The Mask: A History of Breathing Bad Air

A history of masks protecting against bad air―in cities, factories, hospitals, and war trenches―exploring how our identities and beliefs shape the decision to wear a mask

“[An] engrossing, finely illustrated account of a subject hitherto surprisingly under-researched.”―Nature, Best Books of 2025
 
For centuries, humans have sought to protect themselves from harmful air, whether from smoke, dust, vapors, or germs. This book offers the first history of respiratory masks―ranging from simple pieces of cloth to elaborate gas masks―and explores why they have sparked both hope and fear.
 
Bruno J. Strasser and Thomas Schlich captivate readers with stories of individuals―from renowned doctors and political leaders to forgotten inventors and anonymous factory workers―who passionately debated the value of masks. In Renaissance Italy and Meiji Japan, in Victorian Britain and Cold War America, the way societies have engaged with face coverings reveals their deepest cultural and political fractures. The Mask challenges us to reconsider how we care for one another and the kind of environment we aspire to inhabit.

Bruno J. Strasser is a historian, a full professor at the University of Geneva, and an affiliate of History of Medicine at Yale University. Thomas Schlich is the James McGill Professor in the History of Medicine at McGill University, and a former practicing physician.