I’ve decided to take part in a new blog hop, hosted by Long and Short Reviews. This week’s topic is “the non-fiction book you think everyone should read, and why”.
So the answer is David Quammen’s Spillover. It’s a little old now, I guess, since it’s what kinda set me on my current trajectory (just about to start my MSc in Infectious Diseases!) — but the points he makes about how “spillover” events occur and why are still as valid as ever, and it’s a good survey of some emerging infectious diseases which could cause huge problems. It basically predicts the current situation with COVID-19, which has burst out of its bat reservoir and become pandemic shockingly swiftly.
The gist is that, due to destroying habitat, increasing usage of land, and climate conditions… we’re increasing the contacts between humans and animals we previously didn’t come into contact with so much. Every species has their own share of diseases, and some of them can be transmitted to humans too. When that happens, that’s “spillover”, and we should expect to see that happen more and more.
So I think everyone should read that, to really understand what’s currently happening and why, and what should be done about it.
Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge! I’m glad you decided to join us. 🙂
I don’t have a degree in infectious diseases, but I do find that sort of stuff fascinating. I’ve requested Spillover from my local library and should have it in a couple of months.
Hope your Msc goes well.
Lydia recently posted…Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: The Non-Fiction Book Everyone Should Read and Why
It looked like fun! 🙂
It’s a really good book, and definitely accessible. Glad it piqued your interest!
And thank you! I need the well-wishing; it’s gonna be hard work. But I love it. 😀
Great suggestion and I’m going to check at my library, too. I love learning about things like this. Thank you!
Marianne Arkins recently posted…Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: The non-fiction book everyone should read and why
Here’s hoping they have it! It was totally an impulse borrow from the library for me back whenever I read it, and yet it really opened things up for me. 😀
Good suggestion! I’ll have to give this one a look/see. Thanks!
Hurrah! Hope you enjoy. 😀
This book is so good, I love the way he explains everything, it never feels like he’s talking down to you and you aren’t overloaded with info in one go, he spreads it out. I wonder if he will reissue it with a COVID section.
Heather recently posted…Book Review | The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
Exactly! It’s really good.