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Spillover

Written by: David Quammen
Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
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A masterpiece of science reporting that tracks the animal origins of emerging human diseases.

The emergence of strange new diseases is a frightening problem that seems to be getting worse. In this age of speedy travel, it threatens a worldwide pandemic. We hear news reports of Ebola, SARS, AIDS, and something called Hendra killing horses and people in Australia - but those reports miss the big truth that such phenomena are part of a single pattern. The bugs that transmit these diseases share one thing: they originate in wild animals and pass to humans by a process called spillover. David Quammen tracks this subject around the world. He recounts adventures in the field - netting bats in China, trapping monkeys in Bangladesh, stalking gorillas in the Congo - with the world’s leading disease scientists. In Spillover, Quammen takes the listener along on this astonishing quest to learn how, where from, and why these diseases emerge, and he asks the terrifying question: What might the next big one be?

©2012 David Quammen (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Medicine & Health Care Industry Physical Illness & Disease Science Medicine

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We must now start including books like these in our schools to teach about different diseases that can spread into pandemics. especially now with covid 19. i feel people just don't understand the dynamics of such things. I see people moving around without masks and hear conversations that this wasn't as bad as the drs told us. Im smarter now for listening to 114 chapters of spillover diseases. please read or listen to this book. it may just save humanity. Brilliant thank you !

it all depends

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Published in 2011, this book is a thorough look at zoonosis in all its dangerous variety. It is a typical Quammen book: very well written, approachable and with lots of learning. Given the present world situation with Covid-19, it is highly relevant and thought provoking.

The narration by Jonathan Yen is excellent.

Highly recommendable.

Excellent! Today's essential listen/read

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Easily one of the must interesting books I have ever had the pleasure to read. Very well written. The author artfully makes dense scientific concepts accessible and combines this with fascinating anecdotes from his research and interviews. Two VERY minor issues that detract: 1) Some of the more complicated ideas are a little tricky to follow without visual aids. 2) I found the couple chapters speculating on fictional characters who may have helped spread AIDS too fanciful and out of place amidst such meticulous research and reporting. Can't wait to read a new edition updated with COVID-19 someday.

A Most Engrossing Read

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But it came out in 2012. It's quite eerie how familiar this book feels in 2020.

You'd think this book came out in 2020

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This book is exciting and does not get too technical, but is still enjoyable to those with backgrounds in biology/virology/medicine. Even in the time of a pandemic, where we hear about viruses all the time, this book reads more like a mystery novel or adventure story. Think Indiana Jones with viruses. Definitely recommend!

An excellent reminder not to mess with nature!

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