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Germs: the ultimate weapon
* A sober, frightening yet unforgettable narrative of cutting-edge science and spycraft The atrocities in New York and Washington on 11 September have highlighted as never before the Western world's vulnerability to terrorist attacks of all kinds. As the global coalition seeks justice and retribution so millions of people around the world consider their exposure to further outrages. Bio-terrorism, the subject of this book, is at the heart of many the poor man's hydrogen bomb, a biological weapon of mass destruction can be made in a laboratory and transported in a briefcase -- yet it can silently devastate an entire population. This chillingly authoritative report reveals the spread of germ weaponry throughout the world and the massive, and until now largely undisclosed, effort to stop it. Readers see first-hand the vast extent of the Soviet Union's biological weapons program, with its rows of silos filled with tons of anthrax germs. They learn of efforts by Iran, Iraq and other rogue states to recruit the scientists who created this horror. And they learn of the West's secret effort to thwart the spread of such germ technology to those who would use science not to heal but to kill.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
90 people are currently reading
1384 people want to read
About the author
Judith Miller
8 books11 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
September 2, 2020
Beginning in the 1950s in Fort Dietrich, Maryland the U.S. army designed germ weapons. Testing was done in the Utah desert. The most effective way of mobilizing microbes for war is airborne delivery of biological microbes. The small particles could penetrate deep into the lungs. The scientists increased the potency of anthrax; a gallon of anthrax held up to eight billion lethal doses, enough to kill every person on the planet. Japan killed thousands of Chinese with anthrax, typhoid and plague. Viruses include the causative agents of Influenza, Smallpox and Ebola. The one treatment is immunization.
A successful biological attack requires advanced laboratory equipment, virulent microbes and knowledge. Expertise is available by means of thousands of scientists skilled in biological warfare from the collapsed Soviet Union, the apartheid movement of South Africa and from Iraq. Germ weapons are called the poor man’s atom bomb. Unfortunately the military-industrial complex that supports weapons systems has little interest in vaccines and public health. “We remain woefully unprepared for a calamity that would be unlike any country has ever experienced.” That statement was made by scientists in 2001. The calamity occurred in 2020 with Covid-19. I’m not saying that Covid-19 was man made but it is definitely an awakening to the deadliness of viruses and the need to prepare.
A successful biological attack requires advanced laboratory equipment, virulent microbes and knowledge. Expertise is available by means of thousands of scientists skilled in biological warfare from the collapsed Soviet Union, the apartheid movement of South Africa and from Iraq. Germ weapons are called the poor man’s atom bomb. Unfortunately the military-industrial complex that supports weapons systems has little interest in vaccines and public health. “We remain woefully unprepared for a calamity that would be unlike any country has ever experienced.” That statement was made by scientists in 2001. The calamity occurred in 2020 with Covid-19. I’m not saying that Covid-19 was man made but it is definitely an awakening to the deadliness of viruses and the need to prepare.
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April 25, 2008So, about a week ago I had the desire to settle down on the couch with a good martini and read a book on bio-warfare (I know I am weird that way). I went to the library and thought that this one looked pretty good. I started it the day before yesterday and was enjoying it. Then I got to the part right after the first Gulf War, and things started to get strange. The author kept mentioning how the coalition forces did not destroy all of Sadam’s bio-weapon factories, and he hid most of them from the UN inspectors. I thought that this was really odd since if he had done that we would have found them after Gulf War II (electric boogaloo), and if we had found them Bush would have rubbed our collective noses in it, and I don’t remember that. This puzzled me, so I took a closer look at the author, the name seemed familiar, I knew that I had heard somewhere. A quick internet search and I remembered where I had heard of her, she was the New York Times writer who had written about Sadam’s WMDs and later had to retract the story when it had all been proven false. She has just expanded this lie into a book. Oh well, time to go to the library and pick up a book about Bio-warfare that is not fiction.
June 11, 2022
This was a good book, though often riddled with excessive verbosity that did not make the book particularly rhetorically effective. The history of germ and biological warfare is covered in much detail. One gets to learn about the Rajneeshee cult in Oregon in the 80s that launched a bioterror attack, secret labs during Cold War Russia that attempted to make weapons that could disperse germs over a wider area and a wider population, labs in the Midwest that also attempted to make weapons. One learns about the inconsistencies that plagued (no pun intended) the response of various US bureaucracies often working at odds with each other.
