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Summary: One of the scarrest books I read in the long time.
Review: The book was great!I could not put the book down.It made me think of what the real enemy are: viruses.
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Summary: The book shows how fragile the ecosystem is with primates.
Review: The author thoroughly and accurately reseached the subject matter. The book was interesting and at times compelling with suspense regarding the Ebola virus.
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Summary: AWESOME.
Review: This was by far the best book I have ever read. Of all the books that I've gone through in my 16-year life-span, this was the only one that actually kept me up at night turning pages. He gives such great detail to the story, and the effects of the virus, that you can practically visualize the person of topic "crash and bleed out." Awesome... I actually did an Ebola-related website after reading this book because I was so interested. Once again, to anyone looking to buy this book... DO IT. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: great book to read, but poorly organized.
Review: I have to admit I read the book in a heartbeat. I finished it within one day. The opening is the most thrilling of all. It really grabs your attention, and you just can't put the book down from that point on. However, it's a bit disappointing about the organization of the book, or shall I say the lack of. Mr. Preston spent a half of the book describing an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, and I found this part to be the most unbearable reading of all. Not only is the description tedious and boring, but it's often unnecessarily detailed.Additionally, I am disappointed at the ending. Mr. Preston spent a meaningless trip to Kitum Cave. What did he discover? Nothing, absolutely nothing. It's a relief that he decided to end the book right there, or else I probably quit reading it. All in all, the book conveys a very important message about the deadly filoviruses. The possiblities of "what if" is always frightening. Especially dealing with such unpredictable viruses. However, I think the author failed to knowledge one simple fact. The most efficient virus is not the one that kills the host, rather it's the virus that thrives in the hosts. The possibility of 60 to 90% of human population being killed by the virus is possible, but not as likely as one might think. However, as the human population increases to expand, the probability of a deadly virus spreading is getting much higher.
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Summary: Well meaning and fantastic scope but... the people lack depth and soul!
Review: I give Richard Preston a lot of credit for compiling a massive amount of information and presenting it cohesively. That's why he gets 3 stars. On the otherhand almost all of his characters are stiff, wooden and without personality although he tries very hard to let the readers know who are the major players. Take for isntance, the Jaxx'. He spends a great deal of time trying to humanize this interesting couple but only succeeds in telling us very personal details about their life that seem to have no bearing on the story nor the decisions they make regarding the Ebola Reston nightmare. I was so saddened to read that Nancy Jaxx thought she was so needed for the Ebola outbreak at the monkey house that she did not go to see her father on his deathbed. He dies 2 days later and she does however manage to get to the funeral and funny thing though, the world didn't fall apart. If Preston had been able to get into the workings of Nancy at that moment and find out why she felt the need to dismiss her father when he was dying in order to continue doing monkey autopsies that would have been something. The monkeys were dead, they already knew what had killed them and Preston doesn't relay that she was doing any special research that couldn't be carried out by others if she were to take time out to say a final goodbye to her father. That kind of insightful reporting would have made this a far more interesting read. Instead we get the facts and nothing but the facts.I wasn't surprised to read about the general incompetence of all involved because while some people thing the military and other agencies run like well oiled machines I know better. They are made up of very human people with egos and turf issues just like corporate america. It was a pathetic picture Preston painted of the inability of this supposedly powerful country to deal with the Ebola Reston outbreak. Thank goodness it was not able to kill people can you imagine the horrifying consequences to the population given the general ineptitude of those trying to deal with the situation.All in all it's an interesting book and a very good read for becoming familiar with virus' in general.
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Summary: PHENOMENAL....we now know who is @ the top of the food chain
Review: I really enjoyed the book, read much more like a good horror novel than non-fiction....I was impressed w/ Preston's knowledge and lack of fear in going into the "Hot Zone". He really proved to be an exceptional writer, as well as a detective....
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Summary: Excellent and Accurate depiction!!
Review: Richard Preston's accurate depiction of the Reston Ebola incident is extremley thrilling. He gives factual information about deadly filoviruses, such as Marburg and Ebola-Zaire and Sudan. The most chilling part of the book is when you realize how easily these deadly filoviruses can adapt to new hosts, whats scarier is that this is all true. I myself work for the USAMRIID (epedimiologist/virologist) and I have seen first hand the effects Ebols and Ebola-like agents can do you a human body. I suggest everyone should read this book, it is (historically/factually) accurate and we all should know that the threat is very very real. It's a biohazard level 4 agent, and there is no vaccine, no cure.
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Summary: frighteningly true
Review: This book was awesome. It was very detailed and scary. It scared me. I still find it hard to believe that all of it is really true, but that was what made it so good. I recomend this to anyone who enjoys science fiction, but beware it is not fiction to any extent.
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Summary: A page-turner that keeps you hooked to the very end.
Review: A killer virus seems to be playing hide and seek with the human race. It appears unexpectedly and then retreats almost as soon as it appears. It kills some, but then spares others. This book about a deadly strain of filoviruses will keep you hooked until the very last page. This book had a science fiction or horror feel to it. It felt almost like I was inside a Stephen King or Dean Koontz novel. The amazing thing is that this is a true story about a chain of events that actually happened beginning in Germany in 1967. I thought that the book was very well written. Preston is good at balancing the scientific information given in the book while maintaining a decent plot. Preston also uses very vivid description in his book. "The red spots on the skin grow and spread and merge to become huge, spontaneous bruises, and the skin goes soft and pulpy, and can tear off if it is touched with any pressure." The only thing I found a little confusing about the book was that parts of the story took place in different countries and different time periods. The sometimes poor transitions between sections made the book difficult to follow at times. Although I thought this book was very good, it is not for everybody. The book contained many technical terms that sometimes got the best of the point that was trying to be made. If you like an easy read, this book is definitely not for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy reading in a foreign language from time to time, go ahead and give it a try. I don't think you'll be disppointed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent. One of my Favorites
Review: I read the Hot Zone about 2 years ago and it still stands out between all the books I have read since. It is one of those books that you will always remember. Full of very real suspense. You will enjoy this book.
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