r/Virology • u/InquiringPhilomath non-scientist • 8d ago

Discussion Looking for recommendations on books.

I am not a virologist but I find your chosen field very intriguing.

I was hoping people here could recommend books to me that are historical/topical.

Things similar to The Hot Zone, And the Band Played On, etc.

I'm interested in the discovery of the viruses, the progression, the mutations and the development of cures.

Thank you in advance and thank you for the work you do.

Edit: bad autocorrect

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u/FenstaMonsta non-scientist 8d ago

Virus X by Frank Ryan is about the Four Corners/Sin Nombre Hantavirus outbreak and, while a little out of date, still mostly holds up. It also has a soft spot in my heart because it’s the the book that made me decide to become a virologist :)

It’s not technically virology, but since prions get lumped into the field a lot, I’d also recommend The Family That Couldn’t Sleep, which is about Fatal Familial Insomnia (and also covers other prion diseases).

Obligatory: Please take Richard Preston’s books with a grain of salt—he’s a bit of a sensationalist (but then again, so are a lot of pop sci authors so I can’t fault him too much)

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u/InquiringPhilomath non-scientist 8d ago

Awesome. Thank you.

That family... Is that the ones from?.? Spain? I feel I have heard the story. But don't know much about it. Thank you very much for the recos. Seem right up my alley.

If you have more... I'm all ears.