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Plague: The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous Disease
A history of the plague documents its outbreaks from the early Roman Justinian plague, to the Black Death, to more recent occurrences, identifying the conditions that can precipitate an epidemic and offering a sobering prognosis for its potential as a bioterrorist weapon. 30,000 first printing.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 30, 2016
Years ago, during a class on The Black Death, a professor emphatically stated that the 14th-century plague was spread by rats. I argued vehemently that it was impossible for rats to have kept pace with the rapid rate of death. Professors are always right, even when they're wrong. I received a D for "making up the impossible".
In this thoroughly engrossing book, author Wendy Orent proves through detailed research (the footnotes are great) that The Black Death was indeed pneumonic, spread by the infected victim. Take that, Professor Rattus! Breaking the three great plague epidemics of human history into separate sections (Justinian Plague, Black Death, Third Pandemic), Orent takes the reader on a trip both terrifying and enlightening.
The plague is caused by Yersinia Pestis, a deadly bacterium that deserves to be capitalized for its near obliteration of the human race. It is an ancient foe, one that has waged an ongoing historical battle with the rodent marmots of Asia. As each generation of marmot adapts to YP, the bacterium adapts and becomes deadlier. This also makes marmot plague the most dangerous killer Mother Nature has ever produced. It is this specific form of plague which becomes human-transmitted, as compared to Bubonic (rats) which requires vectors, such as Rattus Rattus to travel.
The Soviets understood this, as their empire shared space with the marmots. The Americans only understood prairie dog plague, which is not as deadly, so the arrogant Yanks believed Anthrax was more important to defend, even though it cannot be spread from human to human. The author's main focus, in fact, is really on the development of Soviet/Russian bio-weapons that are so devious as to defy description. Take a combination of plague bacteria combined with a virus, so that if a doctor tries to treat the bacteria, the virus wins and/or vice versa.
The Soviets were supposed to shut down their biological warfare teams when the Americans did (at least Nixon was fair dinkum there). Instead, they continued under the auspices of Zhdanov, who was acclaimed a hero by the West for leading the worldwide elimination of smallpox. Right.
The one benefit of reading this book was to have a table all to oneself in a cafe. As the espresso-ites came over to sit down, they would read the title (very brazen print) and then make a decision to sit elsewhere. I now carry a stack of facemasks.
"You must tell the American people about plague-you must scare them. Convince the American specialists that it is contagious-we know it."
Book Season = Spring (flea powder for the pets...lots of it)
In this thoroughly engrossing book, author Wendy Orent proves through detailed research (the footnotes are great) that The Black Death was indeed pneumonic, spread by the infected victim. Take that, Professor Rattus! Breaking the three great plague epidemics of human history into separate sections (Justinian Plague, Black Death, Third Pandemic), Orent takes the reader on a trip both terrifying and enlightening.
The plague is caused by Yersinia Pestis, a deadly bacterium that deserves to be capitalized for its near obliteration of the human race. It is an ancient foe, one that has waged an ongoing historical battle with the rodent marmots of Asia. As each generation of marmot adapts to YP, the bacterium adapts and becomes deadlier. This also makes marmot plague the most dangerous killer Mother Nature has ever produced. It is this specific form of plague which becomes human-transmitted, as compared to Bubonic (rats) which requires vectors, such as Rattus Rattus to travel.
The Soviets understood this, as their empire shared space with the marmots. The Americans only understood prairie dog plague, which is not as deadly, so the arrogant Yanks believed Anthrax was more important to defend, even though it cannot be spread from human to human. The author's main focus, in fact, is really on the development of Soviet/Russian bio-weapons that are so devious as to defy description. Take a combination of plague bacteria combined with a virus, so that if a doctor tries to treat the bacteria, the virus wins and/or vice versa.
The Soviets were supposed to shut down their biological warfare teams when the Americans did (at least Nixon was fair dinkum there). Instead, they continued under the auspices of Zhdanov, who was acclaimed a hero by the West for leading the worldwide elimination of smallpox. Right.
The one benefit of reading this book was to have a table all to oneself in a cafe. As the espresso-ites came over to sit down, they would read the title (very brazen print) and then make a decision to sit elsewhere. I now carry a stack of facemasks.
"You must tell the American people about plague-you must scare them. Convince the American specialists that it is contagious-we know it."
