Thomas Levenson — A Pox on Fools: The True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines - with Jennifer Ouellette — at Conn Ave

Since the advent of smallpox inoculation in the eighteenth century, the idea that a disease introduced to the body in some lesser, weakened form might prevent full-blown infection has been one of the greatest public health insights of the modern era, inspiring the invention of numerous vaccines and saving countless human lives. But, just as humanity acquired the god-like power to stop infectious disease in its tracks, some feared we had gone too far, leading to the skepticism that has hijacked public health discourse today. In his new book *A Pox on Fools: The True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines*, Thomas Levenson searches for the origins of the most common arguments against vaccines: that they are unnatural; that they are more dangerous than the illnesses they claim to prevent; and that they are an affront to freedom. Each arose from the earliest development of particular vaccines and the campaigns to distribute them. Even as the pattern repeats, Levenson reveals how innocent that skepticism initially was and, in each case, how very human fears and questions ultimately turned into something darker, where no truth would be enough to overcome the doubt. Searing but ultimately empathetic, the book explores the human impulse to question and wonder—sometimes past the point at which the very act of questioning turns deadly.

Levenson will be joined in conversation by Jennifer Ouellette, a senior writer covering science and culture at Ars Technica. Ouellette has been writing professionally about physics and related topics for more than two decades, served as the founding director of the National Academy of Sciences’ Science and Entertainment Exchange from 2008 to 2010, and is the author of four popular science books. This event is free and offers a livestream option for those who cannot attend in person.

When: Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.
Tickets: This event is free with first come, first served seating. No ticket purchase required.
Livestream: A livestream option is available for those unable to attend in person. Click the link provided on the event page to join.
Lineup: Thomas Levenson (author) in conversation with Jennifer Ouellette (moderator).
Run time: Standard author event length; specific run time not listed.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, please email events@politics-prose.com, ideally one week in advance of the event date. The venue will make an effort to accommodate all requests up until the time of the event.
Note: The event is free, but seating is limited and first come, first served.