Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Fauci: Expect the Unexpected

Rate this book
Compiled from hours of interviews drawn from the eponymous National Geographic documentary, this inspiring book from world-renowned infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci shares the lessons that have shaped the celebrated doctor’s life philosophy, offering an intimate view of one of the world's greatest medical minds as well as universal advice to live by.

Before becoming the face of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and America’s most trusted doctor, Dr. Anthony Fauci had already devoted three decades to public service. Those looking to live a more compassionate and purposeful life will find inspiration in his unique perspective on leadership, expecting the unexpected, and finding joy in difficult times.

With more than three decades spent combating some of the most dangerous diseases to strike humankind-- AIDS, Ebola, COVID-19--Dr. Fauci has worked in daunting professional conditions and shouldered great responsibility. The earnest reflections in these pages offer a universal message on how to lead in times of crisis and find resilience in the face of disappointments and obstacles.

Filled with inspiring words of wisdom, this profound book will offer readers a concrete path to a bright and hopeful future.

96 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2021

28 people are currently reading
3966 people want to read

About the author

Anthony Fauci

6 books89 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
211 (30%)
4 stars
257 (36%)
3 stars
173 (24%)
2 stars
33 (4%)
1 star
22 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
282 reviews
November 12, 2021
And I thought his most recent “science” was corrupt, fake, monetized for his benefit, and let’s just talk about those experiments HE headed up to torment beagle puppies just for the hell of it…um yeah.

So I thought THAT stuff was bad enough. But wait, there’s more. If you act now, you can learn all about the many other sectors of medicine that he tells outlandish lies about.

Fraudci is a despicable excuse for a human being. He’s truly just disgusting beyond words.
Profile Image for Christina.
123 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2021
Leave a place better than you found it. And more.
Profile Image for Ietrio.
6,949 reviews24 followers
November 7, 2021
A monstrosity coming from the Temple of ”science”.

Only, if it is unexpected, one can't expect for it.

And if it is expected, it certainly can't be called unexpected.

Anyway, the glorification of a governmental bureaucrat who nearly discovered the cure for AIDS, after some good decades of excellent wages for the entire family, who nearly discovered the mask for Covid, who nearly discovered a cure for cancer, and many other discoveries that simply aren't there.
Profile Image for Julie.
3,520 reviews51 followers
November 28, 2021
So apparently this pulls anecdotes and quotes from a National Geographic documentary which I have not seen. I think this quick read gives a pretty good sense of Fauci as a person and of his guiding philosophies.
Profile Image for Melissa B.
712 reviews25 followers
November 27, 2021
Not only is Dr. Fascinating a great doctor, he is a compassionate human being. We need more people like Dr. Fauci.
Profile Image for RangerRob.
6 reviews
July 9, 2022
This guy caused the pandemic. Evil elites who lie to our faces. Pathetic.
Profile Image for Sara.
235 reviews37 followers
December 17, 2021
Nothing against Dr Fauci, who comes off as a kind and thoughtful human being.

The poor review is for how this book was arranged. I knew based on the title that it would be short and include some snippets of interviews. But, even so this felt really slapped together in a not quite coherent way.

In fact, it ends with COVID is real! Take it seriously! And that’s it? I just think if you’re assembling a book, even a book of quotes, there’s a better way to do it.

I respect Fauci and his service, but the review is for the book, not him. 🙃
Profile Image for Deedra.
3,932 reviews39 followers
November 9, 2021
A short but very interesting of a brilliant scientific mind and where it formed.An extraordinary man to be able to find good things to say about all 7 Presidents he worked under,even D.T.
Profile Image for Ernie.
1 review
March 23, 2022
Nice quick and easy read. If you are interested in the COVID-19, Ebola, or HIV crises from a front seat perspective, you should take the time. The book his also a good read for anyone involved in or considering careers in public health for public service.
Profile Image for Bruce.
13 reviews2 followers
May 9, 2022
Devoid of any depth, details, clinical arguments, facts, references. It was basically a book bragging about how humble and successful he is and questioning why anyone wouldn't simply follow his direction. Shallow is the best one word description of the book.
Profile Image for Sue.
902 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2022
I am a Fauci fan. Many people seemed to complain about how the book was put together.. so what. This was read while sitting in a hospital room and his encouraging words, and his outlook on life
made me continue to believe in his abilities.
Profile Image for Heather.
414 reviews18 followers
December 13, 2021
"The best route to truth is science, philosophy, art - all of the above. For me, science comes first, but I got to where I am through understanding the human spirit."