In light of being in a Covid pandemic, it was interesting reading this, to get insights on issues that are still applicable today (e.g. how reluctant a large percentage of a population is to getting vaccinated against potential or existing diseases or threats).
Overall, the authors have done thorough interviewing and research of their subjects, but could have used much more extensive editing.
In light of being in a Covid pandemic, it was interesting reading this, to get insights on issues that are still applicable today (e.g. how reluctant a large percentage of a population is to getting vaccinated against potential or existing diseases or threats).
Overall, the authors have done thorough interviewing and research of their subjects, but could have used much more extensive editing.
June 5, 2023
The book is written very well regarding the germs sprayed in shopping’s malls. Furthermore the effects of anthrax and smallpox on humans as well on the animals such as monkeys and rats. However, the Clinton administration did not follow through on the Vaccination efforts for all Americans.
As far as author Judith Miller, a correspondent for The New York Times since 1977. She has good flow of language and great in-depth research on the subject.
As far as author Judith Miller, a correspondent for The New York Times since 1977. She has good flow of language and great in-depth research on the subject.
April 29, 2012
Okay. This book started strong. It might be that I was interested because I'm from Oregon and the Rajneesh attack was part of my childhood. The chapters that talked about the Gulf Wars were interesting. Again, that might be because I have friends and family who have served. The rest of the book was the same people being quoted over and over saying similar things, and the authors dramatizing it. There were also lots of contradictions, with the same people being quoted providing opposing information as they had in previous chapters. Since the authors were trying to present them as experts (and they ARE experts, as the books that many of the people quoted wrote are much more interesting and factual than this one), they should have been a bit more selective in how they presented the information. It led to the feeling that the authors didn't really know what they were talking about.
Germ warfare is a serious threat, and I feel that the Fox News style of reporting that the authors used does more harm to the cause than good. If you are really interested in the topic I recommend you read the works they cite in their bibliography and more current works. The study of biologic weapons and the information that has been opened to the public in the last few years is a lot more interesting, and frightening without TRYING so hard to be.
Germ warfare is a serious threat, and I feel that the Fox News style of reporting that the authors used does more harm to the cause than good. If you are really interested in the topic I recommend you read the works they cite in their bibliography and more current works. The study of biologic weapons and the information that has been opened to the public in the last few years is a lot more interesting, and frightening without TRYING so hard to be.
August 26, 2017
Could the US stand up against a biological attack? This book was written in 2002 to discuss just such a problem. Biological warfare has always been something we like to think is off limits, inhumane, and something we will not partake in. But the entire world does not hold this exact same view. This book starts out talking about a salmonella epidemic in 1984. The book runs the ins and outs of the US government through the 90's trying to figure out counter measures in case the US is ever attacked. President Bush did not want to develop biochemicals, and then President Clinton wanted to know anything and everything about what we could do to stop them.
The book runs stories of Iraq and Russia and their developments of ways to achieve the most damage. One of the points most emphasized in this book was that people could be infected with say smallpox and not know because there is an incubation period. This would pose quite the problem because we wouldn't know who to treat or how far spread the outbreak is.
Upon my reading of this book, it was 15 years old. This seems a little dated, but I think it is even scarier now that what it was then. But you may be thinking chemical warfare is a hoax. The closing sentences of the book summed it up perfectly. If you think biochemical warfare is a hoax, then we are spending entirely too much money on it. If you think it is a threat then we aren't spending enough to really combat the situation.
The book runs stories of Iraq and Russia and their developments of ways to achieve the most damage. One of the points most emphasized in this book was that people could be infected with say smallpox and not know because there is an incubation period. This would pose quite the problem because we wouldn't know who to treat or how far spread the outbreak is.
Upon my reading of this book, it was 15 years old. This seems a little dated, but I think it is even scarier now that what it was then. But you may be thinking chemical warfare is a hoax. The closing sentences of the book summed it up perfectly. If you think biochemical warfare is a hoax, then we are spending entirely too much money on it. If you think it is a threat then we aren't spending enough to really combat the situation.
December 1, 2015
If you are a fan of thinking that the world is, by and large, safe and that we have weathered the storm of the cold war without any major apocalypses happening, then this book will shatter that thinking.
Broad and Miller look at the bioweapons programs of the US, Russia, and Iraq, and how bioweapons featured prominently in geopolitical posturing from the end of WW2 on. Along the way, they scare the bejeezus out of the reader, though with good reason.
