The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story

Non-fiction that reads like a sci-fi story

This book was recommended to me after I had commented about non-fiction books that weren't dry and dull. I picked the book up and read it straight through. Parts of the book actually creeped me out thinking about what is actually out there around us and how fragile human life really is. Unlike some books this title reels you within the first 10 pages. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs information on the Ebola virus or just wants a, 'different read'.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended

I read this book when it first came out. I just bought it again because I loved it sooo muchand wanted it as a ebook. It scares me that it is a true story. I think it is a MUST READ for everyone.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I really recommend this novel

I would recommend the novel, The Hot Zone, because it shows how easily an unknown virus could harm the human race. The Hot Zone also makes one realize the fragility of humanity
I chose to read and do the assignment on a novel because I love to read anything I can get my hands on and I enjoy writing. I chose this book particularly because I find learning about viruses, the food chain and the science of biology interesting. It is fascinating to learn that humans are still prey to some organisms and humans are not the most dangerous species to other life on Earth. I learned a great deal from this novel about Bio-safety containment. For example the fact that hot agents are kept in negative air pressure so if there is a breach in security they will go into the other zones instead of the outside world. (Page 57) and I also learned how viruses manifest in organisms. There are only two negative aspects about this novel: the first is that it needs to be read in a short period of time or you risk forgetting characters and their relationship to the virus and other characters. "Her immediate superior was Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Johnson (he is not related to Gene Johnson, the civilian who was the head of the Ebola project." (Page 65). The second negative component is the author's detailed description about what the virus will do to the victim's body. "The muscles of his face droop. The connective tissue in his face is dissolving, and his face appears to hang from the underlying bone, as if the face is detaching itself from the skull."(Page 17).
The Hot Zone it is a great reading experience and assisted me in understanding viruses. It also makes me ponder what other virus are out there undiscovered waiting to make the leap into infecting the human race.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A good and scary read for all ages

I liked this book the most because It is true. If it weren't for that than it would not be nearly as good.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book scared the hell out of me .... an excellent and thrill

This book scared the hell out of me .... an excellent and thrilling read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The story was very exciting and interesting at the beginning but

The story was very exciting and interesting at the beginning but it didn't keep my attention on every page like
I would have liked it to. As for the character,s there were many of them and the book wasn’t focused on any
certain one so it was hard to follow. I did find myself waiting to see what they would do and how they would
deal with Ebola, though; if they would continue research with a family at home that needed them, what one
of the characters was going to do when her father was dying, if anyone was going to get infected, and so on.
The story took place in many different towns, even different countries. At first, the story took place in Kitum Cave
and then it moved to places like Sudan. The viruses took over hospitals and houses, so it took place there, too.
It took place on airplanes and in buildings. Wherever the Ebola virus could have traveled, the story took place.
In the middle, it took place in Reston, Virginia in a monkey house. It ended touching on Kitum Cave and the
monkey house in Reston again. It was terrifying to read about how the viruses affected the body. At one point,
I had a stomach ache from envisioning the details. Considering it's nonfiction, it's definitely believable.

The science content presented is definitely accurate. I don’t think it kept my attention very well, constantly
discussing the facts and details and using big words, but in the end it made me realize that those things
actually kept me understanding how real it was. While I was reading the book, I started looking up things
about Ebola because I wanted to learn more. It’s a very scary virus. 

I would give the story a four out of five stars and recommend it to people who are interested in viruses and
epidemiology. I wouldn't recommend it to people who lose interest easily because there were some points
where it got extremely boring. Teenagers and up is an appropriate age range along with both males and
females. People who are interested in science would definitely enjoy the book.  

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston, is a riveting nonfict

The book The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston, is a riveting nonfiction thriller. It captures the reader’s attention during the first chapter, and keeps it through the last page. Preston gives a terrifying and detailed description of the effects of the filovirus Ebola, which is a level four “hot agent,” which means that it is lethal, highly contagious, and potentially airborne.
Once you begin reading this book, you won’t be able to put it down. You are wondering nonstop who has contracted the virus, and whether or not it will spread.
Although the virus originated in Africa, it shows up in the Reston Monkey House, just outside of Washington DC. To prevent a massive outbreak of the horrific virus in the human population, the United States army gets involved.
Preston introduces you to many of the characters, making you care about them, and then puts them in a position where they could potentially contract Ebola. This makes the book even more exhilarating.
Although this is a nonfiction read, it has just as much action and excitement as any science fiction novel. This makes it the perfect book to read for science courses, because it is educational as well as interesting. Although I personally read this book for school, I would highly recommend it to anyone who wanted to read it for leisure as well.
The fact that this is a true story makes is even more shocking and frightening. It makes readers realize just how fragile life is. A virus so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye has the capability to kill ninety percent of the people who come in contact with it. The Hot Zone has made me appreciate the value of true stories. I never used to enjoy nonfiction, but now I know that there are nonfiction books out there that are thought-provoking and fun to read.
I for one will be looking for another book by Richard Preston. He definitely knows how to capture a reader’s attention.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was going to pick up The Hot Zone by Richard Preston on Thanks

I was going to pick up The Hot Zone by Richard Preston on Thanksgiving, but then thought better of it when I realized it was about the Ebola virus. Ebola virus and handling raw turkey and tons of food. . . probably not a good idea.

