Audiobook13 hours
Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio
Written by Jeffrey Kluger
Narrated by Michael Prichard
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
The riveting story of one of the greatest scientific accomplishments of the twentieth century, from the coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller Apollo 13.
With rivalries, reversals, and a race against time, the struggle to eradicate polio is one of the great tales of modern history. It begins with the birth of Jonas Salk, shortly before one of the worst polio epidemics in United States history. At the time, the disease was a terrifying enigma: striking from out of nowhere, it afflicted tens of thousands of children in this country each year and left them-literally overnight-paralyzed, and sometimes at death's door.
Salk was in medical school just as a president crippled by the disease, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was taking office-and providing the impetus to the drive for studies on polio. By the early 1950s, Salk had already helped create an influenza vaccine, and was hot on the trail of the polio virus. He was nearly thwarted, though, by the politics of medicine and by a rival researcher eager to discredit his proposed solution. Meanwhile, in 1952, polio was spreading in record numbers, with 57,000 cases in the United States that summer alone.
In early 1954, Salk was weighing the possibility of trials of a not-yet-perfected vaccine against-as the summer approached-the prospect of thousands more children being struck down by the disease. The results of the history-making trials were announced at a press conference on April 12, 1955: "The vaccine works." The room-and an entire nation-erupted in cheers for this singular medical achievement.
Salk became a cultural hero and icon for a whole generation. Now, at the fiftieth anniversary of the first national vaccination program-and as humanity is tantalizingly close to eradicating polio worldwide-comes this unforgettable chronicle. Salk's work was an unparalleled achievement-and it makes for a magnificent read.
With rivalries, reversals, and a race against time, the struggle to eradicate polio is one of the great tales of modern history. It begins with the birth of Jonas Salk, shortly before one of the worst polio epidemics in United States history. At the time, the disease was a terrifying enigma: striking from out of nowhere, it afflicted tens of thousands of children in this country each year and left them-literally overnight-paralyzed, and sometimes at death's door.
Salk was in medical school just as a president crippled by the disease, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was taking office-and providing the impetus to the drive for studies on polio. By the early 1950s, Salk had already helped create an influenza vaccine, and was hot on the trail of the polio virus. He was nearly thwarted, though, by the politics of medicine and by a rival researcher eager to discredit his proposed solution. Meanwhile, in 1952, polio was spreading in record numbers, with 57,000 cases in the United States that summer alone.
In early 1954, Salk was weighing the possibility of trials of a not-yet-perfected vaccine against-as the summer approached-the prospect of thousands more children being struck down by the disease. The results of the history-making trials were announced at a press conference on April 12, 1955: "The vaccine works." The room-and an entire nation-erupted in cheers for this singular medical achievement.
Salk became a cultural hero and icon for a whole generation. Now, at the fiftieth anniversary of the first national vaccination program-and as humanity is tantalizingly close to eradicating polio worldwide-comes this unforgettable chronicle. Salk's work was an unparalleled achievement-and it makes for a magnificent read.
Author
Jeffrey Kluger
JEFFREY KLUGER is a senior writer at Time and the author of several books. He and his wife, Alejandra, live in New York.
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Reviews for Splendid Solution
Rating: 3.888888888888889 out of 5 stars
4/5
27 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The story of the development of the polio injected vaccine. It's also the back story of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP), which took off due to Roosevelt's contracting the disease, plus starting a campaign called the March of Dimes, which leverages mothers in the community to provide info and collect funds for research. Salk, as a new researcher, co-developed the influenza vaccine, which laid the groundwork for developing his version of the polio virus vaccine, although lots of politics and another lab (Sabin) developing a live virus oral vaccine that is more cost and community effective, particularly for 3rd world countries.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What stood out to me, while reading this book was the character of the man, Jonas Salk. Not only was he a genius, but he was a true humanitarian, as well. There is no indication whatsoeverthat he was looking to make money for himself. He spent countless hours looking for a solution to this hellish epidemic. He did his research in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania surrounded by the finest men and women in the scientific community. Astoundingly, their dedication was as profound as his own. The people injected first themselves, and in the case of Jonas Salk, his family with the vaccine when he was first satisfied with its effectiveness and safety. What drew me to read this book was Salks work at the Watson Home for Crippled children. I have reason to be interested in that facility, which is no more. The Watson facility is now a Health South rehab hospital. There is now a Watson umbrella that encompasses several educational facilities for children with different types of special needs . I found that i was so much more interested in the man as I read.This is not a read for everyone, but perhaps if you know someone who was affected by this disease before Salk's vaccine was able to make it a part of history, instead of current reality, you might want to read it. If you enjoy reading about great humanitarians, by all means, read this book. If you never feel compelled to read it, take a moment to silently give honor to a good, truly good man.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A detailed account of the life of Jonas Salk and the development of the polio vaccine - including not only the scientific explanations, but also the political posturing that both helped and delayed the final product.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A readable and lively account of the race to create a polio vaccine. Some interesting accounts of the personalities involved. Dr. Salk, of course, is portrayed as a saint.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An interesting account of the development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk & his colleagues.