On Immunity: An Inoculation
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On Immunity: An Inoculation Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 751 ratings
Editors' pick Best History
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Upon becoming a new mother, Eula Biss addresses a chronic condition of fear - fear of the government, the medical establishment, and what is in your child's air, food, mattress, medicine, and vaccines. She finds that you cannot immunize your child, or yourself, from the world.

In this bold, fascinating book, Biss investigates the metaphors and myths surrounding our conception of immunity and its implications for the individual and the social body. As she hears more and more fears about vaccines, Biss researches what they mean for her own child, her immediate community, America, and the world, both historically and in the present moment. She extends a conversation with other mothers to meditations on Voltaire's Candide, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Susan Sontag's AIDS and Its Metaphors, and beyond. On Immunity is a moving account of how we are all interconnected - our bodies and our fates.

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  1. Listening Length
    6 hours and 23 minutes
  2. Author
    Eula Biss
  3. Narrator
    Tamara Marston
  4. Audible release date
    September 30, 2014
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
  7. ASIN
    B00NI4LD6K
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 6 hours and 23 minutes
Author Eula Biss
Narrator Tamara Marston
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 30, 2014
Publisher HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00NI4LD6K
Best Sellers Rank #206,758 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#510 in Children's Health (Audible Books & Originals)
#757 in Sociological Study of Medicine
#2,544 in Children's Health (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
751 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars "A child cannot be kept from his fate, though this does not stop the gods themselves from trying."
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2014
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"I am no longer fearless." She is a new mother who finds that the most perilous thing we may do is to bear children. No longer an entity contained within her skin, she sets off to determine the real risks inherent in inoculations, among other interventions in the modern world. she notes in a lucid voice, that to act is to start the future in motion, and to do nothing still sets that future in its course.

I found this to be an amazing voice who has placed the fears and and anxieties of our modern medicine in the context of our existence as true beings in the whole of our world. Her various observations of the philosophy of immunizations are truly startling and clear in her well researched discussions of the role of science in our world.

She makes a cogent argument for out inability to rationally assess true risk in the face of fear. In another instance, her discussion of "herd immunity" point to the obligation that those who have access to care have to those who do not. The risk of contagion is much higher for one person who is inoculated among many who are not than for a person not inoculated in a crowd of those who are. The more people who are protected, the more protection for those who are not protected. She also explores the continuum of our bodies with the world around us, and notes that toxicity to a scientist is one of degree of exposure. While she does not address the evils of high fructose syrup, plastics bleeding toxins or other villains in definitive terms; she does point out that each threat must be taken in context.

This is a book that challenges the mind without torturing the reader with obscure or overly technical writing. The education on risk, immunity, ad the role of medicine in our world is succinct and at times lyrical. I cannot recommend this book too highly.
48 people found this helpful
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William Still Lodge
4.0 out of 5 stars More like a journal than a history.
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2017
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This isn't a history of vaccines. it isn't even a scientific discussion of the pros and cons of vaccinating your kids. What is it, then? It's one persons reflections on their journey through the process of getting a kid their shots. Biss is more sympathetic to people who decide to skip immunizing their kids than some would like, but she does cover the negative side of that decision. It's well written and an easy read.

I can't give it 5 stars, because Biss could have given us a broader perspective on the history and science of vaccines than she did. Instead, she spends time reflecting on the burdens of 21st century parenting. So she should, but the percentage devoted to this is too high.

Perhaps my expectations were the problem. It seems everyone had this as a top ten book of the year. It was a good book, I'm glad I read it, I don't feel cheated and I would recommend it to you. But - it's not great. Very good. Not top ten great.
18 people found this helpful
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Andrew Krone
5.0 out of 5 stars ... into history and larger sociologically implications than "What is good for MY child"
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2015
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Biss is a practical and emotional author who goes into history and larger sociologically implications than "What is good for MY child". Ironically the problems come from uneducated people that happen to be wealthy (there are a lot of these types of people). Not everything is black and white but the counter arguments people have against things like polio and smallpox are asinine. Looking for a different perspective I read through some of the reviews. Like Jenny McCarthy, one of the one star reviews had already made up their mind on how their child became autistic. You simply cannot reason with someone who has already made up their mind whether it is religion or the necessity of vaccinations.

Having a healthy child myself, I can also see how parents need an outlet or something to blame if their child has a disorder of any kind. It is almost impossible to just say "bad things just happen sometimes and there is little we can do.

Good Book, Well Written!!
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greenmom
3.0 out of 5 stars Review Depends on Reader's Objective...
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014
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The rating of this book depends on the objective of the reader. For someone with the intention of gaining the historical insight of vaccinations, this book certainly would be a favorable read. For someone like myself, searching for information to gain perspective in regards to vaccinating without a biased view- one with only facts- I was somewhat let down.

The book is written well. I'm certainly not an expert reader with a high standard of literary excellence, especially in a non-fiction book I purchased to gain information. The book flows nicely, I didn't mind reading it, and she interjects different topics and stories throughout. Her notes in the back I found interesting- neat feature of the book. Her explanation of herd immunity was also interesting. I believe her facts are true, even though her position is in the forefront and her facts support her own opinion.

As another reviewer mentioned- I wish it was expressed that the book certainly was not objective, but was very pro-vaccines. I probably wouldn't had purchased, so I guess their marketing worked. I was looking for unbiased- due to the fact it is nearly impossible to find unbiased websites without fear mongering, on either side of the issue.

