Book Review: On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss

On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss
Publisher: Graywolf Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

In this bold, fascinating book, Eula Biss addresses our fear of the government, the medical establishment, and what may be in our children’s air, food, mattresses, medicines, and vaccines. Reflecting on her own experience as a new mother, she suggests that we cannot immunize our children, or ourselves, against the world. As she explores the metaphors surrounding immunity, Biss extends her conversations with other mothers to meditations on the myth of Achilles, Voltaire’s Candide, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, Susan Sontag’s AIDS and Its Metaphors, and beyond. On Immunity is an inoculation against our fear and a moving account of how we are all interconnected-our bodies and our fates.

A book about vaccines is certainly timely. On Immunity was actually published in 2014 but resonates even more today. I’ve never read a non-fiction book like it. It felt deeply personal to me, like I was having a conversation with Biss over coffee. She writes about the fear that all mothers have, that no matter the care they take, they will do something that will inadvertently harm their child. She delves into this fear without coming across as condescending, recognizing the fear in herself. But then she writes about community and our obligation to one another as human beings, despite our fears:

“Donations of blood and organs move between us, exiting one body and entering another, and so too with immunity, which is a common trust as much as it is a private account. Those who draw on collective immunity owe our health to our neighbors.”

I learned a lot about the history of vaccines from this book. I was surprised to learn that they have been around for hundreds of years. We like to credit individuals with developing vaccines but in truth, they are the result of decades of collective knowledge. At times, it may seem like Biss is getting off-track but then bam, what seemed like a tangent about Dracula or Coca-Cola, ends up coming back to immunity and vaccines and makes total sense. My copy of the book is highlighted throughout and filled with Post-Its marking ah-ha moments I had while reading. One that particularly resonated with me was:

“Wealthier countries have the luxury of entertaining fears that the rest of the world cannot afford.”

Biss takes great care with her words. It’s amazing how much information is packed into On Immunity’s 160 pages. It’s hard to describe what a brilliant, original book this is. Please read it and see for yourself. Highly, highly recommended.