COVID WARS : A True Story from Both Sides - James R. Olsen

COVID WARS

A True Story from Both Sides

By: James R. Olsen, Alex Klattenhoff, Pamela Small (Contribution by)

Paperback | 19 May 2025

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The reader is pulled through the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic as real people make decisions, discuss, argue, and engage public officials, all the while weaving in the principles and practice of Public Health in full measure - science, epidemiology, public policy, public reaction to public policy, the news and social media impact, economic initiatives, and raw politics. 

The setting, Ravalli County, is the right place, where the author lives, where Yellowstone is filmed, home of a BSL-4 lab, a place that voted 67% for Trump, not 90% - there are liberals. Home of a militia uprising a couple of decades ago, a place famous for forest and wildlands controversy. 

We'll meet the County Health Board, the Health Officer, a doctor who works at the hospital, the Public Health Director, a nurse who grew up here, the founders of Stand Together for Freedom, who pinned up posters that said "Freedom Meeting," research scientists, alternative health advocates, anti-vaxers, liberals, conservatives, high school students who organize a Black Lives Matter protest, and business owners caught in the middle, arguing it out in Health Board meetings and on the streets.

As the story unfolds, the reader is shown the best-of-the-best worldwide, why it works, and how it could be applied to America.

First is a series, COVID WARS, VAX WARS, How To Do Pandemics Better

Industry Reviews

Five Stars ...While James R. Olsen writes from an American perspective, the lessons to be learned are universal. It is ... an examination of how the public health authorities vacillated and made questionable choices. The USA was slow to test citizens for COVID-19, and the results were inconsistent... In sharp contrast, South Korea and others conducted exemplary campaigns against COVID-19. 

This book describes how the virus works, how it was spread, the symptoms, the body's reaction, and early attempts at treatment. ....The research is meticulous, and the wealth of information is supported by relevant photographs, maps, graphs, tables, and charts. ... There is a comprehensive list of sources and an excellent index to round off a remarkable publication that, at times, delves into local politics in Montana to add context... 

It is the first in a series of works and is highly recommended. 

     -- Reviewed by Leonard Smut for Readers' Favorite

Five Stars ...The book is powerful in its detailed analysis of decision-making processes at both local and national levels... He breaks down complex scientific concepts into understandable terms without oversimplifying the seriousness of the pandemic. This approach educates and engages readers, allowing them to grasp the magnitude of public health decisions. 

Moreover, the book has personal stories that add statistical and factual data depth. These narratives humanize the pandemic's impact, offering insights into the emotional and physical toll on individuals and communities. 

It's a valuable addition to the conversation about public health and policy.

   -- Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Five Stars ...I liked the behind-the-scenes look at what was planned, but mostly how there were two sides to this war. The numerous illustrations throughout the book are informative and full of statistics and back up the narrative. 

I had never considered how a Health Board and local officials coped with the conflicting advice from both sides would resemble a low-key war. The author states the case clearly from several points of view and presents a fair narrative. ... it certainly widened my horizons about a situation where each county could decide for itself.

I highly recommend this book as a guide on how the ... pandemic was ha

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