And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic, 20th-Anniversary Edition, Edition 2

I read this when it was first published, and it's even more impressive now. Mr. Shiltz was able to capture the tragedy of the AIDS crisis in real time, and without the benefit of retrospection. I think this book is probably the most historically significant one ever written on the early days of AIDS, and should be viewed as a cautionary tale of how quickly a pandemic can begin. Everyone should read this!

Randy Shilts has written an incredibly detailed accounting of what happened, and what failed to happen, during the 1980's. Through detailed interviews and research, he shows how the disease spread, and who the people were who fought to keep the disease controlled. More interesting than that, however, is his account of how the government's inaction contributed to the present day AIDS crisis, specifically the complete lack of executive leadership under Reagan. He also shows us how the blood banks refused to adopt procedures to reduce AIDS transmissions, and how the gay community itself contributed to the crisis by refusing to close the bathhouses in San Francisco. Every gay person should read this book, as should everyone who knows someone with HIV/AIDS. Your view of the disease and American politics in the 80's will be forever changed.

An excellent book, Shilts writes with compassion and a deep skill that makes "And The Band Played On" a must read on the AIDS epidemic and the people closest to the start of it's horrific beginning.