Killer Germs: Microbes and Diseases That Threaten Humanity [Paperback]

Barry E. Zimmerman (Author), David J. Zimmerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0809233908 | ISBN-13: 978-0809233908 | Publication Date: June 1996 | Edition: 1

Examines diseases of the past and looks ahead to the emerging threat of plagues such as the formidable Ebola virus.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Discover the unseen assassins that plague humanity

Until recently, most of us went about our daily lives with a false sense of public health security. Epidemics were a thing of the past, the AIDS crisis had diminished, and an annual vaccination kept the flu at bay.

Then, in late 2001, all of those illusions of public health safety were suddenly shattered. A litany of terrifying images and events became all to familiar, from federal agents surreally swathed in biohazard suits to the daily evacuation of major government buildings for anthrax decontamination. The lethal power of microscopic organisms--no longer confined to the lab---permeated our collective psyches, forcing us to confront the serious threat posed by killer germs.

This updated edition of Barry and David Zimmerman's classic on the subject offers a riveting retrospective of the havoc-wreaking microbes of the past as well as an engrossing exploration of emerging threats, including a new chapter on bioterrorism. In these pages, you'll discover:

• What makes smallpox the most potentially devastating of all bioweapons, and how prepared we are to fight it
• Why tuberculosis--already responsible for 2 billion deaths--is on the rise in the United States, Canada, and Europe
• How antibiotic overload might one day turn a simple paper cut or skinned knee into a source of fatal infection
• Why virologists fear that an easily transmissible, highly virulent superflu--strong enough to rival the strain that killed millions in 1918--is imminent

From the bygone bubonic plague to the modern nightmare of Ebola, Killer Germs offers a fascinating examination of the horrors humanity has faced and the actions required to provide hope for the future.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Barry Zimmerman and David Zimmerman are both science teachers and authors of Why Nothing Can Travel Faster Than Light . . . and Other Explorations in Nature's Curiosity Shop.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Contemporary Books; 1 edition (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809233908
• ISBN-13: 978-0809233908
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,170,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pestilential Education, March 3, 2001

By 

"brujo_negro" (California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Germs: Microbes and Diseases That Threaten Humanity (Paperback)

Personally I'm no microbiologist, however after reading this book I have thought of changing majors. Simply because the world of Germs is so fascinating, more so than I ever imagined. Prior to having read this book I only started to study about viruses & bacterias from online sites on the subject. What I really enjoyed were the first three Chapters: Origins of Disease, Germs & Disease: A brief History, Magic Bullets, these chapters are highly educational on the history of Microbes & Man's interaction with these hidden beings.

I enjoyed the chapter New Kids on the Block, Flesh Eating Bacteria, & other stealth Killers. This book makes you question which creatures are really at the top of the Food Chain. I'd place my bet on the Microbial world This book is as fascinating as the Hot Zone if not more so because of it's educational value, a book that belongs in every one's bookshelf. Buy it! You will be pleased with it! -Nick-

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, enthralling, and keeps the layperson in mind, January 18, 2004

By 

Racon2R (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Germs (Paperback)

This was an excellent piece of a fascinating and frightening look at germs. The Zimmerman Brothers explain the technical side of medicine and diseases with such clarity and understanding that I couldn't put the book down. If you are intrigued by germs, the fathers of medicine that paved the way for medical advancement, and the truth about how vulnerable we are, this is a can't-miss. One of the most important pieces, I think, are antibiotic-resistant strains of organims caused, in large part, by our own naivete.
"Killer Germs" is by far the best of the field I have ever read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable reading meets meaningful learning, January 25, 2008

By 

Bethany B. Stone "StoneB" (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Killer Germs (Paperback)

Killer Germs is comprehensive study of human pathogens that weaves in enough history and human interest stories to make it fascinating reading. I use it as my textbook in my Infectious Diseases course at the University of Missouri and the students actually read it. One student said in my course evaluations, "Thanks for picking a textbook that is enjoyable to read! I read it twice this semester and bought a copy for my Dad for his birthday."