Malcolm Gladwell

The answer. In Chapter 9, entitled, The White Man's Burden. One of the preeminent figures in modern medicine was the 19th century French microbiologist Louis Pasteur. Pasteur is the pioneer of germ theory. Infectious diseases are the result of foreign microorganisms that invade the body.

The answer. In Chapter 9, entitled, The White Man's Burden. One of the preeminent figures in modern medicine was the 19th century French microbiologist Louis Pasteur. Pasteur is the pioneer of germ theory. Infectious diseases are the result of foreign microorganisms that invade the body.

Every time you get a vaccine created specifically against a particular virus, or take an antibiotic optimized to fight a specific strain of bacteria, you are following Pasteur's logic. Germ theory is one of the foundational ideas of modern medicine. And in Chapter 9 of The Real Anthony Fauci, we learn that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn't believe in germ theory.

Every time you get a vaccine created specifically against a particular virus, or take an antibiotic optimized to fight a specific strain of bacteria, you are following Pasteur's logic. Germ theory is one of the foundational ideas of modern medicine. And in Chapter 9 of The Real Anthony Fauci, we learn that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn't believe in germ theory.

He is, instead, a follower of Pasteur's nemesis, another 19th century French microbiologist named Antoine Béchamp. Bichamp argued that Pasteur had it backwards. You don't get sick because you've been infected by a bug. The bug emerges in response to the fact that your body was already sick. The bug is a symptom, not a cause.

He is, instead, a follower of Pasteur's nemesis, another 19th century French microbiologist named Antoine Béchamp. Bichamp argued that Pasteur had it backwards. You don't get sick because you've been infected by a bug. The bug emerges in response to the fact that your body was already sick. The bug is a symptom, not a cause.

What matters is the terrain of the body, an individual's internal state of health. It's really hard to find people who believe in Antoine Béchamp's theories. I spent hours on the internet looking before finally stumbling upon another disciple. Maybe you'll recognize his voice.

What matters is the terrain of the body, an individual's internal state of health. It's really hard to find people who believe in Antoine Béchamp's theories. I spent hours on the internet looking before finally stumbling upon another disciple. Maybe you'll recognize his voice.

This is the actor, Woody Harrelson, on Joe Rogan, of course.

This is the actor, Woody Harrelson, on Joe Rogan, of course.

I should point out, guess who Woody Harrelson is good friends with? RFK Jr. So maybe what we're looking at here is not two Beshampians who arrived at the same conclusion independently, but one Beshampian who infected another. In defiance of everything Beshampian. Of course, there is some truth to terrain theory.

I should point out, guess who Woody Harrelson is good friends with? RFK Jr. So maybe what we're looking at here is not two Beshampians who arrived at the same conclusion independently, but one Beshampian who infected another. In defiance of everything Beshampian. Of course, there is some truth to terrain theory.

Diabetes and heart disease are the result, in part, of what Béchamp would call a disturbed terrain, a body that because of obesity or smoking or bad nutrition or a lack of exercise has become vulnerable to chronic disease. But Kennedy doesn't stop there. He's a radical Béchampian. He believes that if you're otherwise healthy, the cold virus is just not going to be an issue.

Diabetes and heart disease are the result, in part, of what Béchamp would call a disturbed terrain, a body that because of obesity or smoking or bad nutrition or a lack of exercise has become vulnerable to chronic disease. But Kennedy doesn't stop there. He's a radical Béchampian. He believes that if you're otherwise healthy, the cold virus is just not going to be an issue.

HIV is probably not going to give you AIDS, not if you take care of yourself. There's a whole chapter on HIV and AIDS in his book, making a version of this argument. Early in his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services, there was a major outbreak of measles in Texas. And Kennedy's response was so lackadaisical that his press secretary quit, it seems, in disgust. Measles?

HIV is probably not going to give you AIDS, not if you take care of yourself. There's a whole chapter on HIV and AIDS in his book, making a version of this argument. Early in his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services, there was a major outbreak of measles in Texas. And Kennedy's response was so lackadaisical that his press secretary quit, it seems, in disgust. Measles?

It's only a problem if you're unhealthy. The virus is the symptom, not the cause. It took several months, two children dying, and over 500 cases for him to finally give an interview where he said, OK, you should get the measles shot. Kennedy is unhappy to this day that in the 19th century battle between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Béchamp, Pasteur came out on top.

It's only a problem if you're unhealthy. The virus is the symptom, not the cause. It took several months, two children dying, and over 500 cases for him to finally give an interview where he said, OK, you should get the measles shot. Kennedy is unhappy to this day that in the 19th century battle between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Béchamp, Pasteur came out on top.

Listen, this is from the audiobook version of the real Anthony Fauci, being read by what really, really seems like AI.

Listen, this is from the audiobook version of the real Anthony Fauci, being read by what really, really seems like AI.