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FT editor Roula Khalaf chooses her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Poison Thread: The shocking true story of how a miracle cure turned into a deadly poison Author: Carla McGugan (Vikings)
Factor VIII, originally thought to be a panacea for the clotting disorder hemophilia, actually became a vector of death, with patients in the 1970s and 1980s receiving blood contaminated with hepatitis and HIV. Worse, despite whistleblower evidence, pharmaceutical companies, governments and medical institutions conspired to keep this global scandal secret. The descriptions of medical injustice are deeply shocking.
A Life Worth Living: A Guide to the Most Important Things Author: Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasman, Ryan McAnnally-Linz (The Open Field/Rider)
Based on a popular course at Yale, this book explores the question of “what’s wrong”: how to determine what’s important and live a fulfilling, meaningful life. It draws on theology, philosophy, and psychology, encouraging readers to embark on a self-reflective journey on the road to achievement.
Waiting with bated breath: The scientific race to defeat a deadly virus Author: David Quammen (Simon & Schuster/Vintage)
The Prescient Best-Selling Author of 2012 Spillover EffectIt tells the story of animal diseases jumping to humans and tells the pulse of the Covid-19 epidemic. Come for riveting interviews with leading scientists, including Anthony Fauci; stay for a deep dive into the wild and unpredictable world of viruses.
Foreign Bodies: Epidemics, Vaccines, and National Health Author: Simon Schama (Ecco/Simon & Schuster)
Plague and pestilence are always with us – as is the paranoia that accompanies narratives of contagion, as this learned journey through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries demonstrates. Well, thank God, there is a vaccine. Waldemar Haffkine plays the title role, pioneering the development of life-saving vaccines against cholera and the Black Death in India.
Foolproof: Why we fall prey to misinformation and how to build immunity Author: Sander van der Linden (The Fourth Estate/WW Norton)
Misinformation threatens democracy, social cohesion and, as Covid-19 conspiracy theories have shown, our health. The Cambridge University psychologist outlines how even discerning readers can be led astray by dishonest actors using techniques such as deflection, denial and polarization. Also included are helpful suggestions for guiding loved ones down the conspiracy rabbit hole.
This week, FT writers and critics are sharing their favorites. Some highlights are:
on Monday: “Business” by Andrew Hill
Tuesday: “Environment” by Pilita Clark
Wednesday: Economics by Martin Wolf
Thursday: Novels by Laura Bartell and Andrew Dixon
Friday: Politics by Gideon Lachman
Saturday: Critics’ Choice
tell us what you think
What are your favorite books on this list? What books did we miss?Tell us in the comments below
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