Rats, Lice and History is a 1935 popular science book by bacteriologistHans Zinsser on the subject of typhus, a disease on which he performed significant research. He frames the book as a "biography" of typhus, tracing its destructive path since the earliest civilizations. A key notion in the book is that infectious diseases such as typhus have had, according to Zinsser, an inordinate but underappreciated impact on the course of human history. Subsequent works, including Plagues and Peoples and Guns, Germs and Steel, echoed this notion.[1]
Written for a lay audience, Rats, Lice and History showcased Zinsser's wry and literate style. The book was well received by readers, reaching the top ten in nonfiction bestsellers, and has since gone through many editions.
Summary
The book is divided into sixteen chapters. As noted in the original subtitle, Being a Study in Biography, Which, After Twelve Preliminary Chapters Indispensable for the Preparation of the Lay Reader, Deals with the Life History of Typhus Fever, the proper "biography" of typhus does not appear until the final four chapters.[2]
The first 200 pages provide background information on topics such as:[2][3]
Scientific concepts and definitions (e.g., Chapter III: "Leading up to the definition of bacteria and other parasites, and digressing briefly into the question of the origin of life"; Chapter IV: "On parasitism in general, and on the necessity of considering the changing nature of infectious diseases in the historical study of epidemics")
Diseases of the ancient world (Chapter VI) and their effect on political and military history (Chapters VII and VIII)
The important vectors of typhus mentioned in the title, rats and lice (Chapters IX through XI)
Having received a comprehensive education which emphasized liberal arts as well as science and medicine,[4] Zinsser refers to classical works throughout the text, occasionally quoting passages in Latin, French, and German (without translation). The New York Times said of the author that he possessed a rare combination of qualities: a deep scientific expertise along with "the energy and the curiosity to master the humanities. Dr. Zinsser's approach is that of a human being looking at humanity and at life in general, and linking his ideas together with the aid of the subject he knows best—namely, the epidemic diseases of mankind. He is never in the least pretentious, but he has the catholicity of a man who has taken all knowledge to be his province."[3]
Reception
Upon its release, Rats, Lice and History received an overwhelmingly positive critical reception. In a front-page review in the New York Herald Tribune Books, physician and medical writer Logan Clendening wrote, "It is impossible for me to overpraise this fascinating volume".[4] In The New York Times Book Review, R. L. Duffus said that "Dr. Zinsser, without being condescending and with no taint of 'popularization,' has written one of the wisest and wittiest books that have come off the presses in many a long month."[3]
Rats, Lice and History was listed by The New York Times as the 8th bestselling nonfiction book of 1935.[5]
Later generations of scientists and physicians, such as Emil Frei[6] and Gerald Weissmann, cited Rats, Lice and History as an inspiration for their scientific careers.[7]
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