This stocking stuffer-sized book contains a compilation of interviews collected for a documentary film by National Geographic on Disney+ called Fauci. The film chronicles Fauci's career and rise as a public figure over the last year and a half and released this past October.
At just shy of 100 pages, the book Fauci: Expect the Unexpected highlights 10 valuable lessons that will help us move forward, including practicing empathy, serving others, speaking truth, and valuing lifelong learning. Sprinkled throughout are memories he has shared - of growing up in Brooklyn, working in construction, gaining an education in Manhattan, and going on to be one of the most valued, prestigious doctors of our time. Fauci worked tirelessly through the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Ebola outbreak, and has become one of the most widely respected faces we have turned to throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

I enjoyed this peek inside one of the world's most brilliant minds, and learning more about the philosophies that guide Fauci's way of life.

Thank you TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for this gifted copy of Fauci: Expect the Unexpected in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Erika.
26 reviews
January 12, 2023
Whew this book gave me the ick. I’m not anti anything, but the way he talk about how people being really sick is “almost very very exciting” for him !? And how HIV feels like it exists just for him !?! What?!? This guy gives me the creeps.
Profile Image for Emma Laymon.
4 reviews4 followers
February 8, 2022
Nice brief read and look into Fauci and his field. Nothing extravagant but easy to read and understand. I thought it was interesting.
Profile Image for Glenn.
95 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2022
This book could have been so much better, but I'm glad I read it anyway.
Profile Image for Ellen.
494 reviews
January 24, 2022
I’m an unabashed Anthony Fauci Fan. And I’m a huge admirer and supporter of National Geographic, in all formats. This is a delightful little book.

What many folks don’t know about Fauci, before he became the face of the Coronavirus Task Force, is that he had been in public service for over 30 years already, advising six different presidents, taking on numerous global and domestic health issues, testifying before Congress and combatting the likes of AIDS and Ebola before the arrival of COVID-19. He has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and maybe most importantly, was 2020’s Federal Employee of the Year (the “Oscars” of government service!) The man is turns 81 in a few weeks, and if you ask me, he looks and acts at least a decade younger.

This book’s subtitle is Ten Lessons on Truth, Service, and the Way Forward, and I don’t know about you, but I immediately knew those would be ten lessons I could use! Not to be a spoiler, because the book contains elaborations on all of these pearls of wisdom, but here are Mr. Fauci’s lessons:

1. Above all, empathize
2. Honor your community
3. Pursue your passion
4. Expect the unexpected
5. Persist, persevere, prevail
6. Live to serve
7. Lead by example
8. Be a lifelong learner
9. Forge partnerships
10. Revere the truth

I agree wholeheartedly with all of these, and would say I’m doing well on about half of them, with work to be done on the other five…

At first I was taken aback by the casual writing style of the book, but then realized these nuggets are all taken from interviews with and speeches by Fauci, which explains the more conversational tone.

I can’t recommend this slim little trove of life advice enough—Bravo to National Geographic for putting it together, and bravo to Mr. Fauci for an inspiring life of passion and service.
Profile Image for Lucero Chairez.
89 reviews
June 24, 2022
1. Above all, empathize
2. Honor your community
3. Pursue your passion
4. Expect the unexpected
5. Persist, persevere, prevail
6. Live to serve
7. Lead by example
8. Be a lifelong learner
9. Forge partnerships
10. Revere the truth

These are just a few of the many lessons I learned in this book. As an aspiring health care professional, I found this book eye-opening and inspiring. Dr. Fauci does not sugarcoat things and he truly is a man that is looking out for the greater good of the people. I also watched the documentary on Disney+ and found his story interesting. It is a short book, but full of important messages that I believe everyone can benefit from.
Profile Image for Varsha Parthasarathy.
10 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2022
A crisp read into Fauci’s life and the lessons that all of us can take away from his experiences.
Profile Image for Alicia Fannin.
Author 1 book10 followers
January 18, 2022
This was an interesting read and I did learn a bit about Dr. Fauchi’s life & career.

However, it was a very short read. I would have been very frustrated if I had purchased this book vs reading it as an ebook borrowed from my library. I literally read this in under an hour.

