Germs, Genes and Civilization by David Clark

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David Clark the author of the book Germs, Genes and Civilization explains the importance of diseases and epidemics through history. Though most diseases and epidemics have played a huge role in creating history, most have gone unnoticed. Clark argues that there are positives and negatives effects that have affected our growing world due to pestilence. Clark explains that disease is a relatively new theory that evolved with growing cities and agriculture. With growth in industry and agriculture came pestilence, which has affected history positively and negatively.
Through this book, it was hard to believe that pestilence has shaped our society positively. Clark makes many points that are supported proving that with diseases and epidemics society has improved. Clark explains in the book that the population will decrease dramatically due to pestilence, but the population will eventually recover and the population will consist of larger amount of individuals that are resistant to that particular outbreak (3). Exposure to pestilences has affected the human genome. Clark states that every time a disease effects a population the individuals undergo genetic selection. Genetic selection allows individuals with alterations to their genetic code to have resistance, which means a higher chance of survival (5). Due to epidemics through time, which has allowed for genetic alterations, our society is much more protected against individual infections. An example of resistance is shown in both smallpox and bubonic plaque. At the beginning of time, when these diseases were new, this disease was highly lethal and killed most of the population. With continued epidemics through history, the death rate has decreased dramatically due to past genetic ex...

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...ce has driven history. Pestilence has had its negative and positive effects on our society. Even though disease is thought to be negative, positive aspects have come out of most epidemics and diseases. Disease has led to innovation, cleaner living and working conditions, disease resistance, and higher survival rates. Overall, with pestilence our living standards have increased dramatically. Though disease is positive, we must remember that pestilence has killed millions that were too weak. Clark’s goal of the book was to teach his readers that there is positive and negative effects that come out of all situations. No matter what happens to our society, we are able to rebound and come out of the pestilence stronger than before.

Works Cited

Clark, David P. Germs, Genes, & Civilization: How Epidemics Shaped Who We Are Today. Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT, 2010. Print.

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