We all know the stories about how close the world came to nuclear annihilation, and how many times we came that close. Well, we came much much MUCH closer to a biological apocalypse, and came that close many many more times. And since bioweapons don't have the cachet of nuclear weapons, the stories are relatively hidden. Up until this book, that is.
Nuclear weapons require a certain amount of expertise and equipment, and every intelligence agency in the world is on the lookout for suspicious transactions that could lead to nuclear weapons. But bioweapons are so easily concealable as agricultural or medical research that it is much harder to see whether the intentions of people doing that research are good or not. And bioweapons are no less deadly than nuclear weapons--in fact, they may be more so, especially with the advent of recombinant organisms that are resistant to conventional antibiotics or vaccines.
Adding to this problem is the fact that, ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, scientists who have expertise in making bioweapons and distributing them have been unemployed and their facilities have lost state protection. This has led to a black market where rogue states and organizations can essentially buy talent and expertise to make bioweapons, and I fear this will lead to something very bad happening in the future.
But there is hope. The book also details the efforts of both the US and Russia to curb the spread of bioweapons. While there is still research going on, it seems to be better monitored, and I hope this trend continues through the rest of the century.
Overall a very good read about something I didn't know much about before.
Broad and Miller look at the bioweapons programs of the US, Russia, and Iraq, and how bioweapons featured prominently in geopolitical posturing from the end of WW2 on. Along the way, they scare the bejeezus out of the reader, though with good reason.
We all know the stories about how close the world came to nuclear annihilation, and how many times we came that close. Well, we came much much MUCH closer to a biological apocalypse, and came that close many many more times. And since bioweapons don't have the cachet of nuclear weapons, the stories are relatively hidden. Up until this book, that is.
Nuclear weapons require a certain amount of expertise and equipment, and every intelligence agency in the world is on the lookout for suspicious transactions that could lead to nuclear weapons. But bioweapons are so easily concealable as agricultural or medical research that it is much harder to see whether the intentions of people doing that research are good or not. And bioweapons are no less deadly than nuclear weapons--in fact, they may be more so, especially with the advent of recombinant organisms that are resistant to conventional antibiotics or vaccines.
Adding to this problem is the fact that, ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, scientists who have expertise in making bioweapons and distributing them have been unemployed and their facilities have lost state protection. This has led to a black market where rogue states and organizations can essentially buy talent and expertise to make bioweapons, and I fear this will lead to something very bad happening in the future.
But there is hope. The book also details the efforts of both the US and Russia to curb the spread of bioweapons. While there is still research going on, it seems to be better monitored, and I hope this trend continues through the rest of the century.
Overall a very good read about something I didn't know much about before.
April 10, 2012
Germs. Viruses. Nasty little things made even nastier by scientific manipulation. This book, published in early 2001, explores the United State's efforts in germ and biological warfare from the 1950s onward. Special attention is paid to the little-known food bar poisoning attack by the Rajneeshees in Oregon in the early 1980s, Soviet advances and the subsequent degrading of their program after communism's collapse, Iraq and the first Gulf War, and battles in Washington D.C. over funding and ethical problems.[return][return]I was reading this book for novel research, and I did place sticky tabs on various points of interest. However, I was more interested in the science itself and the creations and preventative measures more than the battles for funding or the see-saw regarding weapons inspectors in Iraq in the 1990s. There's also the issue of the book's timing of publication in mid-2001. The final chapter on the future had ominous notes about the potential for attacks by figures such as Osama bin Laden. I have a feeling this book would have had a different focus if it had come out six months later, after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax mailing scare. Still, it made for an interesting (in parts) if slow read--it took me two weeks to finish it.
December 3, 2011
This is a nonfiction, factual read that provides a lot of insight into the use and possibilities of biological weaponry. Miller explores historical events that are often overlooked, and uncovers some shocking truths. It's an eye-opener to something that society would rather ignore.
I respect Miller, as she has done her homework. She is an actual reporter, and a writer for the New York Times. She has done a great deal of actual field work, and she is very well educated with this topic. However, for me, her book was a bit lengthy, and the writing style was a bit dry.
I respect Miller, as she has done her homework. She is an actual reporter, and a writer for the New York Times. She has done a great deal of actual field work, and she is very well educated with this topic. However, for me, her book was a bit lengthy, and the writing style was a bit dry.
