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Polio: An American Story

Name: Polio: An American Story
Price: 13.95 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (1067 reviews)

4.6 of 5 Stars: History - Polio: An American Story

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Book Synopsis: Here David Oshinsky tells the gripping story of the polio terror and of the intense effort to find a cure, from the March of Dimes to the discovery of the Salk and Sabin vaccines and beyond. Drawing on newly available papers of Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin and other key players, Oshinsky paints a suspenseful portrait of the race for the cure, weaving a dramatic tale centered on the furious rivalry between Salk and Sabin. He also tells the story of Isabel Morgan, perhaps the most talented of all polio researchers, who might have beaten Salk to the prize if she had not retired to raise a family. Oshinsky offers an insightful look at the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which was founded in the 1930s by FDR and Basil O'Connor, it revolutionized fundraising and the perception of disease in America. Oshinsky also shows how the polio experience revolutionized the way in which the government licensed and tested new drugs before allowing them on the market, and the way in which the legal system dealt with manufacturers' liability for unsafe products. Finally, and perhaps most tellingly, Oshinsky reveals that polio was never the raging epidemic portrayed by the media, but in truth a relatively uncommon disease. But in baby booming America increasingly suburban, family oriented, and hygiene obsessed the specter of polio, like the specter of the atomic bomb, soon became a cloud of terror over daily life. Both a gripping scientific suspense story and a provocative social and cultural history, Polio opens a fresh window onto postwar America.

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Experience the gripping and captivating tale of the polio terror in America with "Polio: An American Story". Written by David Oshinsky, this book takes you on a suspenseful journey of the intense effort to find a cure for this debilitating disease. Delve into the race for the cure between Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, two key figures in the field of polio research and vaccination.

With access to newly available papers of Salk, Sabin, and other important contributors, Oshinsky brings to life the fierce rivalry and the relentless pursuit of a solution. You'll also discover the remarkable story of Isabel Morgan, a brilliant polio researcher whose potential victory was cut short due to personal choices.

Uncover the revolutionary impact of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, founded by FDR and Basil O'Connor, in changing the perception of disease and fundraising efforts in America during the 1930s. Oshinsky sheds light on how the polio experience transformed the government's approach to licensing and testing new drugs, as well as the legal system's handling of manufacturers' liability for unsafe products.

Contrary to popular belief, Oshinsky reveals that polio was not the widespread epidemic portrayed by the media. However, in a nation increasingly focused on hygiene, suburbia, and family life, polio became a menacing cloud of terror. Gain a fresh perspective on postwar America and its haunting encounters with polio through this enthralling scientific suspense story and thought-provoking social and cultural history.

Ready to dive into the gripping world of "Polio: An American Story"? Click here to explore this fascinating account of a pivotal time in American history.

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