The Anthrax Letters

A Bioterrorism Expert Investigates the Attacks that Shocked America

By: Leonard A. Cole

Narrated by: Alpha Trivette

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

At 2:00 a.m. on October 2, 2001, Robert Stevens entered a hospital emergency room. Feverish, nauseated, and barely conscious, no one knew what was making him sick. Three days later he was dead. Stevens was the first fatal victim of bioterrorism in America.

Bioterrorism expert Leonard Cole has written the definitive account of the Anthrax attacks. Cole is the only person outside law enforcement to have interviewed every one of the surviving inhalation-anthrax victims, along with the relatives, friends, and associates of those who died, as well as the public health officials, scientists, researchers, hospital workers, and treating physicians.

Fast paced and riveting, this minute-by-minute chronicle of the anthrax attacks recounts more than a history of recent current events, it uncovers the untold and perhaps even more important story of how scientists, doctors, and researchers perform life-saving work under intense pressure and public scrutiny.

Updated with new information about Ivins and a series of upcoming Congressional hearings into the FBI’s conduct in this case, The Anthrax Letters amply demonstrates how vulnerable America was in 2001 and whether we are better prepared now for a bioterror attack.

©2009 Leonard A. Cole (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Incomplete

This book was published before Bruce Ivins was identified as the probable author of the anthrax letters.

Dated but interesting, good background and detail

This book was published in 2003, so does not have the benefit of later investigation of other suspects, and further information through DNA analysis about the origins of the strain of anthrax used in the attacks.
But as far as it goes, it is well researched on exactly what happened to the individual victims (including those the CDC refused to include in their numbers but who clearly were exposed and had signs and ongoing symptoms of anthrax infection). These personal stories are compelling and heartbreaking in the tragedy, diversity, and in both targeted and obvious exposures, and randomness of some for whom the exposure could never with certainty be determined.
There is also interesting background given on many of the scientists and medical personnel - those involved in research, those who were suddenly caught up in the mystery and panic, not just of the initial anthrax attack, but also of the blade and false alarms that went on for years, those involved in the follow-up and future bio-defense planning.
The time line of response, where mistakes were made, lack of communication, is also addressed, and as with September 11, the changes going forward to improve reaction, response, and disseminating information is discussed.
I listened to the audio book - unfortunately I found the narration distracting. The delivery overall is robotic, which I could live with, given the topic. It's also somewhat choppy, as if the narrator thinks he's at the end of a sentence, only to turn a page or look to the next line and see the sentence continues - so he then tags on another phrase or continues in a sort of off-hand way. And pronunciation of words that occurred rather frequently, such as such as medical terms, ("mediastinum" - thickening in this area is a tell-tale symptom; "alveoli"), place names, and other relatively common words for a book covering this subject matter were so oddly pronounced as to interrupt listening and the flow.
If you are interested in this topic I recommend reading the book (rather than listening), and also be aware there are more recent books about the later investigation.

Phoning it in

The story and science is pretty fascinating and takes you on a bit of a ride. However, after four or five chapters the narrator clearly starts just reading words, with a staccato 'not thinking about what he's reading' sound, and the performance becomes quite difficult to listen to. Almost made me stop listening.

It’s okay, I guess…

Would you consider the audio edition of The Anthrax Letters to be better than the print version?

This book is published in 2003, meaning that you don’t really get to know what happened as the investigation continued for years after. The main focus of the book lies on facts; an chronological recount of the events that followed anthrax attacks. It’s very thorough on the medical side of what happened and equally shallow on the FBI investigation.

Anthrax as an agent of biological terrorism

Narration is clear but somewhat monotonous.

Explaining what anthrax is and does is informative and interesting. This recounting of the anthrax attack and its actual consequences is thorough to the point of tedium. More importantly this attack serves as cautionary tail of how vulnerable we are to a far worse bio-attack.

Overall, an informative, detailed analysis of the bioterorism-by-mail attack.

Recommended.