The Great Influenza In the excerpt from his book “The Great Influenza” John M. Barry, characterizes scientific research as “grunt” and “tedious” work, highlighting that scientists must acquire courage to accept and embrace uncertainty. Barry develops his ideas by utilizing an extended metaphor comparing the unknown and the known, antithetical ideas of uncertainty and certainty, and rhetorical questions to mirror the thought process a scientists encounters. Using references from scientists Claude Bernard and Einstein, Barry bolsters his thesis by establishing ethos to emphasize that a scientist requires courage to “embrace-uncertainty.” Barry’s ostensible audience are scientists because he opens and closes the excerpt by directly addressing
