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.).