The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story

It's rare that a non-fiction book can be this exciting, this compelling, and this gory! Hot Zone certainly gets detailed, and I loved every second of it. Preston did an OUTSTANDING job researching this topic, and really becoming an expert on it. The way he crafted a story that will keep you guessing is nothing short of genius. Narrarator is outstanding. Overall, I'd rather read/listen to this non-fiction book than ANY of the fictional virus stories I've read. Yes, it's THAT good!

This is an amazing book... it kept me up until 2:00AM one night 'cause I couldn't stop. A publisher's description of it has a line that says, "truth is scarier than fiction" and I have to agree with the stories in this book. There are several sections with various timeline stories that follow several outbreaks of the nastiest viruses, particularly ebolaviruses and marburgviruses. Preston did a great job of not only detailing events and technical aspects of the science, but he also does a great job of fleshing out characters involved... and scaring the bejesus out of me. There is a great, big, huge, UNFORTUNATELY at the end, though. For some schizophrenic reason, Preston absolutely ruins the ending of the book by going off on a MASSIVE liberal diatribe. After such a careful, intellectual presentation of facts and science, Preston, out of nowhere, drops an anti-intellectual theory on the reader by asserting that the nasty viruses are somehow the result of Mother Nature's vengeance on the human species, which he equates to the dignity of a parasite. I wonder how he feels when he realizes the number of trees it took to print all of his books...

Addictive, Scary and Real.

I really enjoyed the Level 4 scenes and has spiked my interests in working there one day.

One will really appreciate works like this when in the Scientific world. As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed this audiobook and kept me thinking about my own experiments in the lab and really wish to work with Hot agents like these ones in the book in Hazmat suits one day in my career. Richard Preston really knows and understands what he writes about since he does his researches very well and in detailed. I pray and hope Audible Un-transcribes his other great works like The Cobra Event into Audiobooks. Not forgetting a great read from Richard M. Davidson, a few hitches being a lot of echoes from the reader at a particular point in the first part of the book. In all, it was a great book read by a good reader and I will recommend it to all interested or have something to do with Science....it will make you love your work.

This book was an excellent listen for a road trip. It kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole ride. I experienced a wide range of feelings, some of which included fear, disgust, repulsion, exhilaration, and relief. I felt that what was lost in the telling was the awful and unfair fate of the monkeys, who were happily swinging through trees, free in their mostly native habitats, and subsequently brought into this nightmare scenario. If you are not an animal rights person now, this book may make you wonder why not. It sure did for me.
The true tale certainly opened my eyes to what future scenarios could evolve, almost sci-fi in nature, and it left me wanting to search out more information on the subject.
Highly recommended!

The story does exemplify that truth is scarrier than fiction. The narration is well done however when a writer/narrator does a technical reading there needs to be someone to "edit" pronunciations of technical terms/names. There were a few that were so jumbled that I had to try to spell out in order to determine of what he was writing. (exp. "pseudomonas")
Tonya

The monster virus ebola.

The book was terrifying from beginning to end!

I found myself waiting with baited breath for each chapter...Very well written and I would recommend it to everyone.

Amazing book. This is probably the 7th time I've read the novel and decided to go with an audible version. It's a nail biter, historical narrative and science lesson wrapped into one. Very impressed.

This narrator does a fantastic job setting up this book. Felt like I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Only problem -- the narrator mispronounces a handful of scientific terms in his performance (etc. Ketamine, pseudomonas). Distracting when it happens, but the narrator really is very talented otherwise.

Yes. It's one of the best I've purchased. Richard Preston had quite a story to tell and handled it brilliantly. Truly outstanding ! ! ! !

No

The truth can be even scarier than fiction.

Richard Davidson's narration was stellar as well.

I was able to learn quite a bit with this book.

The Viral Storm
Whiteout

Nancy Jaax

Facts about Kitum Cave

The descriptions of Ebola outbreaks were described in vivid detail. ...and it's true!

The travels of our first victim to the hospital, and the emergency room scene when he arrives.

Monkeys get very nervous when they see a human in a space suit.

The combination between Preston's humor and Davidson's lively narration brings this book alive.