Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK
Review: I read this book for a history class and loved it. The thesis was interesting, the ideas well-supported, and the examples fascinating. McNeill writes clearly, includes the perfect amount of detail and factual support, and avoids esotericism. His claims, like components of a mathematic or scientific theory, complement one another in a convincing and cohesive fashion such that by the end of the book, one cannot help but be at least partially convinced of the important relationship between paracitism and human civilization throughout history. Plagues and Peoples is truly legitimate, fascinating and innovative. For those who have any interest in history, anthropology, sociology, biology, or a plethora of other fields, as well as for any who merely appreciate interesting analytical thought and are looking for a good read, this book is really one you won't want to miss.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative, but highly difficult to comprehend
Review: I recently bought this book because of what seemed to be endless recommendations from professors and Amazon readers. I was, however, disappointed when I opened it. I read the first 200 pages, inching my way forward, dismayed since the cover reviews included words like "inspiring", "page turning" and "ground-breaking." The material is that of a science journal, and the prose mimics that of an economic one.
I have skipped this book on my list, which distresses me since this is that first time that I have actually put down a book in the middle of reading it. Maybe when I feel braver (or read a few more economic journals for preperation) I will finish it. In the meantime, I recommend the book "Guns, Germs and Steel" as a substitute.
Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking, but not readable
Review: I recently bought this book because of what seemed to be endless recommendations from professors and Amazon readers. I was, however, disappointed when I opened it. I read the first 200 pages, inching my way forward, dismayed since the cover reviews included words like "inspiring", "page turning" and "ground-breaking." The material is that of a science journal, and the prose mimics that of an economic one.
I have skipped this book on my list, which distresses me since this is that first time that I have actually put down a book in the middle of reading it. Maybe when I feel braver (or read a few more economic journals for preperation) I will finish it. In the meantime, I recommend the book "Guns, Germs and Steel" as a substitute.
Rating:
Summary: A highly informative, but complicated book.
Review: I think this book was highly informative, throroughly explaining the course of disease and infections dating back to the very begining of time. However, since I am only 15 I don't think I understood the book as well as others who are older. It was on the list for summer reading, but I think that it is a little to much for some one who is going to be a sophmore in High School. I beleive that if I came back in about 5 years and read it again, I would get so much more out of it.
Rating:
Summary: An epidemiological McCluhan
Review: If you've been enjoying the rash of viral/epidemiological titles such as "Hot Zone", "The Coming Plague" or "Deadly Feasts", you'll find a real gem in "Plagues and Peoples". William McNeill, an author with impeccable credentials, is IMHO, the Marshall McCluhan of epidemiological biology. Like McCluhan, he published this work decades before the subject matter became mainstream. He also comes at the topics he investigates with a fresh and brain-stretching approach. McNeill presents a history of mankind where every civilization is surrounded by a disease 'gradient'. These gradients interact with one another as one of the significant factors in inter-cultural dominance and expansion. The conquest of the New World takes on a new look as McNeill describes the impact of the European disease gradient on a defenseless North America. He contrasts this with the impact of the African disease gradient on Europeans. Some of McNeills ideas, such as his analogies between micro-parasites (diseases, bugs, etc.) and macro-parasites (governments, barbarians, raiders, etc.) are still fresh and fascinating. Consider his idea that we accept a government as a low-level parasite so that we minimize the impact of rogue parasites like raiders and such in the same way we allow our bodies to be colonized by benign parasites like E.Coli so that we have fewer niches available to rouge germs like staph and strep. This book is filled with exciting ideas like this. All in all, the book is very readable, adds greatly to any view of history and creates an excellent foundation for the recent titles in this area.
Rating:
Summary: An epidemiological McCluhan
Review: If you've been enjoying the rash of viral/epidemiological titles such as "Hot Zone", "The Coming Plague" or "Deadly Feasts", you'll find a real gem in "Plagues and Peoples". William McNeill, an author with impeccable credentials, is IMHO, the Marshall McCluhan of epidemiological biology. Like McCluhan, he published this work decades before the subject matter became mainstream. He also comes at the topics he investigates with a fresh and brain-stretching approach. McNeill presents a history of mankind where every civilization is surrounded by a disease 'gradient'. These gradients interact with one another as one of the significant factors in inter-cultural dominance and expansion. The conquest of the New World takes on a new look as McNeill describes the impact of the European disease gradient on a defenseless North America. He contrasts this with the impact of the African disease gradient on Europeans. Some of McNeills ideas, such as his analogies between micro-parasites (diseases, bugs, etc.) and macro-parasites (governments, barbarians, raiders, etc.) are still fresh and fascinating. Consider his idea that we accept a government as a low-level parasite so that we minimize the impact of rogue parasites like raiders and such in the same way we allow our bodies to be colonized by benign parasites like E.Coli so that we have fewer niches available to rouge germs like staph and strep. This book is filled with exciting ideas like this. All in all, the book is very readable, adds greatly to any view of history and creates an excellent foundation for the recent titles in this area.
