Difference between revisions of "A Planet of Viruses"
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− | '''''A Planet of Viruses''''' is a popular science book about viruses written by [[Carl Zimmer]] and published on 2011-09-15. | + | {{Book |
+ | | Title = A Planet of Viruses | ||
+ | | SortTitle = Planet of Viruses, A | ||
+ | | Image = Planet of Viruses, A - Hardcover - USA - 2011 - University of Chicago - 1st Edition.jpg | ||
+ | | ImageDescription = Hardcover - USA - 1st edition. | ||
+ | | Author = {{BookAuthor|Carl Zimmer}} | ||
+ | | PublishedYear = 2011 | ||
+ | | PublishedMonth = 09 | ||
+ | | PublishedDay = 15 | ||
+ | | Type = {{BookType|Non-fiction}} | ||
+ | | Genre = {{BookGenre|Educational}} | ||
+ | | Themes = {{MediaTheme|Science}}, {{MediaTheme|Biology}} | ||
+ | | AgeGroup = Adult | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''''A Planet of Viruses''''' is a short popular science book about viruses written by [[Carl Zimmer]] and published on 2011-09-15. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The book describes how scientists first discovered viruses, the big steps in their understanding of viruses over time, and how they're learning to keep us safe against the new threats that keep evolving. The book is written more as a series of stories throughout history rather than a cold list of facts. | ||
==Personal== | ==Personal== | ||
− | I | + | {{BookStatus |
+ | | Own = | ||
+ | | Read = Audiobook read by [[Stephen Bowlby]]. | ||
+ | | Finished = 2024-05-02. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | I was really impressed by Carl Zimmer's book, ''[[Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea]]'', so I went looking for other books written by him. Being fascinated with viruses, this one caught my eye, so I was eager to read it. | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
+ | {{BookRating|7}} | ||
+ | |||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* Zimmer begins the book with a brief history of viruses which was quite interesting. Although humans have know about the effects of viruses for thousands of years, we didn't even begin to know viruses existed until the early 1900s. | * Zimmer begins the book with a brief history of viruses which was quite interesting. Although humans have know about the effects of viruses for thousands of years, we didn't even begin to know viruses existed until the early 1900s. | ||
− | * | + | * Zimmer describes how mutations add to the complexity of viruses. For example, people once thought influenza was a single disease, but we now understand it to be a family of hundreds of strains each with several sub-variants. |
+ | * The section on how vaccinations were first made and finally grew into global campaigns to eliminate diseases all together was uplifting. | ||
* Subsequent editions add information about the latest viruses like MERS-CoV (MERS) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). | * Subsequent editions add information about the latest viruses like MERS-CoV (MERS) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). | ||
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
+ | * Due to its short length, the book isn't able to delve deeply into any specific area of viruses, and, since it's more story-driven, it leaves out a enormous amount of information about viruses. | ||
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
+ | * Nothing. | ||
==Media== | ==Media== |
Latest revision as of 09:47, 3 May 2024
A Planet of Viruses | ||||||||||||
Hardcover - USA - 1st edition. |
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A Planet of Viruses is a short popular science book about viruses written by Carl Zimmer and published on 2011-09-15.
The book describes how scientists first discovered viruses, the big steps in their understanding of viruses over time, and how they're learning to keep us safe against the new threats that keep evolving. The book is written more as a series of stories throughout history rather than a cold list of facts.
Personal
Own? | No. |
---|---|
Read? | Audiobook read by Stephen Bowlby. |
Finished | 2024-05-02. |
I was really impressed by Carl Zimmer's book, Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, so I went looking for other books written by him. Being fascinated with viruses, this one caught my eye, so I was eager to read it.
Review
Overall: |
Good
- Zimmer begins the book with a brief history of viruses which was quite interesting. Although humans have know about the effects of viruses for thousands of years, we didn't even begin to know viruses existed until the early 1900s.
- Zimmer describes how mutations add to the complexity of viruses. For example, people once thought influenza was a single disease, but we now understand it to be a family of hundreds of strains each with several sub-variants.
- The section on how vaccinations were first made and finally grew into global campaigns to eliminate diseases all together was uplifting.
- Subsequent editions add information about the latest viruses like MERS-CoV (MERS) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Bad
- Due to its short length, the book isn't able to delve deeply into any specific area of viruses, and, since it's more story-driven, it leaves out a enormous amount of information about viruses.
Ugly
- Nothing.