A Planet of Viruses
Third Edition
144 pages
|
24 halftones
|
5 x 7
|
© 2021
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword by Judy Diamond and Charles Wood
INTRODUCTION
“A Contagious Living Fluid”: Tobacco Mosaic Virus and the Discovery of the Virosphere
OLD COMPANIONS
The Uncommon Cold: How Rhinoviruses Gently Conquered the World
Looking Down from the Stars: Influenza’s Never-Ending Reinvention
Rabbits with Horns: Human Papillomavirus and Infectious Cancer
EVERYWHERE, IN ALL THINGS
The Enemy of Our Enemy: Bacteriophages as Viral Medicine
The Infected Ocean: How Marine Phages Rule the Sea
Our Inner Parasites: Endogenous Retroviruses and Our Virus-Riddled Genomes
THE VIRAL FUTURE
The Young Scourge: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the Animal Origins of Diseases
Becoming an American: The Globalization of West Nile Virus
The Pandemic Age: Why COVID-19 Should Have Come as No Surprise
The Long Goodbye: The Delayed Oblivion of Smallpox
EPILOGUE
The Alien in the Water Cooler: Giant Viruses and What It Means to Be a Virus
Acknowledgments
Selected References
Credits
Index
INTRODUCTION
“A Contagious Living Fluid”: Tobacco Mosaic Virus and the Discovery of the Virosphere
OLD COMPANIONS
The Uncommon Cold: How Rhinoviruses Gently Conquered the World
Looking Down from the Stars: Influenza’s Never-Ending Reinvention
Rabbits with Horns: Human Papillomavirus and Infectious Cancer
EVERYWHERE, IN ALL THINGS
The Enemy of Our Enemy: Bacteriophages as Viral Medicine
The Infected Ocean: How Marine Phages Rule the Sea
Our Inner Parasites: Endogenous Retroviruses and Our Virus-Riddled Genomes
THE VIRAL FUTURE
The Young Scourge: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the Animal Origins of Diseases
Becoming an American: The Globalization of West Nile Virus
The Pandemic Age: Why COVID-19 Should Have Come as No Surprise
The Long Goodbye: The Delayed Oblivion of Smallpox
EPILOGUE
The Alien in the Water Cooler: Giant Viruses and What It Means to Be a Virus
Acknowledgments
Selected References
Credits
Index
Review Quotes
Washington Post, on the first edition
“Zimmer reshapes our understanding of the hidden realities at the core of everyday existence. . . . Concise and illuminating.”
Guardian, on the first edition
“Succinct yet elegantly written. . . . A fascinating and enlightening introduction.”
Forbes, on the first edition
“Just about everything you’ve always wanted to know—and a lot you’ll probably wish you didn’t know—about the viruses that have caused humanity so much grief throughout history.”
Booklist, starred review, on the first edition
“Absolutely top-drawer popular science writing. . . . Zimmer’s information-packed, superbly readable look at virological knowledge awakens readers to the fact that not only are viruses everywhere but we couldn’t live without them.”
Boing Boing, on the first edition
“A smart, beautiful, and somewhat demented picture book that’s likely to give you a case of the willies. In the best way possible.”
Science News, on the first edition
“As with any great journey, this virtual tour opens your eyes and expands your horizons. . . . Reading Zimmer’s work is like hanging out with the smartest, most interesting guy you have ever met as he regales you with tales of his travels and fascinating finds along the way.”
Rebecca Skloot, author of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" | on the first edition
“Zimmer is one of the best science writers we have today. A Planet of Viruses is an important primer on the viruses living within and around all of us—sometimes funny, other times shocking, and always accessible. Whether discussing the common cold and flu, little-known viruses that attack bacteria or protect oceans, or the world’s viral future as seen through our encounters with HIV or SARS, Zimmer’s writing is lively, knowledgeable, and graced with poetic touches.”
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