In this episode, journalist Charles Ortleb reads the first chapter of Truth to Power, his paradigm-changing history of the relationship between the AIDS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemics. Charles Ortleb’s Truth to Power takes you inside the New York Native, one of the most unique and courageous newspapers of the twentieth century. Shortly after starting his small New York City newspaper in late 1980, one of the biggest scientific and political stories of our time fell into his lap in the form of the AIDS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic. What he did with that story has secured his newspaper’s place in history. Under his guidance, a succession of intrepid journalists did some of their greatest work uncovering the crucial facts about the labyrinthine epidemic. The New York Times recently described Ortleb’s early work on AIDS as “visionary.” Ortleb made the decision to follow the facts wherever they led. His team of uncompromising investigative reporters inevitably stepped on the toes of the most powerful people in the medical and political establishment. Perhaps not surprisingly, the latter fought back by seeking to discredit the New York Native and even, in time, close its doors. But Ortleb stood his ground for as long as possible and as a result the world now can have a clear understanding of the relationship of AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and HHV-6, the transmissible virus that now threatens everyone on this planet. Truth to Poweris not just a compelling work of journalism and history, but also a major contribution to the intellectual life of our time.
Truth to Power has been the #1 AIDS book on Kindle for the past two weeks.