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Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of the Common Cold
Some colds are like mice, timid and annoying; others like dragons, accompanied by fever and deep misery. In Ah-Choo!, Jennifer Ackerman explains what, exactly, a cold is, how it works, and whether it's really possible to 'fight one off'. Scientists call this the Golden Age of the Common Cold because the average Australian suffers from up to six colds each year, resulting in millions of hours of missed work and school and thousands of doctor visits. They've also learned over the past decade much more about what cold viruses are, what they do to the human body, and how symptoms can be addressed.
In this ode to the odious, Ackerman sifts through the chatter about treatments - what works, what doesn't, and what can't hurt. She dispels myths, such as the susceptibility to colds reflects a weakened immune system. And she tracks current research, including work at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, a world-renowned centre of cold research studies, where the search for a cure continues.
In this ode to the odious, Ackerman sifts through the chatter about treatments - what works, what doesn't, and what can't hurt. She dispels myths, such as the susceptibility to colds reflects a weakened immune system. And she tracks current research, including work at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, a world-renowned centre of cold research studies, where the search for a cure continues.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2010
28 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ackerman
19 books705 followersJennifer Ackerman has been writing about science and nature for three decades. She is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller, The Genius of Birds, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. Her articles and essays have appeared in Scientific American, National Geographic, The New York Times, and many other publications. Ackerman is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Nonfiction, a Bunting Fellowship, and a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Her articles and essays have been included in several anthologies, among them Best American Science Writing, The Nature Reader, and Best Nature Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
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September 14, 2020Update: warning, this is now a conspiracy theory rant. When is a cold not a cold? When it involves the Jews Giant Lizards.** When you are feeling light-headed with a fever, when you are sneezing, when your throats itchy and you feel miserable as fuck and just want to go to bed but know you have to carry on, when you have to go and buy some Kleenex and throat sweets, you think you've got a cold.
Unless you have Covid-19. I thought I had a cold last Feb/March in a hotel in Delray. I was sure I had a cold, but the maids would only come and clean when I was sitting on the sofa behind the coffee table (furthest place from the bed) and then they wore garbage bags over their clothes, masks and aprons. I thought but I've only got a cold.
I got this weird nagging cough and thought heigh-ho, it's the old bronchitis, but my chest didn't hurt really. I got up and walked a mile (took over an hour, I had to stop and rest so much), to CVS and said to the pharmacist, 'I've got a cold but also this nagging cough and I want to go out tonight. You got anything for the cough?' So he gave me some stuff (didn't work).
So that's when a cold isn't a cold. But it wasn't very bad. But still... I went home to the island, didn't fill in the form asking about temperature etc as I didn't fancy anything the government had planned for anyone suspected of having The Plague (there was no testing back in March), so I went home and self-isolated for two weeks. I was still a bit in denial but when the thing about sense of smell came out (mine still hasn't come back 100%) there was no more self-delusion. I had had the Dreaded Lurgy and Survived.
We now have loads of positive tests on the island and all these people are referred to as 'sick' and then daily reports on who has 'recovered'. The truth is that only 1 person actually has very mild symptoms and has been isolated. What happened was that some people came to the island and tested positive (they weren't sick), so then they locked us down for a week. No couriers even allowed in or out so that even stopped the mail and Amazon goodies. With the contact tracing about 25 people tested positive (they weren't sick). Then people who went to the hospital for other issues got tested and about 40 or so tested positive (39 weren't sick). So then they locked us down. Curfew at 1pm.
This is not about disease control, obviously, this is about control. They are bound to run out of money sooner or later though and won't be able to pay the Civil Service or their own huge expenses, so then they will let us all go back to work.
** We are going to have to learn to live with this, same as we live with flu and the atchoo common cold. As soon as there is a vaccine there will be massive anti-vaccine protests, probably that Bill Gates has implanted 5G sensitive chips and those who don't get some dread disease from the mercury that is (not) in it, will become Zombies under the control of, as David Icke calls them, us, the Giant Lizards, the Jews, who quite a lot of online sources blame for Covid-19 anyway! (All conspiracy theories eventually come back to the Jews, just like all online arguments eventually compare someone or other to a Nazi).
