"The Ghost Map"

"The Ghost Map" by Steven Johnson tells the story of how Dr. John Snow and Reverend Henry Whitehead tracked down the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854 London. Through careful mapping of cases and understanding of water sources, they identified contaminated water as the disease’s cause. This work was crucial in developing public health measures and understanding how diseases spread. The book highlights the importance of data, observation, and collaboration in solving complex problems and marks a turning point in epidemiology and urban sanitation.