What do you think?
Rate this book
The Invisible Enemy: A Natural History of Viruses
Here is a compelling scientific account of viruses, their history, and the dangers they pose--now and in the future. Viruses are disarmingly small and simple. Nevertheless, the smallpox virus killed over 300 million people in the twentieth century before it was eradicated in 1980. The AIDS
virus, HIV, is now the world's biggest killer infection and the single most common cause of death in Africa. In recent years, the outbreaks of several lethal viruses such as Ebola and Hantavirus have caused great public concern--yet most people remain woefully ill-informed.
In this fascinating new book, Dorothy Crawford explains lucidly and accessibly all aspects of the natural history of these deadly parasites and discusses controversial subjects such as CFS and Gulf War Syndrome. The book considers issues such as how man has coped with viruses in the past, where new
viruses come from, and whether it would be possible for a new virus to wipe out the human race. Professor Crawford illustrates her arguments with vivid and wide-ranging examples. The result is an informative and highly readable book, which will be read by all those who seek a deeper understanding of
these minute but remarkably efficient killers.
virus, HIV, is now the world's biggest killer infection and the single most common cause of death in Africa. In recent years, the outbreaks of several lethal viruses such as Ebola and Hantavirus have caused great public concern--yet most people remain woefully ill-informed.
In this fascinating new book, Dorothy Crawford explains lucidly and accessibly all aspects of the natural history of these deadly parasites and discusses controversial subjects such as CFS and Gulf War Syndrome. The book considers issues such as how man has coped with viruses in the past, where new
viruses come from, and whether it would be possible for a new virus to wipe out the human race. Professor Crawford illustrates her arguments with vivid and wide-ranging examples. The result is an informative and highly readable book, which will be read by all those who seek a deeper understanding of
these minute but remarkably efficient killers.
275 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
64 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy H. Crawford
14 books41 followersDorothy H. Crawford is professor of medical microbiology and assistant principal for public understanding of medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She has written a number of books on viruses.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Currently reading
March 24, 2010I'm currently a genetics major with a minor in micro. This book is very well put together, it explains viruses beautifully in layman's vocabulary. The only thing I didn't like is she makes the distinction we came from apes, this is a common misconception, in reality evolutionary theory states we only shared a common ancestor. Will post more when I finish reading.
Read
April 22, 2020I bought this in a local Oxfam bookshop just before the Corona Virus quarantine began. Although it was written twenty years ago it's been very informative and I have managed to follow most of it; there's a very helpful glossary at the back of the book. A major focus of the book is HIV/AIDS but it looks at other viruses and I have learned that herpes, a very ancient virus, affects oysters! Tellingly in the concluding chapter Dorothy Crawford observes "At the moment we are severely out of balance with the natural environment and this is directly responsible for the recent rise in 'new' virus infections. The situation will only change for the better if we redress the balance and restore harmony with our surroundings."
January 6, 2016
With a elemental introduction to virology, inmunology and epidemiology makes a description and a bit of history of the most común viruses : flu,smallpox ,herpes,rabid, hantavirus,poliovirus ,VIH ,comon cold and spongiform bovine encefalitis,though this is not produced by a virus is instead produced by a defective replicant protein or prion;makes a referene to the relation of certain viruses to cáncer , finally the vacines as a preventive solution to viruses illness and the future use of viruses to introduce new genes in a genetic therapy or also as markers for cáncer cells
March 6, 2022
This is from the Oxford Landmark Science series, with other titles like Selfish Genes and Oxygen! So, I would have expected that it is more than a list of different virus with each just a shallow overview. It does not even provide a good overview and introduction on what is virus.
I am dying to know why flu virus is the only virus that can mutate so quickly while still maintain the ability to invade human cells! Why?? Do we even know it at all??
I am dying to know why flu virus is the only virus that can mutate so quickly while still maintain the ability to invade human cells! Why?? Do we even know it at all??
August 28, 2012
Bit dated but well written. I never thought about how prevalent virusrs are in our lives and what an impact they have made, and continue to make on human societies.
April 30, 2022
great!!
This book is a must read in this pandemic era. It is very helpful to understand viruses and human efforts.