I related with the author when she spoke about her worries; PVC in her child's mattress, parabens in lotions, etc. When pregnant with my first child, I meticulously researched these things for the safety of my own child. With my second, my research focused on looking into vaccines. I also related with the book when she wrote of the lack of trust. Which spoke directly to my mistrust of government, pharmaceutical companies, etc. We don't share the same views, but that certainly is a topic to cover, even though she didn't really dive into that as much.

She throws Dr. Sears under the bus and very critical of him. I don't agree here. I have read The Vaccine Book and I don't agree with everything in it but I appreciated Dr. Sear's empathy and his mission. I don't see him as a horrible doctor that is serving the anti-vax movement; I see him as trying to accommodate to the differing families out there- trying to convince some to vaccinate which may not have vaccinated at all without his book. I actually got more from his book that this one, to be honest.

Although the author specifically wanted to reach the mothers reading her book, I felt disconnected to that concept. I see how she wanted her writing to be fact-based, which I appreciate. She must have been passionate about this topic to have researched it in such a way and to publish a book about it, I would have wanted to hear about more of her thought process about this topic, as a mother. She must have had doubts and had come across some information that may had challenged her position to fully vaccinate her child- but we don't really hear that. We do read, as she describes her traumatic birth, that her son was not vaccinated again Hep B but we don't hear as to WHY she decided that. We hear how she later changed her view on doing that- citing risk to her baby through nursing after having a blood transfusion, but I wish she spoke of why she made that initial decision to wait. (This very well may be in her notes section of her book but I haven't gotten the chance to read all of that yet.)

I purchased this book two days before my son was due to get his 2 month vaccinations. I was hoping this book would provide me with more information that I could walk into that doctor's office with confidence. That in my heart, while comforting my son while getting his shots, I was doing the right thing. I am a mother that purchases organic foods, buys toys that are safe,uses safe cleaning products, etc., but those are easy decisions for a consumer. This decision is tough for me. The author speaks of "toxins", goes on to list how all of these dangerous products are already around our homes and in our breastmilk, seemingly encouraging the reader to vaccinate because we are already contaminated and living an illusion of "purity". That may be true, but that certainly doesn't make me feel at ease with injecting even more "toxins"- I think critically about that and do not take it lightly.
I also want to express the privilege I have living in the time and place that I do. The book describes the hardships of these mothers and fathers, desperate to keep their children safe; describing a family that put cow pus on their bodies for protection, while horrifying their neighbors. Parents my age have the luxury to have not seen polio and other diseases, and whether it is seen as disgraceful to developing nations that I have the opportunity to decline vaccinations that are available for me and my family and not them, I'm lucky to have the choice. The author also describes when government mandated vaccinations occurred.

In all, yesterday was my son's appointment and he got all of his shots. When it came down to it- I can't trust people around me to protect my child. Did this book help me choose, no. I discussed it thoroughly with my doctor and weighed the risks and rewards- as we do often in our lives. This decision wasn't taken lightly by me, it was hard to sleep last night and I'm still worrying about it today.
Also, please don't comment on my review and say I injected poison into my kid and will give him autism or something, spare me the guilt and anxiety.
73 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Alexa Intrator
5.0 out of 5 stars Skilled research and interesting reflections on vaccination, its philosophy, hopes, failures
Reviewed in France on December 25, 2018
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I was very impressed at the level of discourse - a non-scientist with great insight into human foibles and belief systems who has done the homework and presents good work to the public.
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Izzielickedabee
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, illuminating, worth reading for Biss's writing alone
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
Eula Biss relates her own dilemmas about vaccinating her child to a wider assessment of the arguments for and against vaccination. She looks at practical issues such as 'herd immunity' as well as wider cultural concerns and preoccupations. A beautifully written, thoughtful, and illuminating book. I came to it without a specific personal investment in the topic but found Biss's take on the subject so fascinating I couldn't put this down. Biss is an impressive writer, I only wish she were more prolific.
One person found this helpful
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Luca Noferini
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting view on vaccines and immunity
Reviewed in Australia on May 1, 2018
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An interesting view on vaccines and immunity from a simple but effective perspective.
The information is fully referenced and detailed in the notes at the end of the book.
Neutral, well written, enjoyable and with a sound scientific approach. As suggested by the title, it's an inoculation, not a full dissertation on the topic.
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Ellaminnowpeaq
5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced look at a heated issue.
Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2016
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I'm vehemently pro-vaccinations, but appreciated the balanced approach the author took in exploring the subject and providing the sociocultural context behind the current vaccination debate. I particularly appreciated the literary comparisons she drew as well as the historical information regarding how vaccinations were developed. Bliss ultimately rests in favour of vaccinations, but this book helped me to understand and empathize with the other side of the debate. I think that this is a great and informative read whatever your current level of knowledge and/or opinion is of vaccinations.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon-Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Spannende Gedankengänge auf einer gründlich recherchierten Basis
Reviewed in Germany on March 19, 2015
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Eula Biss zeigt, dass Wissen immer noch das beste Mittel gegen Aberglaube und Hysterie ist - Empfehlung.
(PS: Ich würde mir wünschen, dass das Buch ins Deutsche übersetzt wird, vielleicht könnte es dabei helfen, ein paar unserer Anti-Impf-Trolle vom Irrwitz ihrer Haltungen zu überzeugen.]
3 people found this helpful
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