Paralysed with Fear The Story of Polio [Hardcover]

The story of mankind's struggle against polio is compelling, exciting and full of twists and pardoxes. One of the grand challenges of modern medicine, it was a battleground between good and bad science. Gareth Williams takes an original view of the journey to understanding and defeating polio.A Gentle Introduction 1. A Plague from Nowhere 2. The Crippler 3. The Virus That Never Was 4. Germs of Ideas 5. Lost in Transmission 6. Fear is the Key 7. First Do No Harm 8. Dead or Alive 9. Front Runner 10. Poles Apart 11. In the Opposite Corner 12. Loose Ends and a Gordian Knot 13. Looking Forward to a Retrospective

As Williams's punchy book reveals, the history of polio is quite an extraordinary one. - The Guardian

Williams is good on the terror [polio] inspired...and strongest of all is Williams's highly entertaining description of the poisonous rivalry between scientists... His tale of vendetta and bitterness reminds us that even medical heroes can be as jealous and petty as the rest of us. - The Times

A splendid book, riveting from beginning to end a model of its kind. - Literary Review

An absorbing new history of the disease personal accounts are woven through the story with consummate skill. - Times Higher Education

This book is a compelling story of how human ingenuity, ruthless competition, money and science have played a key role in driving polio to the brink of extinction. - New Internationalist

Williams has written a story about good and evil, successfully making poliovirus a villain in a gripping, multiact play His book should be read by anyone interested in science, medicine, history, and public health. And by anyone interested in an incredible story told by a great storyteller. - The Lancet

An engaging narrative and critical commentary a great strength of the book is that all of the competing ideas are covered, giving the realsª