The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy

by Susan Wise Bauer

Overview

From alchemy to wellness culture, from antisemitism to disposable plastic, a gripping account of how getting sick has shaped humanity.

Anti-science, anti-vaccine, anti-reason beliefs seem to be triumphing over common sense today. How did we get here? The Great Shadow brings a huge missing piece to this puzzle—the experience of actually being ill. What did it feel like to be a woman or man struggling with illness in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, in the seventeenth century, or in 1920? And how did that shape our thoughts and convictions?

The Great Shadow uses extensive historical research and first-person accounts to tell a vivid story about sickness and our responses to it, from very ancient times until the last decade. In the process of writing, historian Susan Wise Bauer reveals just how many of our current fads and causes are rooted in the moment-by-moment experience of sickness—from the search for a balanced lifestyle to plug-in air fresheners and bare hardwood floors. We can’t simply shout facts at people who refuse vaccinations, believe that immigrants carry diseases, or insist that God will look out for them during a pandemic. We have to enter with imagination, historical perspective, and empathy into their world. The Great Shadow does just that with page-turning flair.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250272911
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/27/2026
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Susan Wise Bauer is a historian and educator. Her sweeping works of narrative history include, among many others, The History of the Ancient World, The Story of Western Science, and the Story of the World series for young readers. She is the co-author of The Well-Trained Mind, author of The Well-Educated Mind, and owner of the Well-Trained Mind Press. She taught at the College of William and Mary for eighteen years and now writes on the family farm, Peace Hill, in Charles City, Virginia.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Great Shadow

"Engrossing. A timely reminder of the resilience, ingenuity, and persistent hope that have allowed us to endure and sometimes even overcome the threat of disease."

—Rana Awdish, MD FACP FCCP, clinical professor, MSU College of Human Medicine, author of In Shock

"Eye opening, timely, and unexpectedly entertaining, The Great Shadow tells a vivid story about sickness and our responses to it, from ancient times until the last decade. In doing so, Susan Wise Bauer illuminates the roots of today’s anti-science and anti-reason movements—and also points out the ways in which we should be cautious of received wisdom."

—Dr. Leana Wen, Washington Post contributing columnist and author of Lifelines

"In her fantastic new book, The Great Shadow, Bauer guides the reader on an empathetic yet chilling journey into what it means to be human in a world affected by contagion. From the Sumerians and Babylonians four thousand years ago, who attributed sickness to demons, to Hippocrates's theory of unbalanced humours, and finally, to the discovery of bacteria and our battle against infection, I was spellbound."

—Lydia Reeder, award-winning author of The Cure for Women

"A riveting and thought-provoking exploration of how humans have sought to understand illness—from a banal sniffle to the horror of suddenly peeling flesh—across centuries. Bauer vividly recounts our attempts to grapple with the unspeakable and, for much of history, the unknowable. As our perceptions of the invisible forces behind sickness have evolved, so too have they profoundly shaped society. Both timeless and timely, The Great Shadow feels especially prescient and powerful today—and a must-read!"

—Paulina Bren, author of She-Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street and The Barbizon: The Hotel that Set Women Free

Praise for Susan Wise Bauer

“Thorough and pragmatic.” —The New Yorker

"A canny narrative. Ms. Bauer’s guidebook exposes the underlying meaning and significance of each work.” —Wall Street Journal

“[A]n engaging, sophisticated and wholly persuasive account.” —Financial Times

“Bauer’s elegant prose and her command of much of the material makes this a wonderful starting point.”—Publishers Weekly

“Bauer parlays her capacious knowledge of history..." —Booklist

"Bauer has crafted a timeless, intelligent book.” —Publishers Weekly

“Bauer is a skilled analyst of political rhetoric. She is also a terrific writer.” —Christianity Today

“A bright, informative resource.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher