Eula Biss blends science, memoir, and cultural criticism in this thoughtful examination of vaccines and public health. Prompted by her experience as a new mother, Biss investigates the history, fears, and philosophies surrounding immunization. She explores how ideas of purity, trust, and community intersect with medical decisions. By drawing on mythology, literature, and science, she unpacks the social implications of immunity—not just as biology, but as a collective responsibility. On Immunity is a deeply intelligent and lyrical argument for vaccination as a civic act, offering clarity in a world rife with misinformation and anxiety about health.
About Eula Biss
Eula Biss is an American essayist and author known for her lyrical, intellectually rigorous explorations of complex social issues. A former Guggenheim Fellow and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, Biss often blends personal narrative with cultural critique. Her acclaimed works include Notes from No Man’s Land and On Immunity: An Inoculation, which examines vaccination, public health, and collective responsibility. Biss’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Harper’s, and The Believer, among others. With a background in nonfiction and poetry, she brings a unique, contemplative voice to debates on race, medicine, and motherhood.
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