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August 3, 2011Just got through with this book. It started out interesting with the tale of the Salmonella poisoning in Washington State and then went into the history of germ engineering, gov responses to germ warfare threats and the world's preparedness in case an attack ever happened. Some valid points and a good scientist mantra for them to live by "do no harm"
Currently reading
November 7, 2011Re-started this book last night, (11-05-2011) scary as hell, because it's non-fiction. This book is well written so it is definitely NOT a dry read, nor is it clinical, as the title might suggest. Only on chapter 2, but it's the kind of book that will keep you awake at night.
July 29, 2018
"The Poorman's hydrogen bombs." That one-word sentence is a solid summary of the threat of biological weapons. Written in 2001 only to be published in the aftermath of 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, it remains a striking work. It explores the history of America's biowarfare program throughout the twentieth century and how the US struggled to put the proverbial genie back in the bottle. Germs also look at how the US became aware of and struggled to deal with the massive Soviet germ stockpile and expertise in the early post-Cold War era. The book also does a solid, if somewhat alarmist, look at the terrorist threat as well emphasized by the book's opening with the 1984 Rajneeshees food poisoning efforts in Oregon. The book is notable as well for laying out a brief history of Iraq's biological weapons program, how US officials and military leaders worked to deal with the threat during the 1991 Gulf War, and how lingering questions helped lay the groundwork for the Iraq War. While the book has dated and been shown to be alarmist in places, for those seeking a crash course on the threat and history of germ weapons Germs is well worth seeking out.
April 18, 2025
I read this book in order to better understand the subject, and in that sense, I guess it did inform me. The style of this book, however, was very 'documentary'-like, which is fine, but tedious.
I found myself often bored with sometimes reading some highlighted moments which were interesting. One of the things that bothered me was that it very often went back and forth throughout the years from the 80s, throughout the 90s and then 2000s.
It's probably just my pea-brain, but that became old and confusing very quick in trying to understand what's what, who's who and when things were happening.
But I did get new knowledge of things I didn't know about and huge events in the USA which I had no idea about. What shocked me the most was that what happened during the COVID pandemic was not the first time a society was 'forced' to take a vaccine. It also happened during the Gulf War with a vaccine that, just like COVID, had barely been tested.
All in all, it was a decent read, but I would have taken about 100 pages less for sure.
I found myself often bored with sometimes reading some highlighted moments which were interesting. One of the things that bothered me was that it very often went back and forth throughout the years from the 80s, throughout the 90s and then 2000s.
It's probably just my pea-brain, but that became old and confusing very quick in trying to understand what's what, who's who and when things were happening.
But I did get new knowledge of things I didn't know about and huge events in the USA which I had no idea about. What shocked me the most was that what happened during the COVID pandemic was not the first time a society was 'forced' to take a vaccine. It also happened during the Gulf War with a vaccine that, just like COVID, had barely been tested.
All in all, it was a decent read, but I would have taken about 100 pages less for sure.
April 30, 2020
I was wary about reading this book, which was written in 2001. I thought that it included the infamous allegations that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, the purported reason that the US and the UK invaded that country in 2003. Well, I was right.
That allegation was proven to be false and just an excuse to bully another Arab country for its oil.
The only redeeming part of this book is, aside from the revelations about biological weapons research and development in the Soviet Union, is the acknowledgment that the US itself also produced and probably retains biological weapons to this day.
So with regard to the allegation that the COVID-19 could have been developed in a laboratory in China. It is possible. But remember: it is not only China that has that capability.
That allegation was proven to be false and just an excuse to bully another Arab country for its oil.
The only redeeming part of this book is, aside from the revelations about biological weapons research and development in the Soviet Union, is the acknowledgment that the US itself also produced and probably retains biological weapons to this day.
So with regard to the allegation that the COVID-19 could have been developed in a laboratory in China. It is possible. But remember: it is not only China that has that capability.
August 8, 2022
Another book full of information I wish I had known before taking a series of Anthrax shots over the course of 14 years. This book was an easy read, full of history that flowed page after page, detailing the birth of the military’s controversial vaccine programs. The threat is one that nightmares are made of. The government’s efforts to develop a strategic defense and vaccine policy is food for more nightmares. Who gets the shot? How to get enough of the shots? What are the long term health ramifications from receiving the shot? All answers that still don’t really have good answers! Germs does a great job providing a foundation for understanding that I, again, wish I had known all those years ago.
