this book is amazing. it takes a very thorough (almost too thorough, maybe?) look at the origin of hiv/aids and lays it all out there. i wouldn’t go so far as to call this “a quick read,” but it is written in very common terms and easy to get through without a background knowledge of microbiology or virology. it reads more like a history or anthropology text more than anything else—though one that presents more than one view. that’s what i like best about the river—although it does support one theory over the others, it gives serious consideration to lots of origin theories (including “out there” ideas such as biowarfare, extraterrestrial origin, etc.).