And the Band Played on by Randy Shilts, 0312374631, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

And the band played on

I read this book as it was recommended as a useful insight into the history of the AIDS epidemic and it's links to the gay community. It, however, is much more. As a nurse I have an obvious interest in the health aspect but politically and socially this is possibly one of the most important books written on a global epidemic. Randy Shilts uses all his journalistic nouse to conjur a piece by piece account which held me from the first page to the last and offers an insight into a piece of our history which should not have been allowed to happen

Thorough

This is a really thorough book. Charts the rise of AIDS with immaculate attention to detail and extensive research.

Unsurprisingly it is a sad story and reveals just how much government complacency and local business interests hampered the fight against AIDS.
It's very readable, so even though it's a big book, it is easy to get through.
The focus on the lives of various individuals important in the spread of/ fight against AIDS- scientists, politicians, the infamous "Patient Zero":
makes it more readable.

I read it for interest's sake, but it would be ideal for people studying the history/sociology of the AIDS epidemic in the USA.
Makes very little reference to the spread of AIDS outside of the USA after the opening chapters.

Other books on AIDS from a more personal perspective which would compliment this book well are:
P.W.A. by Oscar Moore and anything by David Feinberg, such as "Queer and Loathing" or "Spontaneous Combustion"

Essential

The beauty of this book is that you feel like you're there, living through one of the most significant periods of recent history. The personal stories of living with HIV/AIDS, the courage of those who were there at the start, the PWAs, the loved ones and the professionals (although many of these were not so courageous!) all provide for a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I believe that this is an essential read for anybody who cares about the global impact that AIDS has had and continues to have. There are a handful of works that can change one's view of the world. This, for me, was one of them.

much better than the film

I enjoyed Shilt's book much more than I did the film. Although he can be criticised by professional historians from many angles, he does approach the issue of disease and American society from a perspective too long absent in medical history works. Shilts attempts to bring the patient into the history of AIDS continually. In fact, the best passages in the book are about the poeple who lived outside of the medical and political spotlights. Hollywood may have missed the point, but you can still read the book.

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