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  • The Premonition

  • A Pandemic Story
  • Written by: Michael Lewis
  • Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo
  • Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (260 ratings)

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The Premonition cover art

The Premonition

Written by: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo
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Publisher's Summary

For those who could read between the lines, the censored news out of China was terrifying. But the president insisted there was nothing to worry about.

Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis’ taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The characters you will meet in this audiobook are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A 13-year-old girl’s science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worm’s-eye view to see what the CDC misses and reveals great truths about American society. A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, world-class labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flu...everything, that is, except official permission to implement their work.

Michael Lewis is not shy about calling these people heroes for their refusal to follow directives that they know to be based on misinformation and bad science. Even the internet, as crucial as it is to their exchange of ideas, poses a risk to them. They never know for sure who else might be listening in.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2021 Michael Lewis (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Premonition

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Poor narration

The story and the characters are great, and typical of the excellent work that Michael Lewis does (I have read or listened to 6 or more of his books). However, I almost turned this audiobook back in because of the narration. The odd mispronunciation is OK, but the recording director should be able to catch and fix them. Of much greater irritation was the actual "voice" of the narrator: too gushy, uneven, with a curious lilt and strange emphasis that is reminiscent of "valley speak." It took me several less-than-enjoyable hours to adjust to it. Accordingly, I cannot recommend the audiobook to anyone.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Raspy narrator

Twenty minutes in and I cannot listen to the narrator any longer. She sounds like she’s reading an erotica novel.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Why is Michael Lewis not reading his own work?

For fans of Mr. Lewis's excellent podcast "Against the Rules" it will come as a disappointment too learn that he is not the reader of his own work. While his prowess as one of the greatest living non fiction writer is never in doubt in his most current endeavor one can't help but wonder what might have been if only we could have heard his inflection and intonation as well as his words this time around.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good but felt incomplete

I liked it but felt like additional content on Whitehouse involvement and direction could be added ..... there was an attempt to share facts and for the reader to infer opinions .... I liked that

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I read almost everything Michael Lewis writes, and looked forward to listening to this Audible product. It let me down in two ways - the story on its own is a repetitive, sad tale of complete mismanagement and personal agenda trumping community good - and, the execution of the book, I found it complicated, tiring to listen to, and did not enjoy the choice of narrator. I was looking forward to hearing Michael Lewis, and was expecting that voice - I tried.....maybe this is one of those things that is better enjoyed as a book versus a listen.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Alternate title, How the CDC failed us all

Fabulous piece of investigative journalism.

Two things that I got from this book.

One, that there are still heroes out there, that place the truth as more important than themselves .

Two, that absolute power, continues to corrupt absolutely.

Once the American government fails, this work will be cited in lessons as to how not to run a civil beurocracy.

Well done Michael.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A far more important story than it appears to be at first.

The voice telling the story is perfectly chosen. The book is an important piece of history told like a great piece of fiction

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very informative look at the Covid pandemic

This novel provided a very informative look at the Covid pandemic and how the US government handled it, from the perspective of insiders who tried their best to combat the disease. I highly recommend giving it a try.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Scary, interesting and eye opening

Michael Lewis has once again told a story with mastery! What starts as several independent stories converge during the biggest crisis of our time. It is shocking to learn of the behind the scenes details of the COVID 19 global pandemic. It makes me thankful for the brave and courageous people who spoke up and took action!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Painful to listen to

I couldn't finish this book and had to return it. The narrator should only read children's stories. I will pick up a paper copy and read it.

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