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And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
And the Band Played On Politics People and the AIDS Epidemic
Author: Randy Shilts
By the time Rock Hudson's death in 1985 alerted all America to the danger of the AIDS epidemic, the disease had spread across the nation, killing thousands of people and emerging as the greatest health crisis of the 20th century. America faced a troubling question: What happened? How was this epidemic allowed to spread so far before it was taken...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780140113693
ISBN-10: 014011369X
Pages: 672
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 29

4.4 stars, based on 29 ratings
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on
Helpful Score: 1
Very detailed account of the AIDS epidemic. I found it to be a rather fustrating book to endure, not due to the writing style, but more over the lack of response by the many differnt agencies and the US goverment to mobilize against AIDS. The one thing I can say about the book it sticks to the facts rather than opinion. There is no party (GLBT Community, science and goverment) left out of its responsibility for the spread of the epidemic. It is sure to be a great source of debate amoungst all who read.
buzzby avatar reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on + 6062 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Good book, several stories developing at once, including the work that doctors did in the early years of the crisis, the efforts to close the gay bars in San Francisco, the rivalries of scientists working on a cure, and "Patient Zero", who may or may not have been responsible for the spread of AIDS across the continent. Like someone said before, reads like fiction, but it isn't (although the effect of Gaeton Dugas, patient zero, is highly speculative).
bookaddict avatar reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on
Helpful Score: 1
How great is this book? It is one I have read again and again. Really gives the feel of a horrible era in the US, and if you didn't live through it, maybe it won't have the same impact as it does on me. The story of the AIDS crisis: young, healthy people were dying in droves from a brand new, totally unknown illness, and the political implications were complicated and disturbing. Taken from Randy Shilts' newspaper columns of the time (although it does NOT read like journalism, more like fiction although it is not). Really absorbing. Nothing like the lightweight film made with Matthew Modine. No film could capture all the stories and personalities in this book. Highly recommend this.
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reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on + 101 more book reviews
excellent history of the start of the AIDS epidemic
reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on + 6 more book reviews
Great Book ! ! Good writing and information
reviewed And the Band Played On : Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic on + 6 more book reviews
GREAT book if you are interested in the AIDS epidemic and the handling of the problem in the 80's and early 90's. HBO made it into a GREAT movie.


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