For students and general readers, Bell (medicine, Harvard Medical School) et al. trace the evolution of the HIV epidemic within historical, social, scientific, and medical contexts. They describe the underlying biological principles, including what a virus is, how the human immune system works, and how HIV impairs these functions; the HIV life cycle, diagnosis and treatment, long-term consequences, and how treatment has been developed and implemented; global epidemiology, risk factors, and principles of transmission; what comprises an epidemic; where HIV came from, its discovery, early reactions to the disease and the social stigma it engendered, and the cultural impact of HIV-positive role models; and the global economic, population, and political effects. The book ends with personal accounts of people living with HIV. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)