skip to main content

Reader's Paradise

Has anyone read the books Cobra Event or The Hot Zone by..

15 years ago

By Richard Preston? Every time I read them I am shocked and wonder how much else happens that the public is never informed about. His research is amazing. Anyone else familiar with these and are there any other in this genre, well researched and factual, that I may be interested in? Robin Cook's Toxin was great too. Thanks!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

lemonhead101
15 years ago
I have read and enjoyed "The Hot Zone"... I used to work for many years in public health so was/am interested in all that stuff.

Another book you might like is called "The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance" by Laurie Garrett. This is a bit dry, but mostly interesting. She also wrote a follow up book called "Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health", but I haven't actually read that one so don't know how it is to read.

Here is a list of disease book titles that I have colleced (with help from Fridag here at RP):
* Bathsheba's Breast: Women, Cancer and History - James S. Olson
* The Colony: The Harrowing Story of the Exiles of Molka'i - John Tayman
* The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - Steven Johnson
* Limeys: The Conquest of Scurvy - David I. Harvie
* The Malaria Capers: more Tales of Parasites and People, Research and Reality - Robert Desowitz
* Man and Microbes: Disease and Plagues in History and Modern Times - Arno Karlen
* Napolean's Glands and Other Ventures in Biohistory - Arno Karlen
* The Plague and I - Betty McDonald (about her bout of TB in the 1930's)
* Plague and Peoples = William H McNeill
* Pox: Genius, Madness and the Mysteries of Syphilis - Deborah Hayden
* Purple Secret: Genes, "Madness", and the Royal Houses of Europe - John Rohl
* Quinine: Malaria and the Quest for a Cure That Changed the World - Fiammetta Rocco
* Rough Medicine: Surgeons at Sea in the age of the Sail - Joan Druett
* Sex, Sin and Science: A History of Syphilis in America - John Parascondola
* The Speckled Monster: A historial tale of Battling Smallpox - Jennifer Lee Carrell
* The Strange Case of the Broad Street Pump: John Snow and Mystery of Cholera - Sandra Hempl
* Who Gave Pinta to the Santa Maria? - Robert S Desowitz
* Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine - Roy Porter

Hope that helps!
mary52zn8tx
15 years ago
What an odd coincidence. I just read the thread about the scariest book you have ever read. I had to do some research to find the book I remembered, and it was the "Hot Zone". I may have to check out some of these other books listed.
Related Discussions
Has anyone on East Coast ever tried Quercus ilex?
Q
Comments (54)
I just wanted to post that I was out at the National Arboretum a few weeks ago. The large Q. acutas looked like they sustained some damage from teh past winter. Some twig and a few branches died back. Sad to see. But they will certainly survive. The Q. salicina looked like it had NO damage at all surprisingly. I have never seen acorns on them. Interestingly the Q. phillyreoides had some acorns. No apparent dieback. They all looked rather shrubby to me and not large single trunked trees. L. henyri and Q. myrsinifolias looked just fine. Q. glauca specimens at the Arboretum have all had a rough go of it over the years. Numerous diebacks. Pretty pathetic. They should really not be grown up here. But maybe they got some northern provenance stock that they wanted to try. I didn't see where they were from. Unrelated, but all the hollies looked great. Even Ilex latifolia. The Ilex latifolia in my yard looks great as well. No apparent winter damage. A small amount of leaf spot but overall I was very pleased. This post was edited by dave_in_nova on Fri, Oct 17, 14 at 10:33
...See More
My fellow readers...........which book are you reading?
Q
Comments (73)
This month my Book Club read: 1,000 White Women-The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus I thought it was wonderful! I'm usually not a big fan of historical fiction, but this was great! Based on a true event, and then the author writes about what could have happened. Back in the 1850's the Cheyanne Indians wanted to increase their tribe numbers, so they asked the US govt to "trade" 1,000 white women for 1,000 horses. The US govt said no, but in the book, they agree. Very interesting idea. Characters were outstanding!! Written in journal form and quick read. Some language & violence esp at the end, but it's not too bad. Next month we read: Whistling in the Dark We read Water for Elephants at the beginning of the year and I thought it was okay. Normally would have never read about the circus. Others seemed to like it more then me. Read Life of Pi, but it took me about 3-4 times to get through it! Has anyone read Middlesex? I want to know if it's worth reading. Ii don't mind the topic, but it seemed really hard to get into? I've got my list made of all the books you guys have recommended. Teresa-who once had a dream about being locked in a library all night. (Wouldn't be so bad!)
...See More
It's May! What are you reading?
Q
Comments (47)
Ladyrose, I was very surprised that I liked Wild so much. I was expecting another Eat, Pray, Love and instead got something gritty, well-written, and -- since I do not camp or hike to a point that requires backpacks -- fascinating in its details. Given her history as well as the story of the hike itself,it was also a real page-turner. I was very pleasantly surprised. I've flown through two books by Meljean Brook, The Iron Duke and Heart of Steel, both steampunk romance/adventures and very enjoyable. She's a new-to-me-author so I'm hunting down everything in her "Iron Seas" series, and so far I've really liked everything I've read. Lemonhead, I'm almost half-way through Patricia Brent, Spinster and while I'm liking it well enough, I am having a hard time figuring out why the main character is being so difficult, but I suppose it would be an overly-simple a plot otherwise. Thank you for recommending it.
...See More
Has anyone visited Borders' since they started Liquidating?
Q
Comments (23)
This isn't about Borders, but about the remaining leviathian, Barnes and Noble. On a recent visit to my mother's home I looked forward to a visit to B&N since it is not convenient to my own home in rural Maine. I was bitterly disappointed in the selection - that huge bookstore did not have any of the five books I asked for, the clerk had not heard of Robert Burns, J.D. Salinger, Doris Lessing, or Terry Pratchett, nor was familiar with the term "cozy mystery," even when I explained it. She was very nice, though. I asked a young male clerk to show me the features of the Nook, and he delightedly showed me the games, in which I have no interest. I left the store with a horrible feeling. Years ago I went into the famous Powell's in Portland, Oregon. I was greeted immediately and asked if I needed help finding something. I asked where they kept Doris Lessing, and without hesitation the clerk said, "Are you interested in her fiction or her nonfiction?" I wonder if I would get a similar reception today? I hope so but I don't really want to find out.
...See More
rosefolly
15 years ago
What about Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond? I enjoyed that as well. I've read several other books on the influence of disease on history but right now I can't remember the names.