This book is a must read in this pandemic era. It is very helpful to understand viruses and human efforts.
May 19, 2022
Very interesting. Sometimes too technical.
October 24, 2022
This edition of Viruses: The Invisible Enemy is an updated and rewritten version of Crawford’s book from 2000, which incorporates new developments in the field of virology from the 21st century, mainly the COVID-19 pandemic. I haven’t read the original The Invisible Enemy, but Covid-19, as well as the SARS and MERS pandemics, are mentioned throughout the book and worked into pretty much every chapter. While the publisher describes this as a new edition of the same book, I think there is a fair argument to be made that this is a different book from the one originally published in 2000.
Whether you see this as a new book or simply a new edition of an older book, it is certainly highly interesting, especially since viruses have been playing such a major role in all of our lives for the past few years. Crawford explains in a very accessible way that is easily understandable, even for laymen like myself, how viruses work from a biological point of view, what damage they have done in the past and how we can fight against them in the future. Even though I have learned quite a bit about viruses over the past few years, simply due to all the information that is out there about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, this book gave me a much better understanding of how viruses emerge and spread, what role they have played in human history and how we can fight them using vaccines and other means. Overall, The Invisible Enemy is very engaging to read and should be relevant for anyone who has an interest in understanding the current pandemic or simply viruses in general.
However, I believe that this book should have been written and published at a later point in time. The information within the book is up-to-date as of approximately early 2021. Having read it in late 2022, some of the COVID-19 content already felt outdated to me, as there is a lot more current information available today. At the time of writing this review, the pandemic has been going on more than twice as long as it had when Crawford wrote this book, we’ve seen yet another new variant of the virus completely change the dynamic of the pandemic since the book’s publication and who knows what is still to come. I’m afraid this will mean that this edition of The Invisible Enemy won’t be as relevant in the long term as it could have been. Nevertheless, the book as a whole is interesting and educative, even if one disregards the COVID-19 content, and if you want to learn more about viruses, this is an excellent entry point.
Whether you see this as a new book or simply a new edition of an older book, it is certainly highly interesting, especially since viruses have been playing such a major role in all of our lives for the past few years. Crawford explains in a very accessible way that is easily understandable, even for laymen like myself, how viruses work from a biological point of view, what damage they have done in the past and how we can fight against them in the future. Even though I have learned quite a bit about viruses over the past few years, simply due to all the information that is out there about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, this book gave me a much better understanding of how viruses emerge and spread, what role they have played in human history and how we can fight them using vaccines and other means. Overall, The Invisible Enemy is very engaging to read and should be relevant for anyone who has an interest in understanding the current pandemic or simply viruses in general.
However, I believe that this book should have been written and published at a later point in time. The information within the book is up-to-date as of approximately early 2021. Having read it in late 2022, some of the COVID-19 content already felt outdated to me, as there is a lot more current information available today. At the time of writing this review, the pandemic has been going on more than twice as long as it had when Crawford wrote this book, we’ve seen yet another new variant of the virus completely change the dynamic of the pandemic since the book’s publication and who knows what is still to come. I’m afraid this will mean that this edition of The Invisible Enemy won’t be as relevant in the long term as it could have been. Nevertheless, the book as a whole is interesting and educative, even if one disregards the COVID-19 content, and if you want to learn more about viruses, this is an excellent entry point.
July 25, 2025
Really liked this one. Some wild anecdotes about crazy events in here! It seemed a fair number of reviewers were disappointed at the overview level of the writing, but as with my last read on viruses, as someone with zero knowledge on the topic, I very much appreciated this book: it definitely did its job.
The only thing I didn't care for were the fictional accounts used at the beginning of many chapters to highlight something she was going to discuss in the chapter--but she never mentions that they are fictional accounts until much later in each chapter, so at first I thought they were real. I would have preferred a heads-up that each chapter was headed with a fictive account, or that there was some textual marker used, such as putting the text of the narratives in italics or a different font.
The only thing I didn't care for were the fictional accounts used at the beginning of many chapters to highlight something she was going to discuss in the chapter--but she never mentions that they are fictional accounts until much later in each chapter, so at first I thought they were real. I would have preferred a heads-up that each chapter was headed with a fictive account, or that there was some textual marker used, such as putting the text of the narratives in italics or a different font.
