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jacki_f's review
4.0
Wow. This book is equal parts fascinating and terrifying. Co-written by a leading epidemiologist, it outlines the existing and potential risks to mankind from infectious diseases and makes it clear that the expected cost to humanity over the next century from epidemics and pandemics is every bit as high as the expected cost from global warming.
"There are only four events that truly have the power to negatively affect the entire planet. One is all-out thermonuclear war. Another is an asteroid striking the earth. The third is global climate change. And the fourth is infectious disease."
As the authors explain, it’s not a question of IF we will face a global pandemic, but when. Beside major established killers like Malaria, AIDS and TB, in the last fifteen years alone we’ve experienced outbreaks of SARS, Ebola and Zika (to name but some). But the greatest threat is from “the queen of diseases” – influenza. Constantly mutating strains mean that the potential for a global pandemic that we are spectacularly underprepared for. $35-40 million is spent annually on game-changing influenza vaccines, which might sound like a lot until you compare it with the $1 billion being spent annually on the development of an HIV vaccine.
It’s highly readable and it’s scary. (The chapter on bioterrorism might be the most frightening thing I’ve ever read. Although the chapter on antibiotics ranks pretty high as well). For the most part it’s written in such a way that you don’t have to be a scientist to understand it (although a glossary of the many acronyms would have been a welcome addition – telling me once and expecting me to remember it from then on is a little optimistic). Twice the authors outline a fictional scenario on how a pandemic might evolve and these stories are so powerful that I wish they had incorporated more.
I hope that every politician and health professional reads this book. And I truly hope that it helps to effect some changes in public health policy. Because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
"There are only four events that truly have the power to negatively affect the entire planet. One is all-out thermonuclear war. Another is an asteroid striking the earth. The third is global climate change. And the fourth is infectious disease."
As the authors explain, it’s not a question of IF we will face a global pandemic, but when. Beside major established killers like Malaria, AIDS and TB, in the last fifteen years alone we’ve experienced outbreaks of SARS, Ebola and Zika (to name but some). But the greatest threat is from “the queen of diseases” – influenza. Constantly mutating strains mean that the potential for a global pandemic that we are spectacularly underprepared for. $35-40 million is spent annually on game-changing influenza vaccines, which might sound like a lot until you compare it with the $1 billion being spent annually on the development of an HIV vaccine.
It’s highly readable and it’s scary. (The chapter on bioterrorism might be the most frightening thing I’ve ever read. Although the chapter on antibiotics ranks pretty high as well). For the most part it’s written in such a way that you don’t have to be a scientist to understand it (although a glossary of the many acronyms would have been a welcome addition – telling me once and expecting me to remember it from then on is a little optimistic). Twice the authors outline a fictional scenario on how a pandemic might evolve and these stories are so powerful that I wish they had incorporated more.
I hope that every politician and health professional reads this book. And I truly hope that it helps to effect some changes in public health policy. Because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
knitter22's review against another edition
4.0
“Like Abraham Lincoln, I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.”
If only we had heeded the cries from epidemiologists years ago, we might not find ourselves in the current COVID-19 situation. If only we had leaders that brought us real facts, we could better deal with that situation. But we didn't heed the warnings, we are forced to search out the facts ourselves, and Michael Osterholm is a person that can provide them. He has been accused of being arrogant, but when you can back up your statements with facts, I call that telling the hard truths, not arrogance. There is no way to sugar coat Zika, Ebola, SARS, MERS, and Coronavirus, and Deadliest Enemy (and Osterholm's podcasts https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars) will provide you with the unvarnished truth.
