A leading microbiologist tackles the scientific and sociopolitical
impact of viruses in eleven striking essays.
Invisible
in the food we eat, the people we kiss, and inside our own bodies,
viruses flourish—with the power to shape not only our health, but
our social, political, and economic systems. Drawing on his expertise
in microbiology, Joseph Osmundson brings readers under the microscope
to understand the structure and mechanics of viruses and to examine
how viruses like HIV and COVID-19 have redefined daily life.
Osmundson’s
buoyant prose builds on the work of the activists and thinkers at the
forefront of the HIV/AIDS crisis and critical scholars like José
Esteban Muñoz to navigate the intricacies of risk reduction, draw
parallels between queer theory and hard science, and define what it
really means to “go viral.” This dazzling multidisciplinary
collection offers novel insights on illness, sex, and collective
responsibility. Virology is a critical warning, a necessary
reflection, and a call for a better future.
