The Big One

How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics

De: Michael T. Osterholm PhD MPH, Mark Olshaker

Narrado por: Peter Ganim

As bad as Covid-19 was, the next pandemic could be worse—but we have the tools to prepare, as revealed in this urgent, gripping warning by the New York Times bestselling authors of Deadliest Enemy.

The Covid-19 pandemic was the most devastating natural event of the last century, killing more than 7 million people around the globe, straining the fabric of societies internationally, and shaking the foundations of the global economy. And yet, as horrifying as the experience was, Covid-19 was not actually “the Big One”—the dreaded potential pandemic that haunts the nightmares of epidemiologists and public health officials everywhere, and which will alter life across the world on every meaningful level unless we are ready to deal with it. Indeed, even as we learn to live with Covid-19 and continue to recover from its worst effects, the next pandemic is already lurking around the corner—and it may very well be worse.

In The Big One, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker examine past pandemics, highlighting the ways societies both succeeded and failed to address them; trace the Covid-19 pandemic and evaluate how it was handled; and look to the future, projecting what the next pandemics might look like and what must be done to mitigate them. Drawing on years of high-level research as well as cutting-edge analysis and an innovative hypothetical scenario threaded throughout each chapter, The Big One is a gripping, comprehensive, and urgent wake-up call. Because Covid-19 was just a taste of what’s to come. If we’re going to survive the next big pandemic, we need to be prepared.

©2023 Michael Osterholm and Mark Olshaker (P)2023 Little, Brown Spark

Reseñas de la Crítica

“With his unique blend of knowledge, communications skills, and Midwestern forthrightness, Michael Osterholm has made himself indispensable in the fight to understand and overcome global infections. In The Big One, he marshals this depth and breadth to prepare us for the struggle that surely will come.”—Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine, and author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science

“If there was one person to turn for future pandemic readiness, it would be Michael Osterholm, one of the world’s leading epidemiologists. In The Big One, a landmark book, he, along with Mark Olshaker, provide a remarkably clear-eyed, science-driven, and comprehensive preventive approach.”—Eric Topol, MD, PhD, author of Deep Medicine and Super Agers

“Mike Osterholm is an invaluable expert whose tremendous knowledge and humility also make him a trustworthy guide. In The Big One, Osterholm and Mark Olshaker take us through a tabletop exercise about a highly contagious, airborne virus capable of killing millions. We can only hope those in power heed its guidance.”—Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, author of Reinventing American Healthcare

Horrific and predictable

The hypothetical Big One is a logical extension of what we've already gone through over the last five years. And the authors draw extensively from what happened and what should have happened during Covid. Yet I fear no lessons have been learned and planning for The Big One has already gone out the window on the instructions of RFK Jr.

Hell awaits!!!

Very educational and too true

The author’s experience and expertise shows a path forward where we could improve our odds of weathering the Big One. Unfortunately these lessons are being ignored to the risk of our health. The lessons he gives is a path forward with the best evidence today and knowing that recommendations must be able to change depending on what is happening. A general knows his best laid battle plans will change once a conflict starts.

Information is appreciated

I always find this author’s books educational. This one is has covered the covid experience well. I most appreciated his coverage of Kennedy and Trump’s wrong path on health care. I find both Trump and Kennedy a horror story for future heath crisis. I shall always look forward to this author’s books.