The Perfect Predator
A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug: A Memoir
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The Perfect Predator
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Narrated by:
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Christine Lakin
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Dan Woren
About this listen
An electrifying memoir of one woman's extraordinary effort to save her husband's life - and the discovery of a forgotten cure that has the potential to save millions more.
"A memoir that reads like a thriller." (New York Times Book Review)
"A fascinating and terrifying peek into the devastating outcomes of antibiotic misuse - and what happens when standard health care falls short." (Scientific American)
Epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee and her husband, psychologist Tom Patterson, were vacationing in Egypt when Tom came down with a stomach bug. What at first seemed like a case of food poisoning quickly turned critical, and by the time Tom had been transferred via emergency medevac to the world-class medical center at UC San Diego, where both he and Steffanie worked, blood work revealed why modern medicine was failing: Tom was fighting one of the most dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world.
Frantic, Steffanie combed through research old and new and came across phage therapy: the idea that the right virus, a.k.a. "the perfect predator", can kill even the most lethal bacteria. Phage treatment had fallen out of favor almost 100 years ago, after antibiotic use went mainstream. Now, with time running out, Steffanie appealed to phage researchers all over the world for help. She found allies at the FDA, researchers from Texas A&M, and a clandestine Navy biomedical center - and together they resurrected a forgotten cure.
A nail-biting medical mystery, The Perfect Predator is a story of love and survival against all odds, and the (re)discovery of a powerful new weapon in the global superbug crisis.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2019 Steffanie Strathdee, Thomas Paterson, and Teresa Barker (P)2019 Hachette AudioWhat the critics say
Amazon, "Best Books of 2019 (Science)"
Goodreads Choice Awards, Semifinalist (Science & Technology)
STAT News, "Best Health and Science Books to Read This Summer"
Audie Awards, "Nonfiction" Finalist (2020)
"A fascinating and terrifying peek into the devastating outcomes of antibiotic misuse—and what happens when standard health care falls short."—Scientific American
"[A] gripping and intriguing medical thriller...This page-turner of a couple's determination to survive also serves as a dire warning regarding the consequences of the overuse of antibiotics."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A thriller, a detective story, and at its core a profound romance, The Perfect Predator is [a] breathtaking story.... It's a warning of the havoc that awaits us as antibiotics lose their power, and a glimpse of the science that could hold that dark future at bay—if we can summon the funding and the political will to create it."—Maryn McKenna, Senior Fellow of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University and author of Big Chicken and Superbug
What listeners say about The Perfect Predator
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hey you
- 2024-01-22
From Ottawa Book Club
The Perfect Predator” is a true story which hopefully will heavily impact our future health care. It is a most compelling read, it gives one hope in the fight against antibiotic resistant drugs using phages,. whether used alone or in sync with antibiotic therapy. It is a story of love, tenacity and belief as the author’s research conquered all obstacles to her husband’s recovery from a super bug.
The author’s commitment to educating people about phage therapy is commendable especially throughout their recovery period. An excellent choice for a Book Club.
Ottawa Book Club
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Greaser
- 2019-10-26
Gripping and Timely Novel.
The book deals with the very important topic of superbugs that are resistant to all anti-biotics and the dangers that presents as well as the possibility of a radically different approach to the problem. It is set around a true life story of one scientist’s heroic efforts to save her husband’s life after becoming infected with one of these superbugs. It is riveting for most of the book but loses a bit of steam and interest near the end as the issues are resolved. But well worth a listen.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brenda Reid
- 2019-03-24
A most important and timely topic!
A fascinating story that everyone should hear! Read this, educate yourself and spread the word.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joanna Bowen
- 2023-01-02
Restored my faith in humanity
This true story is told in such a captivating way that I listened almost non-stop. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down.
Grateful to learn of so many hidden angels behind the scenes in the world of research and medicine.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- kriket
- 2023-06-11
Awesome Book!
This book was wonderfully written! It included a-lot of science, but was written in a way that included all levels of understanding in a non condescending way. I have already recommended this book to all the readers I know and The Perfect Predator is now in my top reads list!
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