Rating: 
Summary: Overall a very good and interesting read
Review: This book, unlike others such as "Hot Zone" presents a factual account from an outsiders point of view on the emerging, the new and the ancient diseases that afflict mankind. This book does not seek to scare the hell out of people yet still achieves this by documenting outbreaks of viruses such as Ebola, Hantaviruses and writes accounts of HIV, AIDS and some of the ancient afflictions such as Bubonic plague and tuberculosis. This book is an excellent read and I only gave it four stars because of the fact that some of the ideas were not clearly set out and some bits were a little muddled
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book. A definite read.
Review: This was a great book to arouse my curiousity in a new field for me. Dr. Ryan outlines some of the contemporary viruses that are making headlines, such as, Ebola, Hunta, and AIDS. The lethality of these viruses and others will intrigue and frighten you. However, Ryan will also bring viruses into a more down to earth light and explain why we need them as part of the circle of life. Its a detective, medical, and futuristic novel all wrapped up in one. Lastly, having little prior education or interest in this field, I have to give the book credit for not only keeping me interested, but on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Virus What?
Review: Virus X starts off with mysterious illnesses that kill a few people in New Mexico. A Navajo descendant couple is first struck and they die from unknown circumstances. However, doctors find out that the victim's lungs are filled with fluid and later they find that another woman a few weeks before had died from the same strange symptoms. Then doctors and scientists start to investigate the situation and later find out that it is the rise in the rodent population that caused the rise of infected dust particles. Without anymore cases reported, the scientists name the disease as the Sin Nombre disease. The book goes on to talk about the coming of Ebola from Africa and the epidemic. The story of the beginning of Ebola is very chilling and creepy as the epidemic spreads from one person to another and everyone dies in the path of the disease. Suddenly the book goes on into telling about how viruses and primates have cooperated and how HIV and AIDS will eventually weaken and coexist with humans. In the end, Frank Ryan tells a frightening story about the doomsday virus and how mankind might not survive when the DNA of the most infectious virus combines with the most fatal virus in the world.I did not like this book because it was long and boring. Althought the book gave a lot of information and many facts about viruses and infections but I am not into the doctor and the virologist's view and world. I would not recommend the the book to anyone under 20 because I think not many people would understand what Frank Ryan is trying to say. Even I, who loves to read about new and exciting science, am not interested and is overwhelmed by the amount of boring, raw information I am reading in the book. I found most of the chapters on the stories of diseases interesting, but the part I disliked was the last chapter. I was expecting a exciting story with gruesome details on the characteristics of Virus X but instead I found a bunch of words and information about nothing at all. Frank Ryan does not even explain what might happen when Virus X strikes. A very dull book and I was very disapointed by the content of the book.
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