Killer Germs: Microbes and Diseases That Threaten Humanity by Barry E Zimmerman, David J. Zimmerman

From the Publisher

Killer Germs is a revised version of the successful 1996 edition, which sets out to answer everything we ever wanted to know about deadly viruses, flesh-eating microbes, and other life-threatening beasties we have been too afraid to ask about. This fascinating, often horrifying overview of germs and their origins, cures, and newly emerging diseases of the future covers every aspect of the killer germ.

The book provides easy-to-understand explanations of how germs invade, and the diversity and variety with which they travel, invade and infect. From pathogens and parasites, from worms to mosquitoes, from viruses that "pirate" a cell to Jonas Salk's first polio vaccination, the reader is made aware of the fragility of the human body, and the diversity and tenacity of the germ.

The book may read like a horror novel, but the real horror lies in its truth. Killer Germs covers the treatable to the unthinkable. And these horror stories aren't just recent - from biblical times mankind has suffered from incomprehensible diseases that have wiped out millions and changed the course of history. Although the 20th century has seen many inroads in the areas of prevention and treatment, there are diseases yet to be conquered, and many political and financial factors that keep the global population from gaining appropriate treatment. This, the authors write, is the paradox of killer germs - while Western cultures are creating strains that can wipe out portions of the population, other cultures are literally dying off for lack of adequate medicine and attention.

The most frightening chapter yet is on Bioterrorism, "perhaps the greatest nightmare of all, because the danger is not so much a bacterium or virus, but the human spirit and its ultimate capacity for evil - man's inhumanity to man." The use of anthrax shortly after the September 11th attacks have been a wake-up call to America regarding the use of weaponized germs and chemicals, their dangers, and precautionary measures one can take against them. The use of potential germ weapons in the wrong hands transforms them into the world's smallest, yet deadliest, warheads. The fight against pathogens is never over.

About the Author

Barry Zimmerman and David Zimmerman, identical twins, are both science teachers.

Barry is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has a Master of Science degree in microbiology from Long Island University. He has taught biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and medical techniques in the New York City public school system for thirty-five years.

David is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has a Master of Science degree in microbiology from Long Island University. He has taught biology, zoology, physics and health careers in the public school system of New York City for thirty-four years.

Barry and David have collaborated on two other books, Why Nothing Can Travel Faster Than Light...and Other Explorations and Nature's Curiosity Shop: Explorations in the Mysteries and Wonders of Science, which are collections of science essays.

Booknews

The Zimmerman brothers, identical twins who both have master's degrees in microbiology and teach high school science, write for the popular audience. The revised edition of their 1996 work contains material on recent killers, including West Nile virus and the letters containing anthrax sent following 9/11. Somewhat sensationalist in tone, the book describes the history, effects, and treatment for bacterial diseases, tuberculosis, viruses, parasitic diseases, AIDS, and bioterrorism. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Booknews

The second supplement comprises two volumes covering a longer span of time than the first (1979-1984). The first of the two volumes contains a preface and general introduction along with citations from a large number of journals in sections on general works; historical accounts of societies, museums, and other institutions concerned with geology; histories of the petroleum industry; accounts of events significance in the history of geology; and individual geologists from A to K. Geologists' entries cite affiliations and list biographical and autobiographical works--not their professional publications. The second volume (unseen) covers L to Z and includes the indices. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)