Book Season = Spring (flea powder for the pets...lots of it)
March 18, 2022
As an infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist, I am embarrassed that I missed this gem for so long. Wendy Orent has written a splendid review of plague caused by Yersinia pestis in its entirety -- biology, ecology, its production of fearsome human disease, and its dark history as a bioweapon. In the era of covid, her final paragraphs are prescient. I wondered as I closed the book if we had heeded her sage advice from the beginning of the 21st century if we would have all been much better off in 2022.
August 6, 2021
Wow what a neat book. I don't know if there really is a danger of a future bio attack with a plague germ considering much our modern triumph over diseases is handwashing, modern sewage, and vermin control. Still the history of past plagues some even in the 20th century in Asia was fascinating.
December 25, 2014
"Plague" by Wendy Orent was a really good read for a really tough subject, the Black Death of the mid-1300s, the Justinian Plague, and various outbreaks until the modern day. She touches on bioterrorism as well. All frightening to think about but she manages to keep it all in perspective. After all... do you see the Plague sweeping across the country right now? Are you afraid of it doing so? If not, there are good reasons for that but still better reasons to think about it anyway.
The Black Death spread across China, the Middle East and Europe, killing off a large percentage of the world population in less than 2 years. This has always remained a mystery since anything that kills that fast usually burns itself out locally and is not passed on. So what make the Black Death so deadly and so wide-spread? It actually wasn't that contagious. It was pretty sneaky though.
The bottom line is that what stopped most of these plagues was the invention of cake soap. People are cleaner nowadays and that has helped a lot. While there are cures for the Black Death (if you get to a doctor quickly enough and he diagnoses you properly) it is still best not to get it in the first place and at least in the United States, the conditions for spreading Plague are not good... not good for the disease that is. If you get it, it is usually by accident.
So... good book. Good read. I noticed one error in the book but it was minor... about the Pied Piper and rats. The story was not about rats originally. She didn't seem to realize that. Not a big deal.
The Black Death spread across China, the Middle East and Europe, killing off a large percentage of the world population in less than 2 years. This has always remained a mystery since anything that kills that fast usually burns itself out locally and is not passed on. So what make the Black Death so deadly and so wide-spread? It actually wasn't that contagious. It was pretty sneaky though.
The bottom line is that what stopped most of these plagues was the invention of cake soap. People are cleaner nowadays and that has helped a lot. While there are cures for the Black Death (if you get to a doctor quickly enough and he diagnoses you properly) it is still best not to get it in the first place and at least in the United States, the conditions for spreading Plague are not good... not good for the disease that is. If you get it, it is usually by accident.
So... good book. Good read. I noticed one error in the book but it was minor... about the Pied Piper and rats. The story was not about rats originally. She didn't seem to realize that. Not a big deal.
May 20, 2009
Orent has written a readable, engaging book about humans' investigation of Plague. She spends a great deal of time talking about bioweapons research in the Soviet Union, but also gives a good overview of the historical implications and consequences of plague epidemics through history. Emperor Justinian and Genghis Khan are both indirectly responsible, through increased trade and travel, for plague epidemics that then wiped out swaths of their societies. I was shocked to realize that I'd never heard of the Justinian Plague, or the Third Pandemic.
Though humans have lived with Plague for centuries, we know surprisingly little about it. Only in the late nineteenth century that anyone saw the bacteria (Alexandre Yersin, hence the name of Yersinia pestis). It was only in the early twentieth century that fleas-as-carriers became a widely accepted theory. Even now, no one knows why some instances of plague are so much more virulant than others, or why some become pneumonic instead of bubonic. Some scientists still refuse to believe that Yersinia pestis was the cause of the Black Death. We have antibiotics to treat plague, but there are still no vaccines.
Though humans have lived with Plague for centuries, we know surprisingly little about it. Only in the late nineteenth century that anyone saw the bacteria (Alexandre Yersin, hence the name of Yersinia pestis). It was only in the early twentieth century that fleas-as-carriers became a widely accepted theory. Even now, no one knows why some instances of plague are so much more virulant than others, or why some become pneumonic instead of bubonic. Some scientists still refuse to believe that Yersinia pestis was the cause of the Black Death. We have antibiotics to treat plague, but there are still no vaccines.