So after Thanksgiving, I picked up The Hot Zone, and flew through this book. This true story is part history of the Ebola virus, and part horror story about its outbreak in Africa and, in the 1990s, near Washington, D.C.

The Ebola virus is a "hot" virus, meaning that it spreads like crazy with victims having little chance of getting better after being infected. Ebola is transferred through minuscule amounts of blood and possibly through the air. Up to 90% of people infected with Ebola will die within a very short period of time, and die a very gruesome death.

This book was not gory (except in one or two quick parts), but the Ebola virus sure is! The virus can cause humans to "bleed out" of every opening in their bodies, turning their insides to mush.

The Hot Zone is a fantastic book about the outbreak of the Ebola virus, a supremely deadly virus without a cure or vaccination. But it sure makes me want to wash my hands a lot!!!!

Have you read any good health or virus books?

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca @ Love at First Book

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Disgusting yet amazing

I felt like puking, in fact i did. Good book CONTENT VERY VERY GRAPHIC

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Five stars!

A great read,hard to put down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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1 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Scary non-fiction read

This non-fiction book, about the outbreak of the Ebola virus, is terrifying on a visceral level. To learn about the details of how the virus works, and how close we have come to a epidemic, is chilling. Preston writes in a very journalistic fashion, which is factual and clear, but can be a bit repetitive at times. Overall, a great read that will keep you up at night!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

i remember years ago --- working for ladenburge thalman in the m

i remember years ago --- working for ladenburge thalman in the mailroom
--- i was cool with one of the security guards ( an ex - marine)...he
once suggested this read with a heads up, " no joke ". he was
right on. i couldn't put this book down. a lucid read that will make
your hairs stand up ( if you're bald, then this book will make your hair
grow)...serious none BS read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I stumbled upon this book by accident, and it started me on my f

I stumbled upon this book by accident, and it started me on my fascination with virology. Ebola is the monster of all viruses, and scares the heck out of me, and rightly so, so if you're squeemish you should avoid this book. The beginning is pretty graphic, and it will grab you at page 1. And, if you're paranoid, you should beware too...or else you'll end up living in a plastic bubble and will swear off traveling for the rest of your life. GREAT book, fascinating read, and very educational, too. Reads like a fiction novel, and a scary one at that. It should be a great wake-up call for all of humanity. Highly recommended. I actually own it and have read it 3 times...THAT'S how good it is.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I LOVED this book. I have always had a fascination with the end

I LOVED this book. I have always had a fascination with the end of the world and this was the first book I read about how true it could have all been. Not to mention it was my first introduction into biology and how science can not only help us identify threats, but also lead us down a path of paranoia and useless precaution. It was the first time I realized that for all the saving grace science can provide, it will not always protect us. I always recommend this book to all of my apocalyptic enthusiast brethren because it shows how even the most careful precaution means nothing in the face of random events or how the most cutting-edge technology may provide a false positive on our doom.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended - an exciting read!

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston was an amazing read that keeps you enthralled throughout the whole book. It starts off with the introduction of the Ebola virus into the world of the human beings. It describes the virus in such a vivid and descriptive way that even through all of the gore I was amazed by how the author could put such vivid descriptions in my head. There is no real storyline throughout Part 1 of this book but, with such detail it kept me wanting to read more every time I picked it up.

The plot begins in Part 2 where we meet military microbiologists that research deadly diseases. Part 2 felt like a slow area to me where the setting and characters are introduced while the tension builds to a turning point. Each page of Part 2 leads the reader into a deeper part of the character's lives especially the Jaaxes.

Then once at Part 3 the book explodes into a scene of chaos with the characters introduced in Part 2 being the main characters. I felt that Part 3 was the best part of this book because it had all the detail of Part 1, exciting and exhilarating action scenes, while keeping the plot going and still keeping the focus on the characters. Part 3 had a certain feel to it that conveyed emotions to me. When the action picked up and the characters were in a tense state, I could feel the tension from just reading. Richard Preston is a great writer in that he could make me feel those emotions with words. Overall, just the readability of this book is what got me. When I first picked up this book, I thought, "Oh, it's a science book, it's going to be boring." But, it was not. With the plot and detail, it hooked me instantly. I one hundred percent recommend for you to read this book, you will not regret it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Caleb

Ok

Lacy...

I dont know cali! Trenton is my everything. Means everything but i feel like i have to take off my ring.......i dont want to....

Excellent!!

Truly a fascinating book about a subject most of us know nothing about.