poetpenelopee's review

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challenging hopeful informative slow-paced

5.0

liinaps's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

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I so appreciated this in-depth analysis of our current pandemic from a scientific, historical, sociological and epidemiological point of view. Christakis is a sociologist and physician who researches social networks and biosocial science. His book helped put our current situation in perspective - for better and for worse. The science was new (to me) but accessible for this non-scientist. There are chapters about previous plagues and epidemics and how they were handled politically and economically, about some of the behind-the-scenes decisions regarding the current pandemic, and especially about what some of the likely long-term changes, both bad and good, will be from here on. The book was published in October so really the only slightly out-dated information was about the speed of the vaccine production and roll-out. We read and discussed it in a small group - a good way to absorb the information. I noticed recently that Apollo's Arrow is on the Economist Magazine's list of best books of 2020.

cindyjac's review against another edition

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5.0

Very well written account of the pandemic we are currently experiencing. He imbeds the history of pandemics in a comprehensive manner.

crackel's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was quite informative and I almost wish it came out towards the tail end of 2021 to see the data that was gathered at the time of publication fleshed out. That being said, it was still a very eye opening read. Plagues, epidemics and pandemics have been consistent throughout the human experience and will continue to do so. It is important that when they do come, we are better prepared in the future. I appreciate Christakis taking the time to release this book.

mahir007's review against another edition

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5.0

يعتبر غسل اليدين مصدر قلق خاص لأن عاداتنا الاجتماعية في المصافحة توفر طريقة لانتشار المرض. في حين كان من الصعب على العديد من الأمريكيين تبني بعض التغييرات الوبائية في نمط الحياة ، اختفت هذه العادة القديمة المتمثلة في الوصول إلى يد الشخص بين عشية وضحاها في وقت مبكر من الوباء ، حتى قبل أن يبدأ الناس في الابتعاد مسافة ستة أقدام. سارع المسؤولون إلى الاعتراف بأهمية التخلي عن المصافحة. أعلن الدكتور فوسي أن أمريكا ما بعد الوباء ستتضمن "غسل اليدين القهري" و "إنهاء المصافحة".
وصف الدكتور جريجوري بولاند ، مدير مجموعة أبحاث اللقاحات في Mayo Clinic ، المصافحة بأنها "عادة قديمة" وأشار إلى أن "العديد من الثقافات تعلمت أنه يمكنها تحية بعضها البعض دون لمس".

في حين أن أصول المصافحة غير واضحة ، كانت التحية موجودة منذ آلاف السنين. يعتقد البعض أن تشابك الأيدي اليمنى الفارغة ، عبّر في الأصل عن نية سلمية أو يرمز إلى قسم مقدس وأن حركة الاهتزاز أثبتت أن كلا الطرفين لم يكن لديه أسلحة مخبأة تحت سواعدهما.
مهما كان الأصل ، فإن الممارسة قديمة. تم تصوير إحدى أقدم المصافحات المسجلة في نقش حجري يعود للقرن التاسع قبل الميلاد يظهر فيه ملك آشور (شلمنصر الثالث) وهو يسلم على حاكم بابلي. تظهر إشارات المصافحة في جميع أنحاء الفن والأدب القديم ، من ملاحم هوميروس إلى النقوش على العملات المعدنية الرومانية.

قد يكون التقليد متجذرًا أيضًا في التطور البشري ، ويلعب دورًا في الإشارات الكيميائية الاجتماعية. كما لاحظ أحد المحققين ، فإن "أخذ العينات البشرية العلنية عبر حاسة الشم والتحقيق في الأفراد غير المألوفين هو إلى حد كبير من المحرمات" - مما يعني أن الناس لا يقتربون صراحة من الغرباء ويستنشقونهم. لكن قد تكون المصافحة آلية لأخذ عينات من روائح الآخرين. تدعم هذه الاحتمالية التجارب التي تُظهر أن الناس يشمون أيديهم اليمنى أكثر بعد مصافحة شخص غريب من جنسهم ، كما لو كانوا يقيمونهم.
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Nicholas A. Christakis
Apollo's Arrow
Translated By #Maher_Razouk

ninjapenguinz's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

tobinlopes's review against another edition

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4.0

An informative and thorough review of pandemics and humanity's reaction and behavior. You'll learn quite a few neat things, like the etymology of vaccination, tsunami stones, and the history of the common cold.

It's still relevant in December 2020 even though he finished it in August 2020. And, because of how he wrote it, it'll be relevant for a while.

-tpl

hjpixx's review against another edition

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3.0

A long technical and scientific book is definitely not good for me to have on my Kindle. I wish I just had this as a reference on my shelf, and had made myself read it two years ago. Very informative.

theresugar's review against another edition

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4.0

Super informative book! It really showed what still needs to be improved in the U.S. (but unfortunately probably won't be) and what good people can do during a crisis. It was bizarre to read about things that he predicted happening (like a recession) actually happening or things that he thought would happen (like improvements or most people working from home) just... Not happening and life going back to how it was (or trying to... And ignoring the problems). If you listen to the audiobook, I recommend also having the physical book on hand so you can go back because all of the science stuff can get confusing. Plus, at the beginning, I got confused between when he was talking about the SARS-1 virus vs SARS-2, it was written in a kind of confusing way where if you missed 1 thing then you would be slightly lost for a bit. And towards the end it got to be too long and I was essentially just waiting for it to be over, it could have been shortened a bit.

But overall, really interesting! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about COVID-19, both the virus and the effects it had on society.