A new Harvard Chan School community book club called “The Big Read” launches Feb. 24 with online and in-person discussion circles of the first selection—“Phantom Plague: How Tuberculosis Shaped History”—and events with the book’s author, Vidya Krishnan.
Phantom Plague, published in 2022, was chosen from among six options in a fall community-wide survey. The book traces the history of tuberculosis (TB) from the slums of 19th century New York to modern Mumbai. It details how people dealt with the debilitating illness, first with superstition and folk remedies, and eventually—after scientific understanding of TB grew—with antibiotics. The book also shows how TB has disproportionately harmed high-poverty, high-population communities, particularly in India and China; how patent laws, colonialism, and capitalism have contributed to its resurgence; and how it has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, sickening more than 10 million people and killing more than one million each year.
As part of the Big Read, community members can sign up for one of four discussion circles:
- Monday, Feb. 24, 1-1:50 p.m., in person, Kresge 110: led by Salmaan Kashavjee, director of the Center for Global Health Delivery and professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS)
- Wednesday, Feb. 26, 5-5:50 p.m., online: led by Jennifer Goldsmith, Harvard Chan School instructor, member of the DrPH leadership team, and an expert in global health equity strategy
- Wednesday, March 12, 1-1:50 p.m., in person, Kresge 110: led by Carole Mitnick, HMS professor who has led observational studies and clinical trials to improve treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB
- Thursday, March 13, 1-1:50 p.m., in person, Kresge 205: led by Emily Harrison, Harvard Chan School instructor and historian of science and public health
The Big Read will also feature several events featuring Krishnan, who will be on campus during the first week of March. Events include:
Online author Q&A with Vidya Krishan
Monday, March 3, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
A veteran science and health journalist who has written on a wide range of topics, from COVID-19 to climate change to caste discrimination in America, Krishnan will answer your questions about her work.
The Power of Storytelling in Public Health
Tuesday, March 4, 1-1:50 p.m., Kresge 10th floor Studio and online
Krishnan will join a panel of journalists, authors, and community organizers who have skillfully used narratives to raise awareness or urgent issues in public health, and to begin shaping a meaningful response.
Author Q&A with Vidya Krishnan
Wednesday, March 5, 1-1:50 p.m., FXB G13
In this fireside chat with Amanda Yarnell, senior director of the Center for Health Communication, Krishnan will talk about health and science storytelling and answer your questions.
Innovations in TB diagnosis and treatment
Thursday, March 6, 1-1:50 p.m., Kresge 10th floor Studio and online
Krishnan will moderate a panel of experts including Harvard Chan School’s Sarah Fortune and Nick Menzies.
For full information and to reserve spots for events, click here.
