Viruses: A Natural History

by Marilyn J. Roossinck

A comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to the world of viruses

As parasites that are often hundreds of times smaller than bacteria, viruses exist in and on everything, everywhere. Rapidly evolving, they are highly opportunistic and relentlessly efficient. While some viruses are obviously agents of disease, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world only too well, others can be beneficial, helping to protect their hosts from other microbes, or allowing hosts to function in otherwise impossible ways. In Viruses, virus expert and author Marilyn Roossinck presents a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to viruses that reveals their true nature.

Using lively text, clear graphics, and beautiful imagery, Viruses examines all the aspects of viruses that are essential for understanding them--their diversity, behaviors, life cycles, and much more. Written in a nontechnical and easy-to-follow style, the book covers what viruses are and where they come from; how they transmit and evolve; the battle between viruses and hosts, including immunity and vaccination; viruses that are good for us; the critical role viruses play in the balance of earth's ecosystems; what makes a virus--including COVID-19 and influenza--become pandemic in plants or animals; and the cutting-edge research that is discovering thousands of new viruses. Each chapter concludes with stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight key viruses.

In a world where comprehending viruses is more important than ever, Viruses offers a rich and inviting introduction to organisms that, for all the harm they can do, are also essential for the health of animals, plants, and the world we share.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource at the inquisitive high school/undergrad level with great illustrations.

[Fern Herold · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

You know what is bad enough to ruin my enjoyment of a book? A science book dependent on diagrams where the diagrams suck. Princeton University Press’s X: A Natural History series has highs and lows, and this is a low. Viruses are, of course, a very large category of maybe-organisms, so covering the entirety of the topic in 288 well-illustrated pages is difficult. When the illustrations are bad, it eats into the usefulness of the source. Some of the very important diagrams are not labeled properly as to make sense (the explanation of the Baltimore virus classes drops the ball on Class VII, the most complicated one!), and some of them really just seem to be filler. When discussing the Spanish Flu of 1918, does taking up a half page with a diagram of the Trans-Siberian railway, without showing how or when that spread the flu through Asia, make a lot of sense? Plus, the book refers to COVID-19 as the only lethal human pandemic since the Spanish Flu. Do the 49 million people dead from HIV mean nothing? There is some good material here, especially about mutualistic viruses and the role of viruses in marine nutrient circulation, but the overall book left a bad taste in my mouth.

[phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal resource for the curious undergrad. Of the three related to microbiology I own by the Princton-Oxford Press publishers, (Lichen, Fungi, and Viruses), I believe this one to have overall the best structure and writing. Gorgeous artwork and crystal structures of viruses fill the book. This book is a pretty easy read for anyone who has taken an introductory microbiology class at the college level. There is not much in terms of the deeper biochemistry besides some bits about immune systems of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This book has had massive impacts on my views on molecular biology and evolution, especially with examples they point out such as Banana Streak Virus and HERV-W.

[The Inquisitive Biologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The textbook to virology for those intimidated by textbooks to virology, Viruses: A Natural History is a handsomely illustrated crash course that shows viruses are not just pathogens but are fascinating in their own right. Read my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2023...

[Souptik Dhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not have a background in biology. In spite of that I was able to follow most of the book. The author called out some of the chapters at the end are super technical and honestly I glossed over it. The illustrations are beautiful and overall I found the book to be kind of a starter guide for anyone interested to know the basics of a virus.

[Benjamin Travers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was great for my ignorant ass

[Jacob Dennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goated intro to virology for the curious bystander