The Vapors

Join us for the August WashU Libraries Virtual Book Club to discuss The Vapors by David Hill.

Hot Springs, Arkansas got its start as a spa town, where people would go to soak in its mineral-rich spring waters to partake in their supposed health benefits. But Hot Springs wasn’t just a retreat for health-minded individuals–at one point it rivaled Las Vegas as America’s premier destination for gambling and nightlife. Hot Springs native Hill pulls back the curtain on the seedier history of this small Arkansas town, offering a fascinating glimpse into an often overlooked part of America.

As Hot Springs’s original claim to fame was its medicinal waters, a short presentation of the history of medicinal bathing (balenology) will precede the discussion of the book.

Free and open to all, registration required for Zoom link.