March 29, 2023
Chilling look at the history (~1940-) of germ warfare. I knew very little about biological and chemical weapons when I started this book so I struggled throughout to accurately connect the dots as far as terms/important figures/biology. Though I might not have understood the nitty gritty details, I was humbled to learn about this 'Secret War' America is in. I also never knew about the anthrax letters?!
"In the future, Meselson said, germs might be designed not only to kill but to manipulate all the life processes -- cognition, development, reproduction, everything. They would, in short, bestow the power to change what i means to be human. He posed a troubling question: might some group in the distant future use such powers to try to enslave others?" p314 What a way to end it.
"In the future, Meselson said, germs might be designed not only to kill but to manipulate all the life processes -- cognition, development, reproduction, everything. They would, in short, bestow the power to change what i means to be human. He posed a troubling question: might some group in the distant future use such powers to try to enslave others?" p314 What a way to end it.
June 1, 2019
A good read on a topic I'm well-versed in, this book describes both the history of biowarfare activity - both military and terrorist - and the difficulty of defining just what constitutes "activity" beyond an actual attack. It boggles the mind to consider that, given the same research that can arrive at a defense against a biological attack can also lead to the development of novel biological agents, no concerted effort to either inform and educate the public nor to put in place viable systems to protect the citizenry are in place. A must read for those wishing to inform themselves on the nature of "the poor man's atom bomb."
August 2, 2020
I have a first hand professional experience in several topics discussed in this book, and so I am qualified to conclude that this is a bullshit book written by an uninformed and a self-misguided individual. She got it mostly wrong due to her obvious biases and her considerable technical incompetence. I blame it on the culture that encourages people to talk confidently about topics that they have no clue about. It all starts at schools where students are not exposed to solid lectures and tons of homework and readings, but instead, they are engaged in time-wasting group activities, which make them ready for future corporate monkey business careers, but nothing more. They will learn to generate and present strong but superficial opinions and talk confidently about issues they have no clue about. What can grow up from the students, who were most of their school time asked to make group presentations about topics that they had zero knowledge about? Well, they may one day write books about Iraq, security policy, WMD, military microbiology, arms control and disarmament and these misleading books will influence those with decision-making and political powers to make catastrophic errors of judgement.
July 26, 2019
This is an outdated but super detailed look at the politics and technological issues surrounding the development of biological warfare from the perspective of the US. The conclusion is, it's coming, please spend more resources on defending us against it.
I disagree with the statement on the cover that it's "highly readable," but it did put me to sleep several nights. If you want germ excitement try Richard Preston.
I disagree with the statement on the cover that it's "highly readable," but it did put me to sleep several nights. If you want germ excitement try Richard Preston.
July 13, 2018
I enjoyed this book, partly as I am taking a micro class right now. This is an interesting reflection on the arms race and gaps between world powers and stateless terrorists groups. Real concerns with risk vs. actuality vs. investment in being ready. Really is a reflection on the thoughts we went through with the Cold War nukes arms race.
December 7, 2023
It was okay. The history on the Soviet Union’s biological program was interesting as was the brief bits about Iraq’s program. The majority of the book though was about government bickering about whether to prepare for a biological threat or not. Wish there was more information on the weapons themselves but there were some interesting tidbits.
August 13, 2024
Second time around for this book. The first was when I took my Bio-Terrorism Awareness Class through LSU. Well researched and still very current given the circumstances behind Wuhan’s recent events. Everyone who lived through COVID 19 needs to read this book to truly understand what foreign agencies are capable of.
July 26, 2022
2.5*? Would be interested to see an update bringing in the Covid pandemic. Started out interesting but then turned repetitive and tried making the material more interesting than a list of facts, but ended up over-dramatized (the writing style-- not the threat of germ warfare).
December 11, 2025
I was riveted from the first moment. This was a triggering but necessary read. It was published in 2001. Do I understand Iraq now? The pandemic? Several claims on twitter made by Hilary Clinton? Maybe.
January 24, 2018
Winter 2018 11/104 - Read for a class. Well written and engaging, although the content is a bit alarming.
April 25, 2020
Scary book but informative
October 9, 2020
I had to read this for English class and while I enjoyed it, it’s not something I would pick up and ever read again. However it was very well research and written, I was pretty intrigued throughout.
November 23, 2020
By far, the most horrifying book I’ve ever read.
February 4, 2021
From page 272, any reader can understand where germ warfare was, is headed and how we as a global society created, mutated, spliced and altered our current situation during COVID-19.
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