A Planet of Viruses
by Carl Zimmer

A fascinating tour of a formidable hidden world

An eye-opening look at the hidden world of viruses. This updated edition includes the stories of new outbreaks, such as Ebola, MERS, and chikungunya virus; new scientific discoveries, such as a hundred-million-year-old virus that infected the common ancestor of armadillos, elephants, and humans; and new findings that show why climate change may lead to even deadlier outbreaks. Zimmer’s lucid explanations and fascinating stories demonstrate how deeply humans and viruses are intertwined. Viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, are responsible for many of our most devastating diseases, and will continue to control our fate for centuries. An easy, encaptivating read for such a potentially complex topic. Highly Recommended.