June 22, 2019
This book fell a little flat with me. The main thing I can point to is the changing styles of the author. Orent switches from a quite thorough scientific introduction to the mechanism of the plague virus through her interviews with the men behind the biological weapons research carried by the Soviet Union to a very detailed historical account of the Justinian, Black Death and Third epidemics. These latter accounts were also filled with large block quotes from primary texts that ranged from 500 to 1900 CE and which broke any semblance left of a coherent style. I have read and enjoyed books of both styles but the combination yielded a book that seemed bloated and unfocused leading to a not very pleasant reading experience.
July 7, 2013
It's a good read and Orent makes a good case for her theory about the reason for the differences in the three plague epidemics that there is a written record for. She also gives proper references which is always good in a science book. I feel she writes better about the historical plagues better than she writes about the science. I also feel she's far too willing to take statements by her sources at face value.
All that being said, I recommend the book to anyone interested in Yersina pestis, historical plagues and epidemiology.
All that being said, I recommend the book to anyone interested in Yersina pestis, historical plagues and epidemiology.
June 14, 2010
A decent book. Everything you could ever want to know about the various types, causes and outcomes of the different plague related bacteria. The first half is much better than the second. And I appreciate the fact that Orent does not fall into the fear based camp. The potential scenarios for a re-emergence of plague are discussed but in very pragmatic contexts.
September 7, 2011
This was a very interesting book.
It gave a lot of interesting information on how the plague works and how it is transmitted. The majority of the information revolved around the past "actions" of plague outbreaks. There was some discussion of possible weaponization of the plague, but that seemed to be minimally detailed.
It gave a lot of interesting information on how the plague works and how it is transmitted. The majority of the information revolved around the past "actions" of plague outbreaks. There was some discussion of possible weaponization of the plague, but that seemed to be minimally detailed.
October 23, 2013
A good start, but very disappointing. What was the point of this book? THe narrative was very jumpy and not very clear, and I was never sure exactly what she was trying to say, except that Plague Is Bad. Tell us something we don't know.
February 23, 2020
Orent's 'Plague' began with so much promise as a telling of (said right there in the title … ), 'The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the 'World's Most Dangerous Disease.' However her narrative quickly bottomed-out going back and forth (and back and forth again) between distinguishing what strain was/wasn't/possibly was pneumonic and what was/wasn't/possibly was not; what strain was/wasn't/possibly/maybe was flea-borne and … what was/wasn't/possibly/maybe was not …. And in that "debate" Orent's otherwise readable book became less enjoyable and more tedious. In fact, Orent states, near the conclusion of the book, "In the laboratory, all cats are grey: all plague strains kill, and kill effectively" (p. 205). Perfect. I only wish this had been stated near the start of Orent's book thereby allowing 'Plague' to evolve into something more …. substantially pleasing.
June 22, 2025
This book details the history of plague and its impacts on humans. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and can be spread by carriers (fleas/rats) in its bubonic form or person to person in its pneumonic form. The author discusses the effects of the plague on the human body and discusses the significant outbreaks of plague over human history and its impact, particularly for the Justinian plague, and the more well known Black Death. She also discusses the chilling possibilities of weaponized plague and the research that was conducted by the Russians based on their knowledge of the disease in the indigenous marmot population to create bioengineered versions.
April 26, 2020
SO interesting, and eerily relevant at this time, April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excellent book.
March 25, 2023
If you are interested either in illness generally (as I am) or in epidemics in particular (as I also am), this book is fascinating and worth your time.
The book was published in 2004. I found it remarkable how well it explained some of the situations we're experiencing in 2021 with COVID, including political and religious fanaticism:
More particularly, Orent's conclusion, offering advice on how to deal with another major plague outbreak, states clearly just what would emerge as the best ways to reduce the spread of COVID:
The book was published in 2004. I found it remarkable how well it explained some of the situations we're experiencing in 2021 with COVID, including political and religious fanaticism:
The prophet Muhammad had taught that illnesses, particularly plagues, were a gift from God, and belief in contagion, therefore, because heresy in the Muslim world. Ibn al-Khatib's insistence on the obvious fact of plague's contagion flouted religious authorities and angered the Muslim leadership of his time. Nonetheless, Ibn al-Khatib recognized that plague spreads most when the lungs are infected. In due course, the heretical Ibn al-Khatib paid for his conviction with his life. (107)
More particularly, Orent's conclusion, offering advice on how to deal with another major plague outbreak, states clearly just what would emerge as the best ways to reduce the spread of COVID:
Today, people would need to impose upon themselves the requirement, in the event of an outbreak, to stay out of public places, and, if at all possible, to stay in their homes. We would need gauze masks to run errands; we would need access to food, water, and medical care. None of this would be easy to arrange. But terror and flight have always been plague's handmaids... Flight makes no sense. Self-imposed isolation does.