May 21, 2020
I picked up this book because i wanted to know 'the Virus' and this book did this job very finely. Strangely, there is no mention of coronaviruses! But all category of viruses has been discussed (including the flu virus). I liked that this book took real life cases, sometimes hypothetical too, to make us understand the point. Ironic as it may seem, I enjoyed this book very much. After reading I can say that we knew everything to prevent this pandemic (Covid-19) from happening yet we didn't.
The only disappointment was the editing of this book. There are some typographical errors, missing commas etc, so some sentences were rendered incoherent because of that. Overall, this is an apposite book for today's times.
The only disappointment was the editing of this book. There are some typographical errors, missing commas etc, so some sentences were rendered incoherent because of that. Overall, this is an apposite book for today's times.
June 20, 2020
I loved it and I want to read it again because there are so many details to absorb. It is very well written and full of loads of interesting information about these tiny particles that have had a huge impact on the lives of humans and other animals over the millenia. It tells a lot about the fascinating ways people have figured out so many things about these invisible agents and found ways to conquer or subdue them. This book was published in 2000, but at the beginning of chapter 3 the author draws a fictitious scenario that is chillingly similar to actual events that have transpired in early 2020.
September 8, 2019
I study nothing related to health. But, this book gave me so much insight about viruses, and others scientific information that I previously didn’t know about. I was a bit anxious while I was reading through it. Because, I did not have a deep understanding of the most deadly microorganisms, and how quickly viral diseases, without a rapid intervention, can turn into a pandemic or epidemic.
In conclusion, this is an awesome book for everyone who’s interested in learning about viruses, and new or ancient deseases. It doesn’t matter if you are in the science field, or if you are not.
In conclusion, this is an awesome book for everyone who’s interested in learning about viruses, and new or ancient deseases. It doesn’t matter if you are in the science field, or if you are not.
April 13, 2020
Dorothy Crawford makes it easier to understand viruses and their history in a simple language. Any one who wants to have a basic and easier understanding of the invisible enemy we have been fighting since humankind came into existence. So much of similarities in the story telling between Dorothy Crawford and David Quammen. Read both the books to understand the enemy that torments us at the same time a vital cohabitant of our ecosystem...Virus.
April 11, 2023
A great read
I had never really read much on viruses, just whatever was on the news or in school biology books, but this book really opened my eyes. It’s well written and highly informative and explains the topic of viruses with ease.
A small portion of the book might be difficult for some to read, but the vast majority is easily accessible and leaves the reader feeling more knowledgable rather than feeling like an imbecile, which many science books tend to do.
I had never really read much on viruses, just whatever was on the news or in school biology books, but this book really opened my eyes. It’s well written and highly informative and explains the topic of viruses with ease.
A small portion of the book might be difficult for some to read, but the vast majority is easily accessible and leaves the reader feeling more knowledgable rather than feeling like an imbecile, which many science books tend to do.
December 18, 2024
Reads more like a scientific review than a book but some good information in here. I’m more interested in the biology of viruses than their impact on society right now so this was not quite what I was looking for.
June 23, 2023
Great book on the immune system and viruses
April 15, 2024
Must read for general know how of viruses
January 6, 2023
A little out of date in places, but otherwise an excellent broad strokes overview of virology. Would recommend to those who are interested in the topic.
April 17, 2025
Muy interesante, escrito de una forma muy fácil de entender
August 14, 2016
I was in the pub with some geeky friends and one asked for my suggestion of a good popular science book on virology (as this is what I study). This was when I realised I'd never read one.
This book was the most recent one that seemed to fit the bill - and it was from an Edinburgh University (where I am currently a student) academic. I was very excited to get started and passed the time waiting for it to arrive by imagining how I would set it out.
The book itself is good, it's factually accurate (if a little outdated now). The language is clear and short fictional stories are used to illustrate different types of viruses. But it just didn't excite like I felt it should - maybe it was the focus on epidemiology over molecular biology, maybe it was just the age (a decade is a long time in science).
