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After seeing the documentary story on Sundance channel years ago, I was so intrigued by The River's hypothesis that I got the book from my library, and sweated blood getting through all 800+ pages. A few more years passed and I decided to get my own copy - except that of the very few copies available, the cheapest was nearly $100! No way. The author, Ed Hooper, exhaustively and, I think, obsessively, traced the outbreak of AIDS in Africa in the 1970's back to what he argues was the administration of tainted oral polio vaccine in the late 1950's to tens of thousands of African children. He goes on to argue that the tainted vaccine came from chimp blood and kidneys that were infected with SIV (simian immunodeficient virus). Hooper claims that the medical staff used chimps to culture the vaccine, instead of the far more usual monkey blood and tissue, in a corner-cutting attempt to save costs and time (they wanted to be the firtest with the bestest, and get all the glory). In the years since this book was published, there have been denials, counter-claims, threats, suppression of data (the original documentary film shown on the Sundance channel is nowhere to be seen or found), and on and on it goes. This book is a detective story of sorts, and as such, is a long, difficult slog through much technical jargon, (such as blood chemistry), lots of data, many personalities. However, like any really good detective story, it's well worth the time and effort. It's a journey that, even to this day, still has hold of me, and has affected me in ways I'm not even aware of. As to whether or not Hooper is correct - ah well, you'll just have to read this book and form your own conclusions. Enjoy the ride!Read full review
Valued for big bibliography and research value... Some mentioned characters pop up in other unexpected historical contexts like CIA MK Ultra... Big Pharma...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Man that’s one looooonnggg as book
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is the second time I have purchased this book. It is very well thought out and well researched. My first copy was so interesting that it walked away with a friend! We have spent may hours discussing the theories offered in this book at parties and coffees in the past few years.
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