Unless you have Covid-19. I thought I had a cold last Feb/March in a hotel in Delray. I was sure I had a cold, but the maids would only come and clean when I was sitting on the sofa behind the coffee table (furthest place from the bed) and then they wore garbage bags over their clothes, masks and aprons. I thought but I've only got a cold.
I got this weird nagging cough and thought heigh-ho, it's the old bronchitis, but my chest didn't hurt really. I got up and walked a mile (took over an hour, I had to stop and rest so much), to CVS and said to the pharmacist, 'I've got a cold but also this nagging cough and I want to go out tonight. You got anything for the cough?' So he gave me some stuff (didn't work).
So that's when a cold isn't a cold. But it wasn't very bad. But still... I went home to the island, didn't fill in the form asking about temperature etc as I didn't fancy anything the government had planned for anyone suspected of having The Plague (there was no testing back in March), so I went home and self-isolated for two weeks. I was still a bit in denial but when the thing about sense of smell came out (mine still hasn't come back 100%) there was no more self-delusion. I had had the Dreaded Lurgy and Survived.
We now have loads of positive tests on the island and all these people are referred to as 'sick' and then daily reports on who has 'recovered'. The truth is that only 1 person actually has very mild symptoms and has been isolated. What happened was that some people came to the island and tested positive (they weren't sick), so then they locked us down for a week. No couriers even allowed in or out so that even stopped the mail and Amazon goodies. With the contact tracing about 25 people tested positive (they weren't sick). Then people who went to the hospital for other issues got tested and about 40 or so tested positive (39 weren't sick). So then they locked us down. Curfew at 1pm.
This is not about disease control, obviously, this is about control. They are bound to run out of money sooner or later though and won't be able to pay the Civil Service or their own huge expenses, so then they will let us all go back to work.
** We are going to have to learn to live with this, same as we live with flu and the atchoo common cold. As soon as there is a vaccine there will be massive anti-vaccine protests, probably that Bill Gates has implanted 5G sensitive chips and those who don't get some dread disease from the mercury that is (not) in it, will become Zombies under the control of, as David Icke calls them, us, the Giant Lizards, the Jews, who quite a lot of online sources blame for Covid-19 anyway! (All conspiracy theories eventually come back to the Jews, just like all online arguments eventually compare someone or other to a Nazi).
March 5, 2020
An interesting, if wandering look at colds. There's some great information here. I hadn't realized there were 5 major families of cold viruses such as rhino, covid, & flu. They all have different areas where they like to bother us (rhino = nose) & the way to avoid them is pretty much the same - don't touch your face with unwashed hands. They don't spread well by air, but are great at hanging on to things we touch & then entering our bodies through us touching our nose & eyes.
I especially appreciated the end where she lists the efficacy of various cold remedies, even in audio format. Warning, most of them are placebos & some can be downright dangerous. The FDA doesn't license herbal remedies & they often don't have the ingredients they say. For instance, echinacea often isn't processed correctly, if it is even in the container. It's also not recommended for folks with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Surprisingly, it's usually not the rhino cold virus that's causing all the issues, but our bodies reacting to the virus. By itself, most are fairly harmless. They don't tear up our cells, but remedies often do.
Our life inside is one of the biggest reasons colds spread so easily & why country folk are probably healthier. They just don't get exposed as much. The idea that a toilet seat has far less bacterial contamination than a cutting board is rough to swallow, but I've read it before. I'm a computer guy, so I'm always touching keyboards & mice. I'd be safer shoveling horse shit with my hands.
Ackerman certainly isn't Mary Roach. There's neither the humor nor the graceful format of the latter's books, but it was pretty good all the same. It's also fairly short, so I definitely recommend it, especially now with Covid-19 making the rounds. Very well narrated, too.
I especially appreciated the end where she lists the efficacy of various cold remedies, even in audio format. Warning, most of them are placebos & some can be downright dangerous. The FDA doesn't license herbal remedies & they often don't have the ingredients they say. For instance, echinacea often isn't processed correctly, if it is even in the container. It's also not recommended for folks with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Surprisingly, it's usually not the rhino cold virus that's causing all the issues, but our bodies reacting to the virus. By itself, most are fairly harmless. They don't tear up our cells, but remedies often do.