A couple of years ago I tracked down the first book I'd ever read on this topic. It really impressed me on first reading, but re-reading it twenty years later I thought it was carelessly researched. Maybe we all just know more now, and it was not the writer's fault.

Rosefolly

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES 7 Bedroom Styling Tricks Anyone Can Do

By Eclectic Creative

Short on time or money? You can spruce up your bedroom quickly and easily with these tips

BEDROOMS The Cure for Houzz Envy: Master Bedroom Touches Anyone Can Do

By Becky Harris

Make your bedroom a serene dream with easy moves that won’t give your bank account nightmares

KIDS’ SPACES Who Says a Dining Room Has to Be a Dining Room?

By Becky Harris

Chucking the builder’s floor plan, a family reassigns rooms to work better for their needs

FEEL-GOOD HOME 15 Cozy Book Nooks and What They Want You to Read

By Becky Harris

Put the beach reads away; these comfy spaces are creating a fall reading list. What books do they suggest to you?

MUDROOMS Room of the Day: This Mudroom Is Just Plain Hot

By Mary Jo Bowling

Wait till you see what’s behind the hooks and bins in this genius family drop zone

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 10 Great Outdoor Chill Zones

By Laura Gaskill

Whether you have a huge poolside deck or a sliver of a patio, these ideas will kick stress to the curb all summer long

THE HARDWORKING HOME A New Drop Zone Keeps the Clutter at Bay

By Becky Harris

The Hardworking Home: A clever wall-mounted station for keys, phones and more helps a family stay organized

BATHROOM DESIGN 7 Reasons to Give Your Bath Zone a Living Room Vibe

By Natasha Saroca

With a few living room–like touches, you can transform your bathroom into a practical, relaxing retreat that’s overflowing with personality

COLOR Time to Step Out of Your Color Comfort Zone?

By Laura Gaskill

If you always seem to pick warm tones, or you stick to the cool ones, bucking your natural inclination could bring new energy to a room

HOME INNOVATIONS Considering Renting to Vacationers? Read This First

By Mary Jo Bowling

More people are redesigning their homes for the short-term-rental boom. Here are 3 examples — and what to consider before joining in

Sponsored

More Discussions

December: Our Last Reads of 2025

58

Oops, it's February - continue the game

89

Are you affected by the blizzard?

13

The Game Continues in March

116

April Come She Will - and we keep reading

36