Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Deadly Reads: Exploring the History of Infectious Diseases
23
items Do you find books about infectious disease as fascinating as I do, but don't have a strong science or medical background? This list is for you! Dive into the history of infectious diseases—from ancient plagues to modern pandemics. This list brings together gripping narratives and eye-opening research that illuminate how diseases have shaped—and continue to shape—our world. Perfect for history buffs, science lovers, and curious minds, and all written so that the layperson can u...
Sections
5
Tuberculosis, Cholera & Ebola, OH MY!
Influenza - The Viral Villain That Changed Everything.
Smallpox: The Monster We Actually Beat
HIV/AIDS: A Pandemic, A Movement, A Reckoning
Pandemic Outbreaks and Human History
Tuberculosis, Cholera & Ebola, OH MY!
Let's explore the world of three of history’s most notorious infectious diseases: tuberculosis, cholera, and Ebola. These pathogens have caused global panic, and their stories are as fascinating as they are chilling. Read through each of the books in this section for a thorough understanding of the origins, outbreaks, and lasting impacts of all three, all while delving into the science and human drama that surrounds them. These books aren’t just about diseases—th...
GET THIS BOOK! I was TWO chapters into Everything is Tuberculosis (John Green - Non-fiction) when I took a quick break to order two additional copies to give to others, and send several texts recommending it to friends. This is a PHENOMENAL book on t... You will read this book with eager anticipation of the next sentence, and experience JOY, ANGER, SADNESS, and beautiful HOPE.
Everything Is Tuberculosis (Signed Edition)
After you read, Everything is Tuberculosis, read The Remedy! Part medical mystery, part historical drama, The Remedy tells the gripping story of how Dr. Robert Koch uncovered the bacteria behind tuberculosis—and how a young Arthur Conan Doyle (yes, t...
The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure Tuberculosis|Paperback
Terrifying + Captivating nonfiction thriller that traces the origins and terrifying outbreaks of the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses! The book follows the true story of an Ebola outbreak in a Virginia research lab in 1989, where the virus, originating from African monkeys, *nearly* spread to humans. This is an absolute page turner, and the scariest part is that it is ALL TRUE!
The Hot Zone: True Story of Ebola Virus
Another Richard Preston page turner, and his advice was in many ways prophetic!!! Panic in the Red Zone recounts the 2013–2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which was the deadliest in history, highlighting the chaos, heroism, and heartbreak faced by doctors, scientists, and patients. Similar to John Green's, Everything is Tuberculo... Years before The COVID-19 Pandemic, Preston warned us of future viral threats, emphasizing the need for global preparedness to prevent another devastating pandemic.
Crisis in the Red Zone: Deadliest Ebola Outbreak
This eye-opening book flips the script on how we understand history, placing the tiny mosquito at the center of humanity’s most pivotal moments. Winegard traces how this single insect—through the transmission of diseases like malaria, yellow fever, d...
The Mosquito: A Human History
This is a fascinating read! The Ghost Map is the absolutely captivating true story of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London and how physician John Snow and clergyman Henry Whitehead worked to uncover its waterborne transmission. Medical detective work at it's finest, and all heartbreakingly TRUE.
The Ghost Map: London's Terrifying Epidemic
Captivating children's book about Dr. John Snow's history making discovery about Cholera and how it was being spread through the city! Beautiful illustrations and simple text perfect as a read-aloud for preschool and up.
Evidence!: Dr. John Snow and Cholera
Fascinating read!!! An absolutely groundbreaking classic in the field of disease history, Plagues and Peoples offers a sweeping exploration of how infectious diseases have shaped human societies from antiquity to the modern era. Historian William H. ...
Plagues and Peoples
Influenza - The Viral Villain That Changed Everything.
It’s just the flu… until it’s not. Influenza has quietly (and not-so-quietly) shaped global history—toppling armies, disrupting economies, and forever changing public health. This section dives into the sweeping saga of flu through gripping narrative...
Think the flu is no big deal? Think again. In this gripping history, John M. Barry takes us back to 1918, when a deadly virus swept the globe—faster than the world could keep up. With wartime chaos, scientific breakthroughs, and public health stumble...
The Great Influenza: The Deadliest Pandemic
More than just a history lesson, Pale Rider takes a deep dive into how the 1918 flu pandemic reshaped the world in ways we’re still feeling today. Laura Spinney goes beyond the headlines and death tolls to explore the cultural, political, and persona...
Pale Riders
A modern and highly readable look at influenza from a doctor’s perspective. Brown covers the 1918 pandemic, swine flu, avian flu, and why curing the flu remains so elusive. Great for readers, like me, who want a blend of history, medicine, and curren...