My understanding is that it’s parts of interviews pieced together but the result is that it’s not in chronological order and has a feel of being all over the place.
18 reviews
February 24, 2023
What could have been an amazing book about a physician scientist who has done a lot for science (especially HIV/AIDs and now covid) , resulted in a jumbled compilation of snippets from Fauci's life and generic advice. Though the book was short, I found myself check to see how many pages were left.
Profile Image for Nadia Lauren.
27 reviews
January 15, 2023
Interesting to see the comparison in Presidential treatment of HIV/AIDS epidemic vs. that or COVID-19 from Fauci’s perspective
Profile Image for Amy.
Author 5 books9 followers
November 25, 2023
A wonderful compilation of great quotes, stories, and scenes from Anthony Fauci's life. What a remarkable and inspiring man.
Profile Image for Brenda.
288 reviews39 followers
January 12, 2022
Heartfelt,knowledgeable and compassionate. This book is excellent reading.
Profile Image for Aimee Dars.
1,073 reviews97 followers
Read
December 6, 2021
Although Anthony Fauci has become the White House’s face of Covid, offering candid and trustworthy information to the American public, his government service began in 1968 when he joined the National Institutes of Health after attending Cornell Medical School and completing a residency at the Cornell Medical Center (now Weill Cornell Medical Center)—and he was instrumental in the nation’s fight against AIDS and Ebola. Even in childhood, he saw illness up close when he delivered prescriptions from his father’s pharmacy throughout his neighborhood.

Based on hours of interviews for the documentary film Fauci airing on @disneyplus as well as existing speeches, National Geographic editors identified the ten guiding principles of Fauci’s life and work. Fauci’s words illustrate each lesson which are separated by “Scenes from a Life,” recollections of Fauci’s past, which might have been my favorite part of the book.

Fauci is human, so he isn’t perfect, but I’ve had a lot of respect for him since reading about how he worked with and became friends with AIDS activists. I also appreciate his straight-talk, his enthusiasm for life-long learning, and his compassion, all of which are illustrated in this volume.

I don’t think any of the ten lessons are very surprising but I enjoyed reading how they manifested in Fauci’s life. This is a brief volume that you can open to any page for elucidation or inspiration and go back to again and again. While it is not an autobiography, it would be interesting to anyone who might want to learn more about Fauci’s thought process. It would also be an excellent gift for a pre-med or medical student!

*Fauci wasn’t paid for the book nor will he receive royalties from its sale.*

Profile Image for Andrew.
196 reviews7 followers
November 25, 2021
Such an inspiring hero in modern day American history. The book was a bit scattered and oddly organized. Recommend the documentary.
Profile Image for Stacy.
75 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2022
I didn’t think it was necessary to write a review on the excepts from a National Geographic documentary about one of America’s most influential and accomplished doctors. Of course I looked at the other reviews (why?!?!) and had a change of heart. I feel like people who give 1 star reviews to something and additionally place information in the review (beagles) that has been factually disproven are beyond help, but most people aren’t, so -

This is a series of values that Fauci has lived by. Empathy, compassion, humility, perseverance, attention to disparity, humor. He discusses a teeny bit of his background, the AIDS epidemic, a small part about Covid, and the fact that, despite his many roles, he identifies primarily as a physician. Great listen.
Profile Image for Ashley.
538 reviews2 followers
February 22, 2024
I definitely thought this book would be a bit more biography/novel than it was, but nevertheless I enjoyed hearing Fauci’s lessons and the short stories he sprinkled throughout. It really humanizes this household name and allows readers to get to know him as more than a face on their TV. It does not have the best flow with the different lessons strung together, but that means there are easy spots for one to put the book down and think about what they’ve read. These tips/lessons were taken from footage for a documentary on Disney, and I think that will probably help fill in some of context. The quotes they pulled were inspiring, especially to those who have an interest in public health/medicine. He spoke about how his mother’s reaction to Aids was a formative memory from his youth and set his life path in motion — it was lovely reading about his background and the events in his life that shaped him. A quick and light read published during COVID so the ending does share his views on what we as a society need to be doing — not ENTIRELY applicable now in 2024, but the lessons can be applied beyond COVID too. This isn’t the first public health crisis and it definitely won’t be the last.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.