The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story | 
|  | | | Title: | The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story | | Author: | Richard Preston | | Publisher: | Anchor | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 15 June, 1999 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0385495226 / 9780385495226 | | List Price: | $14.95 | | You Save: | $4.78 | | Amazon Price: | $10.17 | |
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the
appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction.
From the Paperback edition.
Amazon.com Review
The dramatic and chilling story of an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, with descriptions of frightening historical epidemics of rare and lethal viruses. More hair-raising than anything Hollywood could think of, because it's all true.
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Customer Reviews:
• A Thrilling True Story 04 January, 2009
The Hot Zone is an engaging true story which reads like a work of fiction; often making it difficult to grasp the gravity of the situation presented. The chronology of the discovery (and sporadic outbreaks) of the filoviruses are presented in a well organized and entertaining manner. In some situations the description is a tad melodramatic, but the overall feeling is intriguing. My only serious critique Preston's description of the Ebola virus as a "highly sophisticated organism". Personally I don't there is a less accurate way to describe a virus than calling it that. Aside from that flaw, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a thrilling nonfiction.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1IW8VUNO1QWRI
• The Hot Zone 07 December, 2008
This was one of the most interesting and terrifying books I've ever read. It is loaded with information and is very precise. It was shocking to find out that such a disease actually existed and survived in the United States. I give it four out five stars because it is captivating and thrilling, and it is a true story. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read. The only flaw of the book is that it is very thick and hard to read at times. But overall this book was awesome.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1FQU8GGAZQ648
• Quite Literally Life Changing. 09 December, 2008
Most of the previous reviewers have pretty much nailed the book right on the head: it is a fantastic and graphic novel on true events surround Ebola and Marburg. It is written in such a way that even the novice reader could follow, though there are a lot of scientific terminology that may require some googling.
For me personally: this book has literally changed my life. I read this a little over two years ago and since then I KNEW I wanted to live studying and/or researching viruses in any way possible for the rest of my life. I have since devoted almost half my library to books on diseases of all sorts throughout history, as well as directed my college education into areas that will make it possible to work with them. Who knew one book could direct someone's life in such a strong way? =)
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1BOLD0IB1K4Z3
• Don't Enter Level 4 07 November, 2008
For three out of four sections in The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story, Richard Preston's maintains an engaging and informative story of the hunt for the dreaded filovirus. This is a category of viruses including Ebola that can be swiftly lethal to primates (like you) and unmerciful in their destructiveness. It doesn't take much effort to evoke horror from this topic, but Preston does a credible job of using that horror to teach a bit about viruses, epidemiology, and biocontainment.
Unfortunately, the fourth section degenerates into journalistic narcissism. Preston pointlessly dons a biohazard suit and enters a contaminated cave in Africa, descending into an irrational, ecotopian diatribe about how viruses are nature's way of cleansing "the human infection." This sentiment is akin to the unmentionable theory that AIDS is The Wanting Seed (Norton Paperback Fiction)'s way of dealing with sexual perversion.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A363VPN546BAID
• Scary And Facinating 15 December, 2008
This book focuses on the events around the Reston Ebola outbreak. This was also a main part of the book Virus Hunter by C.J. Peters that I read a couple of years ago. Preston wasn't one of the participants, but his research is thorough. He talked to all the participants and really gives a good view as to what happened, including the events leading up to the outbreak and anecdotal stories about some of the participants.
The one thing this book does is scare the hell out of you. Not in a direct way, but more making you think about how easily we could be wiped out. You hear accounts of some of the major virus outbreaks in Africa, how quickly whole villages are wiped out, and you can't help but think about what would happen if that got into a major urban area.
As a narrative, the book does a good job. It is interesting and compelling, keeping the story moving with enough digressions to make you feel like you have the whole picture.
This is a good read and I definitely recommend it.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A268N58GBK6AMX
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