About the book
The global doubling of human life expectancy between 1850 and 1950 is arguably one of the most consequential developments in human history, undergirding massive improvements in human life and lifestyles. In 1850, Americans died at an average age of 30. Today, the average is almost 80. This story is typically told as a series of medical breakthroughs—Jenner and vaccination, Lister and antisepsis, Snow and germ theory, Fleming and penicillin—but the lion’s share of the credit belongs to the men and women who dedicated their lives to collecting good data. Examining the development of death registration systems in the United States—from the first mortality census in 1850 to the development of the death certificate at the turn of the century—Count the Dead argues that mortality data transformed life on Earth, proving critical to the systemization of public health, casualty reporting, and human rights.
Stephen Berry shows how a network of coroners, court officials, and state and federal authorities developed methods to track and reveal patterns of dying. These officials harnessed these records to turn the collective dead into informants and in so doing allowed the dead to shape life and death as we know it today.
Editions of Count the Dead
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469667515
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469667522
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469667546
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890862310
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469667539
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890862303
Read an Excerpt
The global doubling of human life expectancy between 1850 and 1950 is arguably one of the most consequential developments in human history, undergirding massive improvements in human life and lifestyles. In 1850, Americans died at an average age of 30. Today, the average is almost 80. This story is typically told as a series of medical breakthroughs—Jenner and vaccination, Lister and antisepsis, Snow and germ theory, Fleming and penicillin—but the lion’s share of the credit belongs to the men and women who dedicated their lives to collecting good data. Examining the development of death registration systems in the United States—from the first mortality census in 1850 to the development of the death certificate at the turn of the century—Count the Dead argues that mortality data transformed life on Earth, proving critical to the systemization of public health, casualty reporting, and human rights.
Stephen Berry shows how a network of coroners, court officials, and state and federal authorities developed methods to track and reveal patterns of dying. These officials harnessed these records to turn the collective dead into informants and in so doing allowed the dead to shape life and death as we know it today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Count the Dead about?
The global doubling of human life expectancy between 1850 and 1950 is arguably one of the most consequential developments in human history, undergirding massive improvements in human life and lifestyles. In 1850, Americans died at an average age of 30. Today, the average is almost 80. This story is typically told as a series of medical breakthroughs—Jenner and vaccination, Lister and antisepsis, Snow and germ theory, Fleming and penicillin—but the lion’s share of the credit belongs to the men and women who dedicated their lives to collecting good data. Examining the development of death registration systems in the United States—from the first mortality census in 1850 to the development of the death certificate at the turn of the century—Count the Dead argues that mortality data transformed life on Earth, proving critical to the systemization of public health, casualty reporting, and human rights.
Stephen Berry shows how a network of coroners, court officials, and state and federal authorities developed methods to track and reveal patterns of dying. These officials harnessed these records to turn the collective dead into informants and in so doing allowed the dead to shape life and death as we know it today.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Count the Dead?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Count the Dead?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469667515
How long is Count the Dead and how many pages does it have?
Count the Dead has 140 page(s)
Is Count the Dead part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The Steven and Janice Brose Lectures in the Civil War Era
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Count the Dead?
Stephen Berry
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Count the Dead is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469667515) and paperback(ISBN 9781469667522) and ebook(ISBN 9781469667546) and ebook(ISBN 9798890862310) and ebook(ISBN 9781469667539) and pdf(ISBN 9798890862303)
Where can I buy Count the Dead online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Count the Dead from below
Where can I buy Count the Dead?