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The Year the World Went Mad: A Scientific Memoir Kindle Edition

by Mark Woolhouse (Author), Matt Ridley (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 137 ratings
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'An essential book.' -Matt Ridley

In January 2020, leading epidemiologist Professor Mark Woolhouse learned of a new virus taking hold in China. He immediately foresaw a hard road ahead for the entire world, and emailed the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland warning that the UK should urgently begin preparations. A few days later he received a polite reply stating only that everything was under control.
In this astonishing account, Mark Woolhouse shares his story as an insider, having served on advisory groups to both the Scottish and UK governments. He reveals the disregarded advice, frustration of dealing with politicians, and the missteps that led to the deaths of vulnerable people, damage to livelihoods and the disruption of education. He explains the follies of lockdown and sets out the alternatives. Finally, he warns that when the next pandemic comes, we must not dither and we must not panic; never again should we make a global crisis even worse.
The Year the World Went Mad puts our recent, devastating, history in a completely new light.

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  1. Print length
    306 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sandstone Press
  4. Publication date
    February 24, 2022
  5. File size
    4748 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Woolhouse OBE is Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, a post he has held for over twenty years. Well-known and respected in his field, he has received numerous awards and has been introduced on the Today Programme as ‘one of Britain’s most senior scientists’. Since January 2020 he has been heavily involved with the UK’s response to COVID-19. He is a member of two high-level government advisory bodies: SPI-M for the UK (a subcommittee of SAGE) and the C19 Advisory Group for Scottish Government.

Matt Ridley is a British journalist and businessman, best known for his writings on science, the environment, and economics. He has written several science books, including The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature (1994), Genome (1999), The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves (2010), and The Evolution of Everything: How Ideas Emerge (2015). He has been a regular contributor to The Telegraph. He has been a Conservative hereditary peer since 2013, with a seat in the House of Lords.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09LRPJ8RG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sandstone Press (February 24, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4748 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 137 ratings

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Mark Woolhouse

Mark Woolhouse

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Mark Woolhouse OBE is Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, a post he has held for over twenty years. Well-known and respected in his field, he has received numerous awards and has been introduced on the Today Programme as ‘one of Britain’s most senior scientists’. Since January 2020 he has been heavily involved with the UK's response to COVID-19. He is a member of two high-level government advisory bodies: SPI-M for the UK (a subcommittee of SAGE) and the C19 Advisory Group for Scottish Government.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
137 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

There are 0 reviews and 9 ratings from the United States

Top reviews from other countries

shaun peck
5.0 out of 5 stars A credible review by a Scottish epidemiologist
Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2023
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I liked the history lesson and stories about how decisions were made in the UK about measures to combat COVID. The author makes the persuasive argument that the lock downs were too late and too long. I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in public health or public policy .
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Essexboy
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2024
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Then they will understand that "following the science" was a big load of old BS. The guy knows his stuff and isn't trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation we faced, but highlights how poor the reaction to it was and how big the mistakes we made. It must never happen again.
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Roger
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2024
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Interesting
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Mike B
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2022
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An interesting account from an insider to the advice being received by the Scottish and UK governments on dealing with COVID. He argues that lockdown was the wrong response and says that although he felt this at the time he went along with the decision to lockdown because something had to be done. One can’t help thinking this book is an exercise in backside covering because if he really had doubts about lockdown at the time those views should have been heard.
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S.McIntosh
3.0 out of 5 stars The Science TM is our new religion
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2024
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If proof were ever needed that people are simple, superstitious creatures, then this was it, even the so called “educated”, and self proclaimed “experts” seem to operate in a world where politics, dogma, and belief systems are the dominant force.

Contradictory and face saving, it is ultimately an exercise in self publicity combined with a large dose of self congratulatory back slapping. When things went well, that was because of the high quality of the so called advice, when they go badly, it’s someone else’s fault, the politicians and the general public.

Admitting you don’t know much about anything, and then stating that people need to follow your instructions just seems like a God complex combined with a complete lack of self awareness. The author complains that Public Health has been ignored by everyone for years, and recent events confirm that this should always be the case….the solution to illness and death, is not to stop living, as these things are unavoidable, but we have decided to replace God with ourselves and people like Mark Woolhouse truly believe they can control the universe…..all you need to do is acquiesce to their wishes….oh, and give them money too…

At least recent events have acted like a “vaccine”, and people are now largely immune to the hysteria generated by those in Public Health, not that it is going to stop them trying to sell their wares….which is what the latter Chapters are trying to do……SARS3, coming to a planet near you…soon!!
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