Customer Reviews

Virus Hunter: Thirty Years of Battling Hot Viruses Around the World

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was excellent; however, it was not quite what I had expected. I bought it expecting it to read like The Hot Zone. Instead, it turned out to be the autobiography of C.J. Peters, spanning his personal life and career in battling hot viruses. It is a book of memoirs about his career. It was interesting, but did drag a bit in places. It did NOT read like a thriller, as did The Hot Zone.

I am still rating the book five stars, because the last two chapters were the best. They sum up all that he has learned in his career, and make projections into the future. He also discusses extensively throughout his book the political considerations and bureaucracy that all scientists have to deal with. The book was written several years ago, but his imaginary scenario sounds almost exactly like what is currently happening with the SARS virus. He also discusses biological terrorism and chemical and biological warfare, and gives his thoughts about all these things from the perspective of all he has learned in his entire career. These chapters are EXTREMELY pertinent to what is happening today.

C.J. Peters retold the years of battling emerging infections very well. He explained what the clinical symptoms of the disease were, as well as any additional scientific info about the virus itself. He also told of his battle to stay married while hunting these viruses. I would certainly recommend this book to any aspiring virologists out there, or anyone who is just interested and wants to remain informed.

If you thoroughly enjoyed "The Hot Zone" and are now wishing to learn more about viruses (without taking a course) this is the book you're looking for. Scientific, yet entertaining and humane, it is a rare find. Dr. Peters has an extraordinary ability to explain his concepts in such a clear manner as to make it possible for the lay person to understand. I recommend it highly.

C.J. Peter's remarkable ability to combine a fantastic story with easy-to-understand factoids about virology in general make this an incredibly entertaining book. Not only is it easy to understand for the lay person, it was entirely enjoyable for me as a biology major. His recollections of the many near-misses the world has experienced from various deadly viruses and the not-so-near misses regarding AIDS also makes this a book you aren't likely to forget anytime soon. It is fantastic.

Virus Hunter was based on fascinating information but was presented in a choppy and stream-of-consiousness style that made reading it boring and tedious at times...I especially disliked the "mini-resumes" of the various people mentioned in the book. These were needless details. Dr. Peters has the background to make for interesting stories, but I did not feel that this book was well written, and I would not read another book by Dr. Peters.

This book is an exciting look into the professional and private life of a particular virologist/epidemiologist, C.J. Peters. The action takes place in several locals including MARU, CDC and AMRIID.

Unlike "Hot Zone" (mentioned by previous reviewers) this book is non-fiction and written by an expert.

The story provides any would-be epidemiologist with a realistic view of the problems and challenges that are likely to be encountered. (Though it is unlikely that he, or she, would experience this much adventure in one lifetime - Peters is the James Bond of epidemiologists!) When dealing with communities of people with varying cultural and religious beliefs, not all of the challenges are of a scientific nature.

Reading this book is well worth the time - and particularly recommended to young people thinking of entering the field of medicine. There can be more to life as a doctor than cursing HMOs and tracking a swollen stock portfolio!

Everyone who is interested in life threatening diseases has come upon the name of C.J. Peters, a leading figure in epidemiology for at least 20 years. So, when i saw the book i bought it just to get an insight of the man himself. What i found was an inspiring manifest of how ''the job gets done'', written by a deeply stuborn, sensitive and respectfull scientist. It is not only a fine book on emerging diseases, it is also a call to medics and politicians alike to enlist to one of the most important, yet underated, scientific fields. Don't miss it.

This is an inspiring book definitely. Well written in an easy-to-read way ( and believe me, I know when something is easy-to-read), and captivating from chapter to chapter ( is that kind of books you begin looking at and before you know it you have read it from cover to cover in one day ). It also includes some pictures that help you get deeper into the book's atmosphere. Of course, this is kind of a self biography, centered more on the proffessional life of Dr. Peters than on the viruses themselves ( in that case you are advised to get another book containing specific information on this matter ).

Finally, I say it's inspiring because I'm a med student that hadn't decided for a particular specialty until I read that book.

I decided to read more about C.J. Peters after I concluded The Hot Zone; finding myself infatuated with this semi-mysterious, tropical-shirt wearing military officer and virus researcher. I was fascinated by this man whose experience and research will and has changed history.

Despite the unmatched experience, education and brillance of C.J. Peters intellect, I found the tone of this book suprisingly "down to earth" Peters is clearly a scientist who an experienced mentor. I sensed he does not see how extraordinary his life is; only that he is aware he is a man who has pursued his passion.

Having recently read both The Hot Zone (marburg), and Preston's Demon in The Freezer (smallpox), I felt I comprehended the power of airborne virus'. What I gained from Virus Hunter was just how much research, time and passion it takes for scientists to learn about these diseases. The intensity of virus research and trying to save human lives makes for an extraordinary read, particulary from the first hand accounts of a true virus hunter (I found his character truly translates to an Indiana Jones of the viral world...pursuing his subject deep into Brazil, the Sudan, and Virginia...)

Peters shares experiences including communication attempts with people around the world, and a need to relate to their lives. He wrote of adventures trying to reach rural locations in South America. He also respectfully recounts the stories of other scientists who succumbed to virus' illness, and the need for the research community to see these deaths as something to hold in mind while seeking a cure. Clearly attaching specific individuals (whether lab researchers, or individual unnamed patients who he watched die) as representatives of why cures MUST be found.


The only lull in this book is about 3/4 though the early chapter about the Four Corners outbreak, the initial story was intiguing (and as you will see ties distinctly into the entire theme of the book), however, it did drag. This was the ONLY slow part of this book. The rest was amazing.

C.J. Peters is the kind of scientist you want to sit, and UNDERSTAND what he sees and learns. He can easily communicate with the average person, and with those at the highest level in military and intellectual leaders. I so wish I had such a passionate scientist who has as much respect for women biologists as men; a scientist whose infectious (pun intended) passion raises everyone sense of curiousity about the subject he teaches. I believe more educators with his passion would produce more passionate scientist, and people willing to take on the overwhelming accomplishment of achieving a biology degree at University.


I would strongly, strongly recommend this book to anyone with any sort of interest in biology, disease, virus, or just anyone who enjoys a terrific adventure.

The sharing of his personal details, and the mating habits of top scientists (they date among their own kind...) added a true depth to his storyline.

I found this book utterly brilliant. The clear message is everyone must be aware of the dangers of viral disease, the serious nature of these illness' which are not classified as bacteria...nor parasitic. Also, the tight budgets created for medical research are truly a danger to the future of our health and those of developing nations.

While I was eating dinner the other night, I was deep in Virus Hunter, reading the descriptive details of what Ebola does to the human body. The thought suddenly struck me...I am eating and reading about subcutaneous hemorrhaging without even a blink...

Now THAT is a good book!

This books presents varied information on different subjects including viruses, bacteria, biological warfare etc. It was entertaining and informative at the same time. However the author(s) spent too much time on unnecessary family (private) autobiographical soap-opera like material. Still, it is a good book that leaves the reader wishing for more information on "how to" isolate bacteria, grow cultures, antibiotics and other related subjects.