Outbreak!: 50 Tales of Epidemics that Terrorized the World

I thoroughly enjoyed the information in this book.I'm a biochemist and medical researcher with an extensive background in epidemiology, immunology and infectious diseases (BS, BA, MS), so I was really looking forward to devouring this text.Overall, it presents a great high level overview of outbreaks from a historical point of view, and does great to limit each outbreak to a respective chapter; but that's when it gets a little lazy.While each historical outbreak is unique, there is inconsistency in establishment of epidemiological information from chapter to chapter. Some have greater detail and anecdotes, while others are lacking when we have established case studies and actual scientific evidence available to explain the origin and spread of diseases.My second complaint with the book is that, while starting off strong with actual terrible and widespread/common outbreaks, the writer includes lesser known and more isolated/rare instances. While interesting and likely unfamiliar to the casual reader or infectious disease illiterate individual, it feels like these were included because they are either filler or have been sensationalized. *Spoiler* Naegleria fowleri causing 10 cases in 15 years is not an outbreak, and amoebic ME continues to be rare and shouldn't be included aside from being a filler chapter.My third complaint, and it stems from the disingenuous nature of the title, there is not chapter over the 2009 N1H1 epidemic, arguably the most important pandemic in modern times prior to Covid-19. It jumps straight from SARS (49) to Ebola (50). Furthermore, there are duplicate entries of the same disease popping up at different times in different parts of the world that do trace back to a common origin, and if structured better could have been included into one longer entry (especially where information is repeated). Why this wasn't included I am not going to speculate, but from the perspective of an actual scientist and person who studies diseases this should have been included, arguably more so than several other 'epidemics' that are.Overall it was an entertaining read and it would be a wonderful supplemental text to an immunology or epi course for a college level student, and if you are looking for an entertaining read I would recommend it.In terms of furthering knowledge of epidemics for scientific professionals, this is good engagement but does not challenge understanding or present new information.

i was required to get this book for college. i love the easy to digest length of the chapters- it sparks interest in further research. also used easy to comprehend wording

Though well written and entertaining to read, each epidemic only gets about two pages. Not terribly in depth, though Skwarecki does make sure to mention how political and cultural issues can impede or enhance the control of an epidemic. If you've already read the wikipedia pages for these epidemics, you've gotten more information than you'll get from this book. Would be a good option for 5th to 8th grade students who are interested in medicine and medical history, as a jumping off point for them to do more reading on the diseases mentioned here.

My son is 12 and loves science this book has inspired his interest in epidemiology. He learned and was fascinated at the same time. I recommend it for anyone who likes things on this topic.

A very interesting look at some of the disease outbreaks that have shaped history. My only comment is that rather than putting some diseases multiple times, I would have liked to have seen a bigger variety of diseases. Overall, an interesting snapshot of disease history.

Greyt book to read when you're at the doctor's office or some place where you may have to wait a few moments. Each outbreak only takes a few minutes to read. Interesting to see how viruses have shaped the world we live in.

This was a great addition to our Apocalypse class during the unit on disease outbreaks. I may just pull some of these stories to use in the viral and bacterial units in the Life Sciences as well.

The author provides just enough information about each disease to make it relevant and interesting. Because the author includes the most relevant details about each epidemic and nothing more? she is able to cover many epidemics in the last 1000 years in this book.

I am interested in infective diseases and enjoyed this book very much. Not overwhelming and the chapters are short so they are convenient to read if you only have short bits of time.

No comment on the book's contents, but it was all crumpled and wavy when it arrived, with a couple fairly aggressive creases in the front cover.

good book

It sounds weird to say but it is a fun read, if one is into reading things like plague, influenza, etc. Each chapter is short, but on still quite informative without being super boring.