Rabid

A Cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus

By: Bill Wasik, Monica Murphy

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A maddened creature, frothing at the mouth, lunges at an innocent victim—and with a bite, transforms its prey into another raving monster. It’s a scenario that underlies our darkest tales of supernatural horror, but its power derives from a very real virus, a deadly scourge known to mankind from our earliest days. In this fascinating exploration, journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy chart four thousand years in the history, science, and cultural mythology of rabies.

The most fatal virus known to science, rabies kills nearly 100 percent of its victims once the infection takes root in the brain. A disease that spreads avidly from animals to humans, rabies has served as a symbol of savage madness and inhuman possession throughout history. Today, its history can help shed light on the wave of emerging diseases—from AIDS to SARS to avian flu—with origins in animal populations.

From Greek myths to zombie flicks, from the laboratory heroics of Louis Pasteur to the contemporary search for a lifesaving treatment, Rabid is a fresh, fascinating, and often wildly entertaining look at one of mankind’s oldest and most fearsome foes.

Bill Wasik is a senior editor at Wired magazine and was previously a senior editor at Harper’s, where he wrote on culture, media, and politics. He is the editor of the anthology Submersion Journalism and has also written for Oxford American, Slate, Salon, and McSweeney’s.

©2012 Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[An] ambitious and smart history of the virus…. The authors track how science tried to tame the scourge, with its ravaging neurological effects. Yet the rare tales of modern survivors only underscore that, despite the existence of treatment through a series of injections, we're at a stalemate in conquering rabies." ( Publishers Weekly)

"[Wasik and Murphy] place the world's deadliest virus in its historical and cultural context with a scientifically sound and compelling history that begins in ancient Mesopotamia and ends in twenty-first-century Bali…Readable, fascinating, informative, and occasionally gruesome, this is highly recommended for anyone interested in medical history or the cultural history of disease." ( Library Journal)

Worthy of a re-listen.

Fascinating, informative and thoroughly researched. Held my attention from start to finish. I will be delving into it again in the near future.

absolutely fascinating!

not only did I learn so much, but there's a sense of humor you don't often get in nonfiction works. it's subtle and cerebral, but laughoutloud. never mind all that I learned about history, misconceptions, love of pets, Bali, efforts to vaccinate wildlife, and the few survivors and their secret to survival. highly recommend!

Interesting (mostly) but audio cleanup needed

In general, an interesting look at the history of rabies in human history. A bit gross in places, but this does address a real medical issue and it does get a bit anatomical out of necessity. Although the narrative was interesting and well done, it is rather dry and academic in tone (not a bad thing). I did find that some of the semi-off-topic excursions got a bit long but in general the story was well done.

The narration was OK. I'm always glad with medical/technical audiobooks when the narrator actually pronounces the jargon properly, and that was done here.

However, there is some pretty cruddy editing. The audio goes snap, crackle and pop every so often...as if the audiobook was transcribed from a well-loved LP in need of cleaning. It would be really good if someone could spend the time to eliminate, or at least reduce, the pops and snaps.

Enjoyed the facts. Bored by the myths

Some fascinating science and history on rabies. Wish the mythology could have been left out. But overall an excellent read.

It's not a thriller but it is interesting

I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't the way this book started out. I had a hard time staying with this book but I continued to listen. The pace eventually picked up and then I felt like I couldn't stop listening. It offers some really interesting aspects of the disease that a layman wouldn't know about unless they had firsthand knowledge. Definitely worth listening too.

Fascinating listen

Although it had me writhing in my seat at times, I really enjoyed the detailed stories and scientific knowledge packed in this book. I suggest anyone who is strong of stomach take a listen to this book.

Fantastic cover

This author understands what one’s basic questions are on the topic of rabies and educated fast and moves on the deep explanations it was nice

Fascinating

Couldn't put this book down. The story was well-researched and the structure clear and easy to follow. They're right, this story is not for the queasy. ( and if you're tempted to look up the youtube videos mentioned, which of course I did, right away, resist the temptation). I learned a lot and will remember this book for a long time. Have already recommended it to lots of friends.

Rabids revealed

Would you consider the audio edition of Rabid to be better than the print version?

Both the audio and print version are great, Rabid is one of those books that you want to switch back and forth

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rabid?

The the disease has had on the world.

What about Johnny Heller’s performance did you like?

He is easy to listen to, yet makes the reading exciting

Any additional comments?

Rabies has been with us so long, the history of how is spread and the damage the disease can do is enlightens.

Interesting Work, Loses Its Way a Bit the Middle

Roughly the first half of the book is quite solid and on point, providing a good historical and cultural discussions on Rabies. This ranges from references in the Ancient World (including Greece and India) to discussions of the progress of Rabies until the time of vaccination. Around this point, though, there is a tendency to make quite a few tangential connections between Rabies and other phenomena only slightly related, like discussions of vampirism, werewolf lore and zombies. While interesting in their own rights, these sometimes smack of an effort to "fill out" the book. Even so, later chapters and Pasteur and Rabies vaccine, rare unvaccinated survivors of the disease, and on a 21st Century outbreak in Bali return to topic and help round out the work. The reader's clear and interesting style and engaging voice, somewhat similar to Hector Alizondo's, make the work very listenable. A worthwhile work, well read.