This work investigates whether epidemics consistently trigger social scapegoating and the marginalization of specific groups throughout human history. Samuel K. Cohn, Jr., a distinguished historian of medieval and early modern Europe, utilizes a vast dataset of historical accounts to challenge the prevailing sociological theory that disease outbreaks inevitably lead to xenophobia and the persecution of the 'other.' By analyzing primary source material ranging from antiquity to the modern era, he argues that human responses to contagion are far more varied and complex than the standard narrative suggests.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work for its rigorous challenge to established sociological paradigms regarding collective behavior during crises. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive resource for those studying the intersection of history and public health.