Our life inside is one of the biggest reasons colds spread so easily & why country folk are probably healthier. They just don't get exposed as much. The idea that a toilet seat has far less bacterial contamination than a cutting board is rough to swallow, but I've read it before. I'm a computer guy, so I'm always touching keyboards & mice. I'd be safer shoveling horse shit with my hands.
Ackerman certainly isn't Mary Roach. There's neither the humor nor the graceful format of the latter's books, but it was pretty good all the same. It's also fairly short, so I definitely recommend it, especially now with Covid-19 making the rounds. Very well narrated, too.
October 20, 2013
As is unfortunately often the case in an era when it's hard to make money in publishing, I thought this book was about two drafts from being finished. A skilled editor could have helped the author narrow her scope/define her subject appropriately, or at least explain the choices she made -- lumping influenza and RSV with the common cold struck me as introducing a range of subjects so broad as to make any statements difficult to make.
In addition, Ackerman seemed to struggle with the basic task of science writing -- to make research results clear and comprehensible to the lay reader. First she seemed to argue that colds were highly transmissible, then that they weren't, etc. I think the truth is that the situation is nuanced, but she didn't marshal and present the evidence in a way that made that clear; instead it was just a mishmash.
In the end, I did learn a few interesting things (that susceptibility to colds varies widely among people, for instance -- but not in ways most of us can do much about, except to get more sleep).
In addition, Ackerman seemed to struggle with the basic task of science writing -- to make research results clear and comprehensible to the lay reader. First she seemed to argue that colds were highly transmissible, then that they weren't, etc. I think the truth is that the situation is nuanced, but she didn't marshal and present the evidence in a way that made that clear; instead it was just a mishmash.
In the end, I did learn a few interesting things (that susceptibility to colds varies widely among people, for instance -- but not in ways most of us can do much about, except to get more sleep).
July 5, 2020
Quite timely, since many colds are caused by a coronavirus. (They can also be caused by Rhinovirus, some forms of Flu virus, or even other types of viruses.) For the most part, they cause no actual harm. The symptoms you feel are caused by your immune system, not the virus itself.
Interesting, and recommended. But not as engaging as a book by Mary Roach, for example. The most interesting thing I learned was that the first US president to suggest treating respiratory viruses by getting chlorine disinfectant into the lungs was Calvin Coolidge. He didn't just suggest it. He actually did it! So did his wife, and many members of congress. It doesn't work, but then again, we don't know anything that does work against colds. Pain relievers and decongestants can make you feel better, but they don't battle the virus. Cough suppressants simply don't work at all, except maybe sedating you enough to sleep.
Interesting, and recommended. But not as engaging as a book by Mary Roach, for example. The most interesting thing I learned was that the first US president to suggest treating respiratory viruses by getting chlorine disinfectant into the lungs was Calvin Coolidge. He didn't just suggest it. He actually did it! So did his wife, and many members of congress. It doesn't work, but then again, we don't know anything that does work against colds. Pain relievers and decongestants can make you feel better, but they don't battle the virus. Cough suppressants simply don't work at all, except maybe sedating you enough to sleep.
November 8, 2023
A solid introduction to the progress being made in the areas of the cold virus. The most compelling aspects of the book were the really interesting factoids taken away about what our perceptions are and what the scientific reality is for cold virus growth, development, and dissemination in and outside of the body. A very quick semi-science read.
December 31, 2020
i think it's quite comprehensive for its main topic
February 16, 2020
Interesting book about the common cold, including lots of information about how it gets transmitted, what causes the symptoms, how it gets treated, why we don't understand it better, and more. The most interesting factoids are on the back cover, but there's plenty more inside. I agree with the other comments that this could be a bit better edited. Large chunks read like a litany of 1-paragraph summaries of various studies (though many of those are interesting too -- how do you imagine they measure the severity of cold symptoms?). As the book is 10 years old now, and many of the studies conclude with "more study needed", I'd love to see an update on cold research from the last 10 years.
