Plagues, Pandemics and Viruses

From the Plague of Athens to COVID-19

By: Heather E. Quinlan

Narrated by: Samara Naeymi

COVID-19 and the History of Pandemics and Epidemics

It can come in waves - like tidal waves. It changes societies. It disrupts life. It ends lives. As far back as 3000 B.C.E. (the Bronze Age), plagues have stricken mankind. COVID-19 is just the latest example, but history shows that life continues. It shows that knowledge and social cooperation can save lives.

Viruses are neither alive nor dead and are the closest thing we have to zombies. Their only known function is to replicate themselves, which can have devastating consequences on their hosts. Most, but not all, bacteria are good for us. Some are truly horrific, including those that caused the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic plagues. And viruses and bacteria are always morphing, evolving, and changing, making them hard to treat. Plagues, Pandemics and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to COVID-19 is an enlightening, and sometimes frightening, recounting of the destruction wrought by disease, but it also looks at what humanity has done and can do to overcome even the deadliest and bleakest of contagions.

This important book chronicles the history of plagues and pandemics, human resilience, and what we've learned from the past, including:

• The bubonic plague/black plague, which killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population
• The devastation to the indigenous population in the Americas
• How the 1918 Spanish Flu did not come from Spain
• How disease inspired The Canterbury Tales, Wuthering Heights, pop artist Keith Haring, and others
• AIDS patient zero
• The differences between COVID-19 and other coronaviruses
• How climate change will affect future pandemics
• The aftermath of various pandemics
• Several modern diseases making a comeback
• How to stop most epidemics before they can turn into pandemics
• The science of preventative measures and medical interventions
• An exclusive interview with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the NIAID and much, much more.

©2020 Heather E. Quinlan (P)2020 Recorded Books

Interesting historical overview

This reading takes you through the history of plagues, pandemics and viruses, it’s affects on populations, and politics. Very interesting overview, highly recommended!

nice read

excellent narrator. more of a political theme than virus theme. book covers the black death and covid-19.

In depth study of how these have affected us

This is a long and detailed study of how pandemics, plagues and viruses have affected civilization since the "Plague of Justinian. The author tells in detail the stories of what caused these major outbreaks of disease and how it affected the cultures that experienced them. She takes it right up to Covid 19 and the many mistakes in leadership that made it worse than it needed to be. It is interesting that through all of these outbreaks, blaming, scapegoating and religious extremism became the norm. She also follows the diseases that continue to cause havoc on cultures like STDs Tuberculosis, and other diseases that have affected human beings and how important vaccines have been in either eradicating them or keeping them at bay. I learned a great deal from this book. The narration was excellent and easy to follow. I highly recommend it. It is obvious that Covid 19 will not be the last emerging virus that will affect the world if countries aren't prepared with good science, research and concerned leadership.

Enlightening!

Absolutely a vital read! I learned so much. The narrator is very easy & pleasant to listen to. This one will keep you up through the night!😉

Fascinating

A well written and comprehensive account of the plagues and pandemics on our Earth. Entertaining, explanations were clear, and quite a bit of historical insight included. Very much enjoyed this book, highly recommend!

Somewhat elemental

I down loaded and listened to part of this. It received almost 5 star critique. And I don't wish to be a naysayer to such an extensive review - but: . It is detailed. And to the new and uninitiated, it may be informative. I am a physician and familiar with the content. And I find it elementary and therefore uninteresting. It is narrated like an encyclopedia and goes on and on. So if you have no knowledge of the subject, it is probably apropos. For something more is depth, suggest shopping another source.

Some good info but

The deliberate and liberally biased mispronunciation of Fox News (Faux) in the Covid segment did not go unnoticed by me. When will people learn that if your goal is to only tell half of the country a story, tailor your story to one bias. Better to keep your politics out of my buying choices.