Superbugs

The Race to Stop an Epidemic

By: Matt McCarthy

Narrated by: Matt McCarthy

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

International best seller

"An amazing, informative book that changes our perspective on medicine, microbes and our future." (Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, New York Times best-selling author of The Emperor of All Maladies)

A New York Times best-selling author shares this exhilarating story of cutting-edge science and the race against the clock to find new treatments in the fight against the antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs.

Physician, researcher, and ethics professor Matt McCarthy is on the front lines of a groundbreaking clinical trial testing a new antibiotic to fight lethal superbugs, bacteria that have built up resistance to the life-saving drugs in our rapidly dwindling arsenal. This trial serves as the backdrop for the compulsively listenable Superbugs, and the results will impact nothing less than the future of humanity.

Dr. McCarthy explores the history of bacteria and antibiotics, from Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin, to obscure sources of innovative new medicines (often found in soil samples), to the cutting-edge DNA manipulation known as CRISPR, bringing to light how we arrived at this juncture of both incredible breakthrough and extreme vulnerability. We also meet the patients whose lives are hanging in the balance, from Remy, a teenager with a dangerous and rare infection, to Donny, a retired New York City firefighter with a compromised immune system, and many more.

The proverbial ticking clock will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Can Dr. McCarthy save the lives of his patients infected with the deadly bacteria, who have otherwise lost all hope?

©2019 Matt McCarthy (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

USA Today Book Not to Miss

One of Book Authority‘s Best Public Health Books of All Time

"Written from the front lines in the battle against resistant microbes, Superbugs will educate and inspire all those concerned about the growing threat to individuals and society. McCarthy offers a fast paced, vivid narrative that grips the reader from the opening pages and never lets go." (Jerome Groopman, MD; Recanati Professor, Harvard Medical School; co-author of New York Times best seller Your Medical Mind)

"There might not be another author who so fluidly combines a world-class doctor and researcher’s knowledge and experience with a memoirist’s sensibility. Matt McCarthy is Siddhartha Mukherjee and David Sedaris rolled into one. Who else but McCarthy could write a dispatch from the front lines of the secret fight for the future of the human race that is not just gripping and illuminating, but also poignant and funny?" (Ben Reiter, New York Times best-selling author of Astroball)

"A riveting insider's look at the race to find a cure for antibiotic-resistant infections, one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine.... The author's storytelling is at once urgent and empathetic, a compelling combination that leaves readers feeling informed and optimistic. Insightful and honest, McCarthy effectively combines useful information about the latest advances in microbial research with accounts of the best aspects of humanity." (Kirkus)

Excellent 👌

Dr. McCarthy nails the balance between compellingingly human and groundbreaking clinical medicine by walking us through his "translational" research with Dalba. At the same time, by celebrating the clear brilliance of Dr. Walsh whose work has prevented countless deaths to infection he also puts to the page an ode to the experienced mind in medicine that will always have it's place among the latest and greatest antibiotics since those hard-earned drugs will only be so powerful as those who wield their powers. If more doctors in training would read this book I believe both over prescription and white-coated pride could be prevented in a large degree. In any case, an excellent read. Thanks Dr. McCarthy.

Not a scientific book

A good book of the backstory of bringing a new drug to market. Interesting read.

Beyond Clinical Competence

The clinical challenges of fighting superbugs makes for a compelling listen. But the hidden gift of this book is its focus on Tom Walsh, the author’s mentor. Walsh is an energetic polymath whose insight and expertise bring hope to hopeless cases, yet his relentless optimism can’t prevent him from absorbing the pain of suffering patients. Matt McCarthy reveals what Tom Walsh has taught him along the way: patience, humility, curiosity, and unflinching dedication to the mission of helping the helpless.

LOVED IT !

I couldn't stop listening. It elicited so many memories of good and bad. Thank you for writing the book.

Excellent, well written depiction of superbugs

I was nerding out the whole time! As a Laboratory Scientist this was an easy book to follow, and I would recommend it to anyone that is in the medical field. I also think it would be great for people that are curious about the world of antibiotics and treatment for bacteria, fungus etc. The author does a phenomenal job of bringing the history of antibiotics and superbugs. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

The humanity of medicine & research

I liked the author's other book, The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly, a lot too. I'm a medical student interested in research and infectious disease, so I learned a lot about history and development of bugs and drugs through this story. I always appreciate gaining insight into life in medicine and the humanity and ethics of healthcare.

A Very Personal Look at the War on Superbugs

Matt McCarthy tells a very real story about his patients and their personal battles against some very nasty bacterial infections that prove to be resistant to the more common antibiotics used to fight them. This story is far from over.

Fascinating/Scary

Informative as to the processes of developing a new drug, fascinating because of the patient experiences and scary because bacteria can hurt us so badly. I appreciate people like the author who strive to find answers.

Terrific even as somebody in medicine.

I’m always hesitant to start a book that might be targeted to the general public but after “The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly” I had hope. It was not misplaced; this book was excellent as a soon to be physician. I’ve heard some of it before but I appreciated the historical aspects and clinical wisdom of trials that I definitely wouldn’t get anywhere else.

Brilliant read by Dr. Matt McCarthy!

This is not my first book review of Author/MD/Assistant Professor of Medicine Matt McCarthy and given his content I will persevere to review additional literary orchestrations as they are never trite. If virology is your “chocolate fix” then “Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic” is the signal to “Graviora manent.”

The question is what always motivates the genius. In this case a decade was spent in a lab as Little Flem asked himself, “How did bacteria thrive and how could they be killed?” Not quite the Nobel prize winner (yet) we meet---via Dr. McCarthy---Alexander Fleming in his humble days as a “triage medic” transporting dead and dying patients.

“...Little Flem as he was known, was not drawn to controversy, or to combat or even a conversation. (One colleague claimed that trying to speak to him was like playing tennis with a man who, when he received a serve, put the ball in his pocket.)”
---Matt McCarthy, MD

Knowledge brings sadness and the question “Why?" Confronted with wisdom that not all physicians act on behalf of patients. Recount of the Tuskegee study is given. Eighty two percent were black and twenty-two percent could not read or write. What must it be like to do 20 spinal taps on a quotidian basis and watch suffering men with syphilis?

"Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic” is on the level of literary star “Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD” in originality and brevity. Dr. Matt McCarthy opens wide the doors to a brilliant introvert and Nobel Prize winner Sir Alexander Fleming---who engineered the drug penicillin. He adored music. Sad, realistic and honest. Buy and read.