The Hot Zone

A Terrifying True Story

By: Richard Preston

Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days, 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus.

The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone proves that truth really is scarier than fiction.

©1999 Richard Preston (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Brilliant!

Would you listen to The Hot Zone again? Why?

The author takes meticulous measures in developing these characters. I was truly captured while learning about the history of the virus and it's victims. I walked away with valuable truth and facts, without being bored to tears. I read quite of bit of non-fiction, and it's a shame it all can't be presented as well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I would caution anyone listening to this while driving, when the author begins describing the progression of the disease and the effects on the human body, you may want to pull over.

amazing to listen to

the narrator had an amazing voice and the content had me squirming. I couldn't stop listening. I loved it

Outbreak!

If you could sum up The Hot Zone in three words, what would they be?

Wash your hands!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hot Zone?

Being scared to death, even in a space suit if you accidentally had a hole in your suit while dealing with a level four virus. If the virus contaminated you-your days are numbered.

What does Richard M. Davidson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Raw-real, frightening but true feeling.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The desire that outweighs the risk to conquer the virus and explore it.

Dang

I never thought I could be so enraptured by a story about viruses. Beautifully written.

Like Big Foot Hunting for the Science Set

Something is out there. Something mysterious and elusive. Something we don’t understand. But it’s corporal enough so there is no reasonable doubt that’s its real.

I’ve been fascinated by inter-species viruses for about 15 years: AIDS, Hantavirus, Ebola, Flu, and others. I find myself reading most of the armature literature on this topics. I have some sort of need to search for insights into the important but elusive things that are “out there”. But the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Alien Abduction, and the like are a little too speculative to hold my interest. The scientists in me demands a bit more proof, actually quite a bit more proof.

If you relate to what I’m saying, “The Hot Zone” could well be your top summer fun read.

On a personal note my wife is close with one of the top guys at USAMRAA and I moved into a building about a mile from the “Monkey House” features in the story about a year after the main incident. So I’d heard these events discussed at a distance for about 13 years, but I didn’t really understand until I read this book.

Good Book

What did you love best about The Hot Zone?

This book will scare the HELL out of you . I am not one that scares easy, but this will do it.

Any additional comments?

The world we live in today, Bio-hazard is a real threat. This book will make you think about how bad this could be

such a great book

it was so educational and scary and I actually really loved it even tho it was a biology assignment

Such an amazing book.

I absolutely loved this book. I work in healthcare and it really made me have a better understanding and appreciation of what all goes on outside of a health clinic.

Give it time.. Ebola is coming

This book is a scary true life accident. An show how close the world is from being over run by Ebola type virus

Love it

I absolutely love this book! And now it’s much more enjoyable as I can now listen on my commute to work as well as lonely road trips. I can even put in my earbuds and listen on family road trips