This is an auction for MAN AND MICROBES: DISEASE AND PLAGUES IN HISTORY AND MODERN TIMES, by Arno Karlen..

Reviews from Amazon.com:

"Arno Karlen writes in a style very easy to read. The science in this book seems to be excellent, you can learn a lot about how diseases are spread, from animals and insects to us, and between people, and how diseases mutate over time and people adapt to them so they are sometimes less virulent later than when first encountered. Also covered is how diseases are spread through behavior and when man alters his environment, two examples being cities and agriculture. Many diseases are covered in this volume, if you are interested in reading more about any individual disease there are books on just about any one of them to learn more."

"The thing I find fascinating, and sad about this book, is the complexity of the immune system, and how these diseases originate and proliferate. Many have jumped from other species, some have always been with us. Some have always been around in water or elsewhere, and mutute occasionally -like Legionnaires disease. It is an ever-present war, and one which has greatly influenced history. The book provides a stark analysis of human history and the ruthlessness of life with germs, but despite the general negativity of this book, one must also appreciate how far we have come, and in how many ways we succeed against these diseases, and continue to succeed. New diseases are inevitable, but Ridley suggests in the book "Disease" that the future may well be in DNA vaccines. One can only hope."

More very favourable reviews on Amazon.com.

Paperback 1996.

266 pages.

Good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95 (ordinary post) or $6.95 (tracked mail). If you are on rural delivery and want tracked mail, the shipping cost will be $9.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.