A Planet of Viruses
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Review
Talk about doing more with less. Viruses do it, and this book does it. So complex a field as the fast-moving frontier of knowledge about viruses needs a superb introduction. Here it is.A"-Stewart Brand
Product Description
Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, and yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. We're most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or the flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of other diseases, including one disorder that makes people sprout branch-like growths as if they were trees. Viruses have been a part of our lives for so long, in fact, that we are actually part virus: the human genome contains more DNA from viruses than our own genes. Meanwhile, scientists are discovering viruses everywhere they look: in the soil, in the ocean, even in deep caves miles underground. This fascinating book explores the hidden world of viruses-a world that each of us inhabit. Here Carl Zimmer, popular science writer and author of Discover magazine's award-winning blog The Loom, presents the latest research on how viruses hold sway over our lives and our biosphere, how viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, how viruses are producing new diseases, how we can harness viruses for our own ends, and how viruses will continue to control our fate for years to come. In this eye-opening tour through the frontiers of biology, where scientists are expanding our understanding of life as we know it, we learn that some treatments for the common cold do more harm to us than good; that the world's oceans are home to an astonishing 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 viruses; and that the evolution of HIV is now in overdrive, spawning more mutated strains than we care to imagine. The New York Times Book Review calls Carl Zimmer as fine a science essayist as we have.A" A Planet of Viruses is sure to please his many fans and further enhance his reputation as one of America's most respected and admired science journalists.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not sure if I should consider the price/size in writing the review. Yes, as the other reviewer wrote, it's an expensive book, especially for its size, and the 3 star review is understandable.
But for those who can afford it or who can get it with a discount, in digital format or second hand, I would thoroughly recommend it. The book is basically a series of articles about different viruses which have played an important role in history or science but it all works together very well, and wider issues, the origins, types, evolution of viruses and how they work, are discussed in clear language and structure.
It's difficult to write meaningful positive reviews which avoid using the usual cliche adjectives (well written, informative, to the point etc etc) but I'm not sure how else to put it. I find this an excellent introduction which could appeal also to readers not particularly interested in the topic.
But for those who can afford it or who can get it with a discount, in digital format or second hand, I would thoroughly recommend it. The book is basically a series of articles about different viruses which have played an important role in history or science but it all works together very well, and wider issues, the origins, types, evolution of viruses and how they work, are discussed in clear language and structure.
It's difficult to write meaningful positive reviews which avoid using the usual cliche adjectives (well written, informative, to the point etc etc) but I'm not sure how else to put it. I find this an excellent introduction which could appeal also to readers not particularly interested in the topic.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
After reading other books by this author i was looking forward to this book however was a little dissaponted when it arrived as the book seemed a little on the small side (not as many pages as i expected).
If you have not read any/many books on the subject of viruses then this would be a short and informative book. For anyone else it is not worthwhile........certainly its not worth the price it is at the moment.
If you have not read any/many books on the subject of viruses then this would be a short and informative book. For anyone else it is not worthwhile........certainly its not worth the price it is at the moment.
Format:Hardcover
This book is very limited in what information it provides, it covers a number of viruses but in very little detail. It is nicely presented, with good colour photographs, however the price is high for the limited informtain it provided.
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