I need to be clear, it's not a bad book - in fact it is quite good - I just wanted a book which conveyed the wonder I feel as I look down a microscope to see a fluorescent granule within a cell, a granule I know indicates millions of viral proteins hijacking the complex cellular pathways for the sole function of virus replication, I wanted that book to convey the beauty and simplicity of viral replicative cycles, and the stunning scales involved.
This book was the most recent one that seemed to fit the bill - and it was from an Edinburgh University (where I am currently a student) academic. I was very excited to get started and passed the time waiting for it to arrive by imagining how I would set it out.
The book itself is good, it's factually accurate (if a little outdated now). The language is clear and short fictional stories are used to illustrate different types of viruses. But it just didn't excite like I felt it should - maybe it was the focus on epidemiology over molecular biology, maybe it was just the age (a decade is a long time in science).
I need to be clear, it's not a bad book - in fact it is quite good - I just wanted a book which conveyed the wonder I feel as I look down a microscope to see a fluorescent granule within a cell, a granule I know indicates millions of viral proteins hijacking the complex cellular pathways for the sole function of virus replication, I wanted that book to convey the beauty and simplicity of viral replicative cycles, and the stunning scales involved.
April 24, 2014
I have to admit I got interested in reading about virus' from some podcasts I've been listening to the topic and microbiology in general.
It is an interesting topic and a reasonably good book. More of a history of our learning about them and fighting when discussions of the mechanisms of how virus' and infections work than just an examination of them. Still some interesting stuff in there. It would have been more interesting if it had talked about some of the more recent work uncovering larger than expected viruses which is shaking things up a bit. (One of the definitions of virus historically is the smaller than bacteria size, so filters to look for them were built to exclude things above a certain size. Only now they've realized that virus come in larger sizes so many may have been missed because of the narrow definition in the past. Which I find fascinating and sadly the book is just old enough not to talk about - so not its fault!)
Anyway, a good read and definitely worth a spin. I'll check out more of works.
It is an interesting topic and a reasonably good book. More of a history of our learning about them and fighting when discussions of the mechanisms of how virus' and infections work than just an examination of them. Still some interesting stuff in there. It would have been more interesting if it had talked about some of the more recent work uncovering larger than expected viruses which is shaking things up a bit. (One of the definitions of virus historically is the smaller than bacteria size, so filters to look for them were built to exclude things above a certain size. Only now they've realized that virus come in larger sizes so many may have been missed because of the narrow definition in the past. Which I find fascinating and sadly the book is just old enough not to talk about - so not its fault!)
Anyway, a good read and definitely worth a spin. I'll check out more of works.
January 3, 2014
A propósito de uma disciplina do meu curso, acabei por conhecer este livro. Uma abordagem interessante, sempre com factos históricos e um texto muito bem encadeado e que deixa o leitor curioso, consegue dar ao leitor uma explicação interessante sobre a biologia humana, sobre os vírus e a sua influência na ciência e na nossa progressão enquanto espécie. Ainda que não seja um livro técnico, acaba por deixar o leitor interessado sobre uma temática que ainda está em expansão.
June 16, 2011
An amazingly well researched and well written book that covers all aspects of viruses and their interactions with the living world. Investigates the hypothesized origins of viruses, how they invade living cells and appropriate the DNA of the cell to make more viruses, and the historical impact of viruses such as HIV and influenza.
Want to read
September 7, 2014My son has developed an interest in viruses, so I ordered a half-dozen used books on the subject. This looks like one I'd enjoy myself.
December 4, 2008
"A Natural History" of anything is interesting
November 3, 2011
Interesting and informative, but I think Killer Germs is easier to follow for those not terribly familiar with biology/medicine.
February 5, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book,the language is simple and covers what you need to know about viruses in basic level.
February 21, 2013
A fascinating book about how viruses have shapes our everyday lives. IT is excellently written with many delightful descriptions that both scientists and non scientists can enjoy.
March 8, 2015
Fair introduction to virology, writing before the 2014 Ebola outbreak, so in this and other senses out of date.
March 23, 2015
Very readable introduction to this subject. Could probably do with an updated revision, though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews