Readers Rallied in Fight Against SARS

Between late April and June, Taiwan was pulled into a state of economic torpor, political silence and social anxiety by the spread of SARS. At the same time, however, this period was also marked by a vibrant renewal of interest in reading and activities aimed at spiritual growth. Regular hand washing and temperature taking aside, the fight against SARS added a literary note as the media and publishers urged the public to beat the disease by reading up on it. At least 10 books on SARS have been published in Taiwan in the short time since the disease first emerged on the island, and more than 30 titles on the epidemic have hit the bookstores in mainland China, with many joining the list of best sellers there.