The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

HONORS BIOLOGY

Fourth Quarter Reading Assignment

In the fourth quarter, each Honors Biology student is required to read a book and be prepared to respond reflectively – both orally and in writing – about what he has read.  

The book reading should be completed by Monday, April 8th.  On this day (or perhaps some other day during this week, depending on the flow of the course), an in-class writing activity and some oral discussion about the book(s) will occur.  Students may also be required to contribute to a panel discussion about the book they read, and/or complete a homework writing assignment.  Details on these options/activities will be provided later.

The main purpose of this document is to announce the assignment and to provide a list of books to choose from. Please read below for choices!

The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston.  I highly recommend this book; I wouldn’t mind if everyone read it.  It reads like an action novel but it is a gripping account of a few interweaving true stories that include details of how an outbreak of the highly lethal Ebola virus occurred outside of Washington, D.C. in the late 1980’s.  The book was the inspiration for the film Outbreak, and it is now regarded as a modern classic.

The Demon in the Freezer, also by Richard Preston.  I highly recommend this book as well.  A worthy follow-up to The Hot Zone, Preston this time follows the story of the eradication of the deadliest scourge to the human race the world has ever seen:  smallpox.  His account includes graphic depictions of what likely happened to some of the most recent victims of the disease.  Preston also describes in detail much of what has recently come to light regarding the biological warfare research of the former Soviet Union, and he discusses the possibilities of bio-terrorism threats today.  Preston pushed back the original release date of this book to include a section detailing the anthrax attacks that occurred in the U.S. in the fall of 2001.

Man and Microbes, by Arno Karlen.  Though there are many books that investigate the importance of diseases and epidemics in human history, this book is something of a classic. Full of examples, anecdotes and details, this book is an excellent choice for those with an interest in history.

The Language of God, by Francis Collins.  This book doesn’t really apply to our disease/health unit, but I want to provide a different option for those who might prefer an alternate topic.  Written by the former head of the Human Genome Project and the current chief executive of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this book provides some detailed looks into the molecular genetics and evolution as it argues that science and faith need not clash, but indeed science may enhance faith.  One of the more ambitious choices on the list, it provides an interesting perspective for those who like to think about the Big Questions of life.