September 12, 2010
What a delightful read! If you have any interest in colds, the operations of your body, viruses or science in general, you will want to read this book! In sprightly, organized, entertaining form, the book informs the reader about what colds are and aren't, how colds operate in the body, how they spread, and how you should take care of yourself to treat or avoid catching one, blasting many old wives tales and misinformation you might think true.
March 26, 2025
A breezily told story about the common cold. Unfortunately written before the covid pandemic, which raised the profile of certain coronaviruses.
She mentions a plethora of plausible (and implausible - going to bed with wet socks?) remedies, but the conclusion is that very few of them work, unless you believe in them. Placebo remains the most efficient drug, next to TLC. Both vitamin C and zinc supplements have their vociferous proponents, but neither is as efficient as an understanding doctor or a caring family-member.
Many times when reading this book, I found myself wondering how she would have updated it after Covid-19. The viral transmission routes have been studied in great detail in the past half a decade. Back then, the research was mostly focused on rhinoviruses, which spread mostly through contact, so the main message was "wash your hands often, with warm water and plenty of soap". Today she would probably have added a chapter on airborne pathogens.
Still, an enjoyable read, albeit dated.
She mentions a plethora of plausible (and implausible - going to bed with wet socks?) remedies, but the conclusion is that very few of them work, unless you believe in them. Placebo remains the most efficient drug, next to TLC. Both vitamin C and zinc supplements have their vociferous proponents, but neither is as efficient as an understanding doctor or a caring family-member.
Many times when reading this book, I found myself wondering how she would have updated it after Covid-19. The viral transmission routes have been studied in great detail in the past half a decade. Back then, the research was mostly focused on rhinoviruses, which spread mostly through contact, so the main message was "wash your hands often, with warm water and plenty of soap". Today she would probably have added a chapter on airborne pathogens.
Still, an enjoyable read, albeit dated.
December 27, 2023
Ah-Choo!: The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold
By Jennifer Ackerman
I had food poisoning for four days then immediately went into the stomach flu for four days! I have had a total of six covid vaccines and was due to get my next one for the new variant when I got covid right after the stomach flu! It's been three weeks weeks and I am still having trouble breathing. I have been listening to audio books when I felt like I wasn't going to die. I thought this would be appropriate.
Most of it I knew already from being a nurse. But I did learn a few things or relearned it! It was interesting and good information for those that may not know about this subject. Worth the read. Presented in a pleasant way.
By Jennifer Ackerman
I had food poisoning for four days then immediately went into the stomach flu for four days! I have had a total of six covid vaccines and was due to get my next one for the new variant when I got covid right after the stomach flu! It's been three weeks weeks and I am still having trouble breathing. I have been listening to audio books when I felt like I wasn't going to die. I thought this would be appropriate.
Most of it I knew already from being a nurse. But I did learn a few things or relearned it! It was interesting and good information for those that may not know about this subject. Worth the read. Presented in a pleasant way.
October 7, 2021
Well book published in 2010 and it has reference of Corona virus in several places!
Common cold is uncommon for sure and that has been proved beyond doubt globally.
This book is well researched (in fact the details related with book research mentioned at the end of the book constitute almost 15-20%) and covers almost all the things related with cold whether it is symptoms or methods of spreading or so called cures!
Rhinovirus helped delay the flu pandemic. Well could it be reason for covid-19 pandemic spread in some cases and very less cases in other?
Even when I had no desire, deducted 1 star since book is not meant for global residents since all reference are from one region only...
Common cold is uncommon for sure and that has been proved beyond doubt globally.
This book is well researched (in fact the details related with book research mentioned at the end of the book constitute almost 15-20%) and covers almost all the things related with cold whether it is symptoms or methods of spreading or so called cures!
Rhinovirus helped delay the flu pandemic. Well could it be reason for covid-19 pandemic spread in some cases and very less cases in other?
Even when I had no desire, deducted 1 star since book is not meant for global residents since all reference are from one region only...