Influenza: The Hunt to Cure the 1918 Pandemic
Fast-paced and journalistic, Kolata’s book reads like a mystery thriller as scientists race to uncover the origins of the 1918 virus. It’s perfect for readers who love science writing that feels like a detective story.
Flu: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic Story
REALLY interesting! Living with Enza takes readers through the global chaos of the "Spanish flu" and its lasting impact in the UK. Honigsbaum explores how the pandemic shaped public health policy, society, and the world we live in today, weaving toge...
Living with Enza: The Forgotten Story of Britain and the Great Flu Pandemic ...
Smallpox: The Monster We Actually Beat
Long before COVID or Ebola made headlines, smallpox was the ultimate viral villain—disfiguring, deadly, and absolutely relentless. But here’s the twist: WE WON! This section dives into the fascinating rise and fall of smallpox, from ancient plagues a...
I've read this book at least 5x! FASCINATING deep dive in to the history of smallpox, and it's worldwide journey for a vaccine and widespread eradication. Author Richard Preston writes this in a way that allows the layperson (like ME) to understand technical medical and scientific terms and processes enough to grasp the meaning behind their significance. This is an important book in ANY time, especially in THIS time we live in!
The Demon in the Freezer: A True Story (Smallpox)
There was a time that smallpox would tear through towns and villages! This gripping narrative brings the battle against smallpox to life! The Speckled Monster follows the early pioneers of vaccination, focusing on figures like Edward Jenner. Carrell’s storytelling blends history, medicine, and drama, giving readers an ...
The Speckled Monster: Battling Smallpox
A detailed account of smallpox’s history, Willrich’s book covers everything from the disease’s ancient origins to its eventual eradication. It’s a comprehensive exploration of the politics, public health debates, and societal impacts that shaped the ...
Pox: An American History (Penguin History)
HIV/AIDS: A Pandemic, A Movement, A Reckoning
HIV/AIDS wasn’t just a medical crisis—it was a cultural, political, and human turning point. In this section, you'll find powerful stories that chronicle the early confusion, the heartbreaking losses, the fierce activism, and the scientific breakthro...
Beautiful, hope filled, and heartbreaking! Lapierre's deeply researched account of the early years of the AIDS epidemic focuses on the scientists, doctors, and patients at the center of the crisis. The book details the gut-wrenching struggle to under... It's a gorgeous testament to resilience and the power of compassion and love where it has been most needed!
Beyond Love: Dominique Lapierre, Kathryn Spink
This book will sit with you for a LONG time, and change the way you look at HIV/AIDS. A powerful and heartbreaking account of the early years of the AIDS epidemic, And the Band Played On reveals the human, political, and medical struggles that surrounded the virus’s discovery and spread. Author, Shilts, delves into the lives of those ...
And the Band Played On: 20th Anniversary
Pandemic Outbreaks and Human History
From the Black Death to modern viral chaos, pandemics have been history’s great disruptors—changing borders, rewriting economies, and revealing the strengths and cracks in human society. This section takes you on a global tour of historic outbreaks, ...
TREASURE TROVE of pandemic history!!! Not for the weak of stomach! How to Survive a Pandemic by Dr. Michael Greger examines the origins of pandemics, focusing on how human activities contribute to the emergence of deadly viruses. He explores past out... Dr. Greger shared his concern about a possible Avian Flu pandemic, and what do you know…. Definitely worth the read!
How to Survive a Pandemic
OOOH this one! This is one of those, “Read with a sinking feeling that we're heading for doom” kind of books. Read this book alongside Dr. Michael Greger's book, “How to Survive a Pandemic” for a well-rounded understanding of pandemic outbreaks and zoonotic diseases. This is an absolutely thrilling and deeply researched journey into how deadly viruses jump from animals to humans. Quammen investigates outbreaks like Ebola and SARS, offering a chilling and compelling look at how the next pandemic could emerge—and ...
Spillover: Animal Infections & Human Pandemic
Eye opening read! Wolfe’s book takes readers on a global tour of viral outbreaks and the science behind their transmission. He explores how viruses evolve and the growing risks we face in an increasingly interconnected world. It’s an informative and ...
The Viral Storm: A New Pandemic Age
Sonia Shah offers a fascinating exploration of pandemics and how they shape human history. This book connects the dots between past outbreaks and future risks, all while breaking down the science behind how and why diseases spread. A must-read for an...
Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Coronaviruses and Beyond|Paperback
GREAT deep dive into currently emerging infectious diseases, exploring how they spread and how humans are STILL often ill-prepared to face them. Garrett provides an unsettling look at the potential risks of global disease outbreaks and the challenges...
The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance|Paperback