“Demon in the Freezer” is a non-fiction book by Richard Preston. It tells the history and science behind two very deadly viruses, smallpox and anthrax. The book raises awareness of the threat coming from bioterrorism, and it also tells the public about the stories, politics and science related to the diseases.
The book has three parts: the first part of which focuses on smallpox, its history, and its eradication; the second part of the book focuses on the science and history of anthrax, and the third part of the book talks about the threat of bioterrorism and the possible use of these deadly viruses as weapons. The author provides a detailed description of the history and science of these diseases, including the efforts to eradicate smallpox, the development of vaccines, and biological weapons. The author also discusses the political and ethical issues surrounding the use of biological weapons, the government's response to the threat of bioterrorism, and the challenges faced by the scientific community in combating these deadly viruses.
The book is easy to read, and it has a lot of scientific information and stories. The author provides a lot of evidence to support his arguments, including interviews with scientists, politicians, and public health officials, as well as reports and studies on the history and science of these diseases. His arguments are compelling, with convincing evidence and lively demonstration. He believes it is very necessary to be prepared for the threat of bioterrorism and to invest in research and development of new vaccines and treatments. He tells the history and devastating effects of smallpox and anthrax, two diseases that have been used as bioterrorist weapons in the past. He describes how smallpox, which was responsible for the deaths of millions of people in history, was eradicated through a global vaccination act that involved collaborations between governments and scientists. He believes that it would take a similar level of cooperation to combat the threat of bioterrorism.
In general, “Demon in the Freezer” is a fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking book that would be interesting to everyone by telling the stories of deadly diseases and the catastrophic bioterrorism. The book does a good job of restating the logic to the public in a more accessible way, while also providing a detailed and well-researched account of the history and science of these deadly diseases. For example, I remember he explains the structure of viruses by comparing them to a car, with the protein shell being the car's body and the genetic material inside serving as the engine. Another example could be when he was trying to help readers understand why smallpox is more dangerous than these other diseases, he uses the analogy of a bank heist. He explains that smallpox is like a skilled bank robber, who can break into a bank and steal all the money, while other diseases like measles and chickenpox are more like amateur thieves who only steal a few dollars from a cash register in a convenient store. Those lively explanations and analogies make the dull(sometimes) knowledge more accessible and comprehensive to the readers, as it is related to daily life.
In conclusion, I would recommend “Demon in the Freezer” to people who are interested in learning more about the history and science of deadly diseases. This book is great for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the threats created by these deadly viruses and the efforts humans put in collaboratively to combat them.
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About the author
Worth the read...Educational
Was primarily interested in the opening chapter as Bob Stevens was a close friend. I did find the rest of the book very interesting in that it explained a lot to me about the subject of Bioterrorism. Things that I did not know.Tom WilburPS The photo is of Bob and his wife, Maureen a week before he died.
