Summary Of The Great Influenza By John M Barry

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Well-known scientist, John M. Barry, in his book The Great Influenza presents the idea of advancements in scientific research is created by uncertainty yet, creating more uncertainty. He adopts a philosophical tone in order to convey to his readers that uncertainty is a tool used to expand knowledge. Barry utilizes antithetical and analogies in his writing to communicate that idea. Barry begins his writing by juxtaposing the strength and thoughts about certainty with the weakness and fear of uncertainty to better describe the process of scientific research. He interprets this idea in his third paragraph by contrasting scientists and the possibility that all work could disproven and lost in just a “single laboratory finding”. He continues

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