March 29, 2018
"In fact, you could create an artificial cold with no cold virus at all, says Gwaltney, just the cocktail of ingredients normally produced by the body in response to a virus. The recipe would include a big squeeze of proinflammatory cytokines to rev up the immune system, among them a smidgeon of kinins to kindle sore throat, congestion, and runny nose; a pinch of prostaglandins to trigger cough; a hint of histamine to stimulate sneezing; and finally, for good measure, a dash of interleukins to foster lethargy."
May 29, 2020
I was motivated to listen to this book because the global pandemic, Covid-19, is raging and I figured it would be interesting to learn more about viruses. It's a timely topic. The audiobook reader was very good but I would have preferred the hard copy because I like to be able to go back and reread. It wasn't terribly technical and was fairly entertaining. If you're in isolation / quarantine / lockdown it's a good read.
February 16, 2017
I thought this book was interesting. I thought the most helpful part was where the author detailed what the "cold experts" do for themselves to help with symptoms when they have a cold. I think this will save me and my family money by directing us straight to the OTC medicines that will help the most and avoid the ones that are more expensive and very cleverly marketed.
September 26, 2019
I was quite keen to learn more about research on evolution, spread and remedies of the common cold. This book addresses all topics. While it was a little repetitive in places and the science was not detailed and I did learn a few things such as experimental procedures that have been carried out and the description of the immune response was quite good.
June 4, 2024
Reaction: light reading of the common cold
Writing Style: a person with a lot of time who has some familiarity in science and also societal consideration of the cold
Argumentation: there are a lot of misconceptions about the cold, which is a slew of many bugs and with no true cure at all
Commendation: honest that doesnt have all the answers but also has a lot of ideas
Critique: more science
Writing Style: a person with a lot of time who has some familiarity in science and also societal consideration of the cold
Argumentation: there are a lot of misconceptions about the cold, which is a slew of many bugs and with no true cure at all
Commendation: honest that doesnt have all the answers but also has a lot of ideas
Critique: more science
November 2, 2017
An engaging read on a very interesting and relevant topic. Cites lots of academic studies, which I couldn't keep track of, but draws solid conclusions from all the research and semi-scientific information.
April 2, 2024
It was interesting at times but I feel like it never covered the topics I actually wanted to know more about. Was literally falling asleep reading it. There’s a 40 page appendix I refuse to read so even though this counts toward my reading goal, I’ll just have to read an extra for good measure.
March 25, 2018
I thought this was really interesting and the information in it was fascinating. If you like non-fiction science writing this is one you should check out.
April 9, 2018
Some parts of this book were hard slugging, but most of it was very interesting..not not much help in keeping well.
April 18, 2018
Not quite sure where the author was going with this. Good points sprinkled throughout, but it wasn't a cohesive piece of work.
May 28, 2018
not bad, but didn't hold my interest like I hoped it would.
July 25, 2018
several interesting facts about colds and a few about asthma. I can't believe it would make some people feel sick to read/listen to it.
February 8, 2020
Meh. There's some good info in here, but also a lot of unnecessary (and often uninteresting) digressions.
January 18, 2021
Lots of info about cold. A few new aspects.
Nicely written.
Nicely written.
May 4, 2021
2.5 of 5 stars
August 24, 2021
While a perfectly good book, it didn't have a real personality. Without any angle, it is hard to find perspective.
October 26, 2021
Very informative… I learned things I wasn’t aware I needed to know!
May 23, 2023
目錄
前言 感冒的真實情況
第一章 與感冒賽跑
第二章 感染途徑
第三章 病毒
第四章 災難
第五章 環境
第六章 感冒殺手
第七章 殺死感冒病毒
第八章 如果可能，千萬別染上我
第九章 為感冒辯護
附錄一 舒緩感冒
附錄二 閱讀
前言 感冒的真實情況
第一章 與感冒賽跑
第二章 感染途徑
第三章 病毒
第四章 災難
第五章 環境
第六章 感冒殺手
第七章 殺死感冒病毒
第八章 如果可能，千萬別染上我
第九章 為感冒辯護
附錄一 舒緩感冒
附錄二 閱讀
July 22, 2024
Quick and easy read. I would like to use this book for lessons in my classroom.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews