The best 22 Pandemic books

Being afraid that vaccinating our children creates more harm than good isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s a fear informed by numerous cultural narratives. On Immunity looks at the different historical myths and metaphors in the vaccination debate, and presents statistics on vaccination’s effects.

Missing Microbes (2014) explores the strange and microscopic world inside your guts. It sheds light on the crucial role played by microbes – tiny creatures that keep your body happy and healthy – and explains the dangers of overusing antibiotics.

Eradication (2011) is about the health community’s attempts to eradicate certain diseases from the face of the planet. These blinks trace the history of disease eradication, its successes and failures, and the complicated political issues it raises.

Immunity (2015) is a guide to that great defender of the human body, otherwise known as the immune system. It gives a detailed explanation of how immune responses defend us against all manner of diseases, even cancers, and how a dysfunctional immune system can spell big trouble.

Pandemic (2016) explores the fascinating world of pathogens and diseases and how they can spread from a bat in China to five other continents in a single day. How do these diseases evolve, and how does modern society help contribute to their success? And most importantly: what can we do to stop the next pandemic?

A Planet of Viruses (2011) takes you on a whirlwind tour into the hidden world of viruses. You’ll discover how our understanding of these tiny, abundant organisms has evolved over time and how our lives are influenced by them, from their power to kill to their protective properties.

The medical world is on the brink of a revolution thanks to new and future technology like Big Data health maps and bacteria scanners that can attach to smartphones. Power is shifting from the doctor to the patient, and self-treatment and self-diagnoses are becoming unprecedentedly powerful. The Patient Will See You Now (2015) outlines these changes and what they mean for both you and the healthcare world.

Super Immunity (2011) reveals the secret to a better, stronger immune system and healthier body: superfoods. These blinks shed light on the shortcomings of modern medicine and teach you how to take advantage of the healing powers of plant foods rich in nutrients and phytochemicals.

Get Well Soon (2017) tells the story of the diseases and epidemics that have plagued humans from the distant past right up to the twentieth century, detailing the theories that people once had about certain diseases and how to treat them. There’s room in the story too for the heroes who made breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of diseases, or who helped sufferers when others shunned them.  

Crisis in the Red Zone (2019) presents an engrossing account from the front lines of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. From the first infected patient through the many lives claimed before the crisis was resolved, this is a tragic and hopeful story of what happens when a hidden and dangerous virus reveals itself.

An Elegant Defense (2019) is an erudite and approachable exploration of the immune system. Using the difficult story of a dear friend as a starting point, author Matt Richtel leads the reader through a mind-boggling tour of one of the world’s most complex systems – what he calls our “elegant defense.”

The Beautiful Cure (2018) is an exuberant tale of how scientists have come to a deeper understanding of the human immune system – and the ways in which their discoveries will revolutionize our health. The immune system is extraordinarily complex. But if we can use our knowledge to harness its power, we may finally win the fight against diseases and illnesses like arthritis, HIV, and even cancer. 

The Great Influenza (2004) is the authoritative history of the 1918 influenza pandemic, estimated to have killed 5 percent of the world’s total human population. Author John M. Barry examines the scientific, social, and political context of the pandemic, questioning the extent to which human error and willful ignorance worsened the terrible consequences of the disease. Coming right on the heels of World War I, the pandemic changed the course of history in ways too numerous, and impactful, to fully reckon with – until now.   

Deadliest Enemy (2017) is a sobering warning about the serious threat that infectious diseases pose to modern life. Using examples like Ebola, SARS, and Zika, this arresting primer on epidemiology spells out how diseases emerge, spread, and become pandemics. 

Wuhan Diary (2020) is a collection of online essays by celebrated Chinese writer Fang Fang. They were published daily throughout Wuhan’s 76-day coronavirus lockdown. A fascinating and intimate report from the frontline, this diary chronicles the very beginnings of the pandemic that soon swept the world.

Post Corona (2020) is a ruthless analysis of how the COVID-19 outbreak has reshaped our world. This survey of the post-pandemic business landscape shows who’s benefited and who’s been harmed by the virus.

American Crisis (2020) is a candid retelling of how Governor Andrew Cuomo managed the COVID-19 crisis in one of the worst affected states in America: New York. It reveals the steps Cuomo took to steer New York through the early days of the pandemic in a country run by a president Cuomo sees as incapable of leadership. It also shows how real leadership requires honesty and transparency, clear communication, and compassion for others.

What’s it about?

COVID-19: The Great Reset (2020) is a compendium of predictions and prognoses. It offers forecasts for how the global economy may change in the wake of the coronavirus crisis – as well as suggestions for how it should change.

Apollo’s Arrow (2020) is an illuminating and timely overview of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Backed by rigorous research, this account examines the origins of the virus and the implications it has for society going forward.

How to Prevent the Next Pandemic (2022) is a blueprint for the international pandemic prevention plan the world sorely needs. Learning from the mistakes of the Covid 19 pandemic, Gates lays down a series of steps governments need to take if we’re to protect ourselves and ensure another global health catastrophe of this scale never happens again.

Shutdown (2021) explores the unprecedented shock COVID-19 dealt the world economy. The story begins with the revelation of the disease in January 2020 by Chinese President Xi Jinping and ends precisely a year later with the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, and through this history, Shutdown shows how markets and governments reeled from the blow, how they regained their footing, and what we might learn for the next worldwide crisis. 

The Future of the Office (2021) takes an analytical look at the current state of the traditional working office and what recent changes and developments may mean for the future. Drawing on research, anecdotes, and case studies of businesses responding to the global pandemic, it highlights the unique and exciting opportunities that we now have to fundamentally change the nature of where and how we work.