If only we had heeded the cries from epidemiologists years ago, we might not find ourselves in the current COVID-19 situation. If only we had leaders that brought us real facts, we could better deal with that situation. But we didn't heed the warnings, we are forced to search out the facts ourselves, and Michael Osterholm is a person that can provide them. He has been accused of being arrogant, but when you can back up your statements with facts, I call that telling the hard truths, not arrogance. There is no way to sugar coat Zika, Ebola, SARS, MERS, and Coronavirus, and Deadliest Enemy (and Osterholm's podcasts https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars) will provide you with the unvarnished truth.
bookgrind's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The premise of this book was to incorporate how various diseases can lead to a pandemic outbreak. This novel was insightful, but also repeated too much of the same information to me so it ended up being a dry read for me. I liked the message that we need to be aware of infectious diseases that can cause a rapidly spread outbreak to occur and how this book was published before the COVID-19 outbreak, but was spot on how the whole worldwide spread occurred and the effect it can have on the world.
nrt43's review
4.0
I heard of Michael Osterholm for the first time on the Joe Rogan Experience back in March of 2020... seems like so long ago. This is his book and it details the world's actual deadliest enemies, not other people as we all assume. It is wildly informative, and the fact that his predictions are so accurate, it's a bit terrifying.
The two biggest inevitable threats coming down the pipeline are ineffective antibiotics and a world-halting flu pandemic. Both require intense (and costly!) preparation. Hopefully, COVID-19 will motivate the world's leaders to take our deadliest enemies more seriously.
The two biggest inevitable threats coming down the pipeline are ineffective antibiotics and a world-halting flu pandemic. Both require intense (and costly!) preparation. Hopefully, COVID-19 will motivate the world's leaders to take our deadliest enemies more seriously.
jj84k's review against another edition
4.0
A sobering read on viruses and infectious diseases. A lot of what the authors talked about when it came to the world’s preparedness for a pandemic was nearly spot on to what has happened so far in our current situation. I hope and pray that the fake scenario that they lay out towards the end of the book doesn’t end up becoming reality. It truly is astonishing that the governments of the world have not taken the threat of global pandemic preparedness more seriously.
dimayj's review
4.0
This is a book that's highly relevant to the current Covid-19 pandemic. It describes the threats and challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola, Influenza, SARS, MERS, and mosquito-borne diseases including Malaria, Zika, Yellow Fever, Dengue, and Chikungunya. The authors clearly explain microbial evolution and viral mutations and the implications of these processes on vaccine efficacy and on the emergence of an influenza strain with a pandemic potential.
The book was published in 2017 before the Covid-19 crisis. However, not only does it accurately predict many of the challenges the world is currently facing, but it also realistically recognises our lack of preparedness for such a pandemic. The authors present a tabletop exercise that explores how events might unfold when a pandemic hits us, and unfortunately, many of what they discuss bear close resemblance to the present global situation. The book ends with a strategy of 9 priorities to address the challenges posed by these infectious diseases.
I like that the authors do not express any political stance. However, the names of Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates appear quite a few times, and there’s a lot of mention of organisations, centres, coalitions, etc (with numerous acronyms). The last chapter is also a bit too wordy. In addition, given the subject matter, I would have expected some charts, illustrations, and a list of references for studies cited throughout the book. Nevertheless, I consider this is a timely read that lucidly conveys the vexing threats posed by epidemic-prone infectious diseases.
The book was published in 2017 before the Covid-19 crisis. However, not only does it accurately predict many of the challenges the world is currently facing, but it also realistically recognises our lack of preparedness for such a pandemic. The authors present a tabletop exercise that explores how events might unfold when a pandemic hits us, and unfortunately, many of what they discuss bear close resemblance to the present global situation. The book ends with a strategy of 9 priorities to address the challenges posed by these infectious diseases.
I like that the authors do not express any political stance. However, the names of Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates appear quite a few times, and there’s a lot of mention of organisations, centres, coalitions, etc (with numerous acronyms). The last chapter is also a bit too wordy. In addition, given the subject matter, I would have expected some charts, illustrations, and a list of references for studies cited throughout the book. Nevertheless, I consider this is a timely read that lucidly conveys the vexing threats posed by epidemic-prone infectious diseases.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
4.0
Good book on germs.
Wish everyone took this more seriously.
3.9/5
Wish everyone took this more seriously.
3.9/5
jeannamarie's review
5.0
One of the most informational books about pandemics and deadly viruses out today for general reading. Pure fact and no Hollywood over-dramatization. Highly recommend for anyone reading Preston books or wanting to know more about pandemics and such.