SKU: 71701097813

Plagues and the Paradox of Progress: Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome Ways

Sale price$15.26 Regular price$16.96
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.24 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Sep 27 - Oct 2

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Plagues and the Paradox of Progress: Why the World Is Getting Healthier in Worrisome WaysWhy the news about the global decline of infectious diseases is not all good. Plagues and parasites have played a central role in world affairs, shaping the evolution of the modern state, the growth of cities, and the disparate fortunes of national economies. This book tells that story, but it is not about the resurgence of pestilence. It is the story of its decline. For the first time in recorded history, virus, bacteria, and other infectious

Why the news about the global decline of infectious diseases is not all good.

Plagues and parasites have played a central role in world affairs, shaping the evolution of the modern state, the growth of cities, and the disparate fortunes of national economies. This book tells that story, but it is not about the resurgence of pestilence. It is the story of its decline. For the first time in recorded history, virus, bacteria, and other infectious diseases are not the leading cause of death or disability in any region of the world. People are living longer, and fewer mothers are giving birth to many children in the hopes that some might survive. And yet, the news is not all good. Recent reductions in infectious disease have not been accompanied by the same improvements in income, job opportunities, and governance that occurred with these changes in wealthier countries decades ago. There have also been unintended consequences. In this book, Thomas Bollyky explores the paradox in our fight against infectious disease: the world is getting healthier in ways that should make us worry.

Bollyky interweaves a grand historical narrative about the rise and fall of plagues in human societies with contemporary case studies of the consequences. Bollyky visits Dhaka--one of the most densely populated places on the planet--to show how low-cost health tools helped enable the phenomenon of poor world megacities. He visits China and Kenya to illustrate how dramatic declines in plagues have affected national economies. Bollyky traces the role of infectious disease in the migrations from Ireland before the potato famine and to Europe from Africa and elsewhere today.

Historic health achievements are remaking a world that is both worrisome and full of opportunities. Whether the peril or promise of that progress prevails, Bollyky explains, depends on what we do next.

A Council on Foreign Relations Book



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: MIT Press
Published: 10/01/2019
ISBN: 9780262537964
Pages: 280
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.10w x 0.70d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 71701097813

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 20 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
B
Verified Purchase
Balous belote
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Mr.b
Size: Standard, Number of Items: 2
The pillows are cool and comfortable
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kindle Customer
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Soft and cool.
Color: Cooling Blue Cover, Size: Queen (Pack of 2)
Love this pillow set. Comfortable addition and nice and cool at all times. Going to be great for when the hot weather hits
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Anna T
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
As advertised for once! Lol
Color: Cooling Blue Cover, Size: Queen (Pack of 2), Color: Cooling Blue Cover, Size: Queen (Pack of 2)
Queen size set of 2 pillows, I'm giving it 5stars first bc it has a good length and width!! If you've ever bought memory foam pillows before you know some are small!! Anyways after having it for 5nights, we loved that me and my huddy could adjust the Thickness amount we had in it to our needs, me needing a thick pillow and my husband needing a flatter one. So this was perfect for that. So far its nice to sleep on, stays cool, doesnt get hot. I would say its on the frimer side but softer the more foam you take out! Really its just good for the amount you spend!! Will it last 10years probably not but what does now a days. This is the only time my huddy n I bought the same pillow and both love it so I'm just still in shock it worked out so well!!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026
L
Verified Purchase
Lana Cannon
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Adjustable pillows
Color: Cooling Blue Cover, Size: Queen (Pack of 2)
I love these because they don't go flat. You can pull out whatever you need to make them comfy for you. They come in two different layers. So you have that protective cover over the main case that holds the memory foam. They're amazing to sleep on. I have had these last for years without going flat. If you hate flat pillows this is the way to go. They are very easy to wash. You just have to separate layers. They are very thick, you can adjust the thickness. Everyone in my house has at least one. They are worth the money. I have never had to replace them, because they went flat.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
A
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 4
Good pillows
Color: Cooling Blue Cover, Size: Queen (Pack of 2)
Takes some getting used to but and the cooling doesn’t last very long in my opinion, but overall amazing comfy pillows. The materials are good and are washable. I mostly stopped waking up with a stiff neck and back.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026

recommand products