Monday, November 30, 2009
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About Me
- Lauri Vaughan
- I'm a fan of all books, but especially non-fiction, classics, young-adult, humorous fantasy, science fiction and true crime. Find here my book reviews as well as musings about reading.
Best adult book I've read lately...
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David QuammenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Biologists around the world do excellent work regarding -- well just about everything, including dangerous field investigation of potentially pandemic viral diseases. Thankfully, science writer Quammen is not hesitant to work side-by-side with these brave men and women. And, because he was willing to travel the world to do such research, Quammen is uniquely qualified to see things from the 30,000-foot view few said researchers -- all committed to discreet niches -- have the luxury to contemplate.
Armchair-traveler Quammen is not. Former columnist for Outside magazine, Quammen clearly thrills in partaking in the capture and release of potentially infected monkeys, exploring bat caves and trekking for weeks across swampy African rainforest.
Lest you think his bravado in the field might predict less tenacity in the lab -- fear not! Quammen willingly matches muddy boot squelch for hard-going microbiology lecture step for step. The result, Spillover is part investigative journalism, part scientific enlightenment and part adventure travelogue -- and 100% compelling reading.
Included on NYTimes 100 Notable books of 2012. Not to be missed.
View all my reviews
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