Rating: 
Summary: Flowery language, somewhat interesting
Review: In Plagues and Peoples, the author analyzes how micro-and-macroparasites have affected population patterns from prehistory to the recent past. The beginning describes micro and macroparasites' potential to have an impact on different cultures, and as the book progresses, it also mentions the cultures and places that have been affected by plagues. It's a good approach because it provides the audience with a quick glance at world history and at the same time remind them of the tremendous impact parasitic invasions have had on history. Very analytical. Many of his points, though radical, are quite credible (though not well supported). Unwise use of words; rendundant. Complex, flowery language. Not recommended for students below the 12th grade. This was required summer reading for my 10th grade history class. Most of the people I know who read it either hated the book or thought it was OK.
Rating: 
Summary: History as Science Fiction
Review: In William McNeil's Plagues and Peoples, the author argued that disease profoundly shaped the course of human history. He even theorized that man himself is simply a disease-a macroparasite. Humans cannot escape the fact that, although they occupy the top spot in the food chain, they are still part of that chain: "the way infectious diseases have begun to come back shows that we remain caught in the web of life-permanently and irretrievably-no matter how clever we are at altering what we do not like, or how successful we become at displacing other species" (McNeil, 17). According to the author, humans are nothing more than a plague-a plague that forged the entire pattern of history as we know it, but a plague nevertheless. Although Plagues and Peoples presented a radically different view of traditional history, it left out several chapters in the saga of humanity's struggle with both their environment as well as themselves. McNeil supported his doomsday conclusions by systematically detailing the effects of disease-political, demographic, and psychological-in the human race, from prehistory to the present. His most powerful argument centered on the utter destruction of the vital Aztec civilization by a relative handful of Spaniards. As McNeil stated, the usual explanations-horses, gunpowder, allies-are inadequate. How could literally millions of people succumb to fewer than six hundred? Such an event defied all rational explanations and seemed to call for supernatural or racist theories-both certainly popular with the Spanish at the time. But McNeil's parasite thesis-on both the micro and macro level-offered a logical and intriguing counter argument. Although he characterized the Spanish as particularly brutal and careless, McNeil maintained, "After all, it was not in the interest of the Spaniards and other Europeans to allow potential taxpayers and the Indian work force to diminish. The main destructive role was certainly played by epidemic disease" (McNeil, 215). On the micro level, epidemic disease, namely smallpox, would have made Cortez's triumph "more difficult, and perhaps impossible" (216). The historic implications of this statement must not be taken lightly. The history of the entire Western Hemisphere, as well as Europe, would have been completely different without the successful take-over of Central and South America by the Spanish. On the macro level, the Spanish were themselves a disease, a "swarm" that descended on the Amerindians in the same way Louisiana mosquitoes descend upon their human prey at an after dusk barbecue. Although the analogy was uncannily accurate in this case, it did not describe the whole picture. What, for example, were the Spaniards' motivations for coming to the New World in the first place? They were mostly good, old-fashioned "human" considerations-greed, chauvinism, and religion. All history cannot simply be reduced to the level of parasites. Humans are creatures of emotion, of ideas. Unlike germs, they do not function merely through the wax and wane of biological urges. Even Sigmund Freud, great believer in the ever-grasping id, did not ignore the superego. In conclusion, McNeil's argument is important because it forces everyone-traditional historians included-to rethink humanity's role in history. His thesis enables one to take a step back from perhaps trivial details (did the Aztecs really think that Cortez was a blond god?) and truly examine the larger picture. But to leave out the essence of humanity-lust and greed, nobility and sacrifice-is to turn history into science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The history of mankind, as dictated by germs.
Review: It is all to frequently taken for granted among historians and laymen alike these days that the history of mankind is just the net result of the will and deeds of myriads of our race, influenced by social factors only. The importance of non-social, external factors like ecology has been recognized only relatively recently. McNeill's book introduces another important factor among these external conditions of human existence: the interaction of the human race with the multitude of microscopic species in its environment. From time to time taking the form of great plagues, these effects left important marks on human history, chiefly by their dramtic influence on demographical patterns. The book follows the history of these effects, especially those of plagues, throughout history. It is unfortunate that the extremely interesting contents is presented in what is a perhaps too dry academic style. The inclusion of more detailed presentations of concrete examples, quotations from the historic sources, and figures could have made this exciting topic a more exciting read.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating, but controversial, view of Medical History
Review: McNeill's intriguing book mixes medical and cultural history in a surprisingly effective argument for his thesis. Although some consider this work to be a serious "jump to conclusions" without a terribly large amount of documented support, especially in the cases of Chinese and Indian history, it encourages any reader capable of doing so to investigate the matter for himself. A thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
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