In the advent of sickness, people would need either to be admitted to a hospital ward, or, if there are no beds, to be cared for at home, and the people caring for them would have to wear masks.
The power of epidemic plague can only be broken if the chain of transmission is severed. (232-233)
July 10, 2010
Provides information on the true source of plague and how the source of plague is directly linked to the different virulence of plague through history. The historical view of different plague epidemics such as the Justinian plague in 542 and of course the black death in the 1300's gave you the true sense what the people living could believe that this was the wrath of god. What made these epidemics much more terrifying is how man in his efforts to curb contagion did to his fellow man such as closing up the house with all inhabitants inside even if only one person was sick.
With this background information on the virulence of plague and the efforts of the Soviet Union, Japan and United States to look at creating a biological weapon the knowledge is already there. All that needs to happen is someone to pay enough money for this knowledge.
With this background information on the virulence of plague and the efforts of the Soviet Union, Japan and United States to look at creating a biological weapon the knowledge is already there. All that needs to happen is someone to pay enough money for this knowledge.
January 16, 2011
Reading this book was the result of me wandering through the non fiction section of the library. Very well researched book, I had to keep my thumb in the back to look up the constant footnotes (wish they had been at the bottom of each page instead). It was more informative than mysterious and terrifying but I suppose the title of "Plague: An Informative book about a dangerous disease" just doesn't have the same punch.
August 29, 2014
well-written review of a fascinating subject. The sections on the past history of plague epidemics (especially the Justinian epidemic) was fascinating, but it would also have been interesting - and possibly more relevant - to have a chapter on the future of plague. For example, which other countries have or may have bioweapons projects? What are they developing - more chimera? (A truly scary possibility). But, in the light of the current ebola outbreak, this book carries extra resonance.
March 13, 2012
Fascinating story of the plague throughout history, including the Justinian Plague, the Black Death, the Renaissance Plague, and modern outbreaks. Orent elucidates the difference between "bubonic," "pneumonic," and "septicemic" forms of the plague, including the impact of various transmission vectors (rats, fleas, marmots, etc) and natural plague reservoirs throughout the world.
January 26, 2015
This was interesting from many perspectives. It provided a good detailed view of the plague but I am not sure it answers as many questions as it raises. Why did some pandemics jump from person to person, while others relied on insects as carriers? The author answers this question but the evidence seems a bit less convincing! A good biography of the plague that also makes you think!
December 10, 2014
some parts of this book were fascinating (anything having to do w/ marauding Mongol hordes that carry plague-infected fleas w/ them). Others, like Soviet germ warfare (feel like I've read this story many times), not so much. Still not clear re different kinds of plague, so am now reading The Great Mortality by John Kelly.
January 8, 2016
Very interesting and well-written book on the history of plague and some thoughts on it's future use as a bioweapon. Not too sciency - and as it was written about ten years ago, I'm not sure how much, if any, of the information has changed. Definitely piques my interest to read more!
Very recommended.
Very recommended.
Currently reading
December 27, 2011Riveting account of international intrigue and No. 1 Science Information (as of 2004) swirling around y. pestis, the Black Death. Ever wonder why you haven't seen that many prairie dogs around lately? Plague!
October 9, 2015
I found this book to be a mixed bag. Some thought provoking ideas but too many unsupported assertions. I appreciate the strong support of Yersinia pestis and the human flea as agents of the main pandemics, but some of the science is now out of date.
October 3, 2013
A solid and readable, if not great, overview of the history of plague outbreaks, plague biology, and its development as a biowarfare agent. Much of it is really frightening given what weaponized strains might be out.
May 21, 2009
Rather a scary book so far! The Russians have created very virulent forms of the plague for biowarfare! I don't know why I read these kinds of books other than they fascinate me.
May 28, 2010
Interesting information, but a little disorganized. Glad to know what to do if an old Soviet bioweapons-grade plague breaks out!
January 10, 2011
Interesting, albeit somewhat repetitive in places.
July 12, 2017
Fascinating!!
November 26, 2013
Grabbed this for D. Ending up reading it too. Very understandable, comprehensible history of plague.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews