And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
by Randy Shilts, William Greider
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts, William Greider holds a highly rated rating of 4.37 out of 5, based on 16.8K reader ratings. First published in 1987. The book spans 656 pages.
About And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
By the time Rock Hudson's death in 1985 alerted all America to the danger of the AIDS epidemic, the disease had spread across the nation, killing thousands of people and emerging as the greatest health crisis of the 20th century. America faced a troubling question: What happened? How was this epidemic allowed to spread so far before it was taken seriously? In answering these questions, Shilts weaves the disparate threads into a coherent story, pinning down every evasion and contradiction at the highest levels of the medical, political, and media establishments. Shilts shows that the epidemic spread wildly because the federal government put budget ahead of the nation's welfare; health authorities placed political expediency before the public health; and scientists were often more concerned with international prestige than saving lives. Against this backdrop, Shilts tells the heroic stories of individuals in science and politics, public health and the gay community, who struggled to alert the nation to the enormity of the danger it faced. And the Band Played On is both a tribute to these heroic people and a stinging indictment of the institutions that failed the nation so badly.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Randy Shilts, William Greider |
| Published | 1987 |
| Pages | 656 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, History, Science |
| Average Rating | 4.37 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 16,769 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic?
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic is categorized as Non-Fiction, History, Science. Its primary genre classification is Science.
Is And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic worth reading?
Based on 16.8K reader ratings, And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic has an average score of 4.37 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic?
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic has 656 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic?
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic was written by Randy Shilts, William Greider. It was first published in 1987.
What is the ISBN for And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic?
The ISBN-13 for And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic is 9780312241350.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
