canada on Friday, September 25, 2009

This book was fascinating! It is amazing how ideas based on incorrect research can contribute to a problem instead of help it. Steven Johnson is an effective storyteller. Although this is a non-fiction account, it read like a fiction - easy to read and follow the story line. The combination of sociology, medicine, and civil engineering was also fascinating and we sometimes forget how each field can influence each other and overlap to create solutions. I agree that the ending was overdone and I would have probably preferred an ending that offered more about philosophical musings than hypothesized solutions. However, in a time when H1N1 virus is in the forefront of everyone's fears, this book is becoming more relevant and should serve as a reminder that we sometimes need to look beyond the realms of medicine for solutions.

I teach data collection and will be using this book as an example of why it is important to collect data and how conclusions based on false claims can lead to more problems and hinder a solution, especially when we become attached to the wrong answer. 

Journal Entry 8 by rockyhorror1978 at Springfield, Illinois USA on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/30/2009 UTC) at Springfield, Illinois USA

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Being sent to collectorkerri, the next participant in this bookring. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! 

Journal Entry 9 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Saturday, October 31, 2009

Received today. Will read ASAP. 

Journal Entry 10 by collectorkerri from Springfield, Illinois USA on Monday, November 16, 2009

What a fascinating case study. Amazing how sometimes a "scientific" idea sometimes can be totally wrong but everyone "knows" it to be true (the world is flat, the sun revolves around the earth, etc.). It was very interesting to see how the major players chased down the source of this cholera outbreak and helped to bring about major changes to how cities deal with water supplies and waste management because of it.

It's now on its way to the next participant in the bookray. 

Journal Entry 11 by Genevalove from Chennai, Tamil Nadu India on Friday, November 20, 2009

Just got this--I'll read it soon and get it moving again.

Thanks!
 

Journal Entry 12 by Genevalove from Chennai, Tamil Nadu India on Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Excellent and very readable book--it was particularly interesting how one official in London had sought to make public health changes with the best intentions, but his refusal to consider other theories of disease transmission actually created the conditions for catastrophic outbreaks of disease. I agree with others who've said the ending got a bit off the track--I skimmed the last bit, but thoroughly enjoyed the main story.

Sorry I've held onto this for so long! It will be on its way to the next participant this week. 

Journal Entry 13 by twinkpuddin from Venice, California USA on Friday, February 12, 2010

Arrived today! Am in the middle of another book, but will get started on this soon. 

Journal Entry 14 by twinkpuddin from Venice, California USA on Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wow, didn't expect to get through this book so quickly! It really was fascinating. I knew very little about cholera outbreaks and waste management and actually found the topics interesting. I love the interconnectedness of everything and ideas of consilience. It's amazing to look at the events, that may seem trivial or unrelated, that affect the way our living situations are created. There were a couple books the author mentioned that I think I'll actually check out.

Have PMd next person for address.

Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 15 by twinkpuddin from Venice, California USA on Thursday, March 04, 2010

Dropped in the mail for etherea today. 

Journal Entry 16 by etherea from Little Rock, Arkansas USA on Thursday, March 18, 2010

This has been on my wishlist for a long time, so can't wait to start it. Thanks for letting me be part of this ray. I'll journal again after I read it/before I send it on. 

Journal Entry 17 by etherea from Little Rock, Arkansas USA on Saturday, April 03, 2010

I really enjoyed this book. I finished it while my mom was in the hospital--an appropriate place to read about a cholera epidemic:) I like history and odd subjects. My son went to a school in junior high (for a short time) in which his history teacher said "There are some parts of history that we don't need to remember". Wow!
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this book. Thanks to ajsmom for inviting me.
I have glade1's address and will be posting this on today. 

Journal Entry 18 by etherea at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 03, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/3/2010 UTC) at Book Ring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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I'm mailing this to glade1 today. I'll add DC number later. 

Journal Entry 19 by glade1 from McLeansville, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Received in the mail on Monday. Thanks for including me in the ray. I need to finish my current read, then this will be next on the list. 

Journal Entry 20 by glade1 from McLeansville, North Carolina USA on Monday, April 12, 2010

Wow. I zipped right through this one in a weekend. It was fascinating and well written and presented a lot of food for thought. Very good!

I have PMed Katethegreyt for an address and will move this along as soon as I can. Thank you for including me in the ray! 

Journal Entry 21 by glade1 at Greensboro, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/2/2010 UTC) at Greensboro, North Carolina USA

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Mailed yesterday to Katethegreyt via Media Mail. I apologize for the long delay, but I have had great difficulty getting to the PO when it was actually open! Thank you again for including me in the ray. 

Journal Entry 22 by Katethegreyt at Dansville, New York USA on Saturday, June 05, 2010

Received by mail from fellow bookcrosser L.S. Vaughn. 4 June 2010. I was looking for some non-fiction to read, and this book arrived - I'll be starting it today!! 

Journal Entry 23 by Katethegreyt at Dansville, New York USA on Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Just finished reading this excellent piece of nonfiction. I love when nonfiction reads like a novel. Having recently read a novel that dealt with the earlier cholera epidemic in England, I found reading about how the cause of cholera was established to be fascinating. There is so much here about the changes in civilization from agrarian to urban, making urban living truly liveable, and the effects of all of this on present day society was eye opening. I'll be contacting the next person for his/her address, so I can get this book in the mail. Highly recommended.