The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story

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.

No one likes to think about deadly diseases - but in this well-written and exquisitely-researched book, the author acquaints us with ebola, one of the deadliest diseases known to man. He presents his facts with enough human interest to keep you interested and more than enough facts to terrify.

From the first page, the Hot Zone quickly grabs you and doesn't let go. The author, Richard Preston is able to expertly piece together terrifying firsthand accounts of people who dealt with the deadly filoviruses (Marburg and Ebola) and turn it into a story that you won't want to put down. Using intricate detail and horrifying descriptions, the author makes you feel like you're actually in the book dealing with level 4 hot agents in a spacesuit.

I highly recommend this book anyone over the age of fourteen (scenes when a character breaks with a filovirus tend to be quite graphic and are not for the weak stomach). This book will be one of the best non-fiction books, if not the greatest one you will ever read.

After reading the Hot Zone, you will never be able to look at a headache the same way ever again.

A massive outbreak of deadly viruses is no longer a fictional horror story, but a shockingly true possibility.

Hot Zone is one of my most favorite books ever. I read this a few years ago, and made my husband read it only recently. He loved it as much as I did. It's such a compelling read and I was fascinated from the first to the last page. You won't regret picking up this book.

This book is excellent, on my top 10 list for sure, but it is an unflinching look at subject matter which is far past revolting.

Something tells me filoviruses aren't quite finished with the human species.