Crisis Averted
The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
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Narrated by:
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Jaime Lamchick
About this listen
“Readers should come away from Crisis Averted with a better comprehension of what public health does and why it is such a crucial endeavor.”—The Washington Post
"A master class in how we can pinpoint and prevent health crises before they spiral out of control."—Scott Gottlieb, MD, author of Uncontrolled Spread
A fascinating window into the secret life of epidemiology, weaving together stories of triumph and tragedy, with a boots-on-the-ground perspective on how we can avert the next public health crisis
There are few visible markers of the accomplishments of public health. When epidemiologists do their jobs, nothing happens. An outbreak does not grow into an epidemic. A child does not go hungry. A would-be smoker never lights up. In this fascinating window into the secret life of public health, Caitlin Rivers weaves together stories of triumph and tragedy to show that by making sure things don't happen, she and legions of scientists, practitioners, and policymakers change the course of history.
We have many of the tools and experiences needed to prevent the next crisis, but as past experiences teach us, the unexpected is always around the corner. We cannot afford complacency, as countless challenges remain, including constantly emerging pathogens, the rapid growth of biotechnology, and the inconsistent cycles of funding for public health programs. Progress can be slow, but the unsung heroes in epidemiology remain focused on their missions. Crisis Averted tells their stories—from the eradication of smallpox in the twentieth century to a battle against mosquito-borne diseases in the Florida Keys to the international safeguards implemented against extraterrestrial germs.
By taking a candid look at how we solve problems in public health, Caitlin Rivers illuminates the role of epidemiology in all our lives and lays out the case for what can be accomplished given sufficient vision, leadership, and resources. Crisis Averted is an inspiring and galvanizing call for us to work together towards a healthier, more resilient future.
©2024 Caitlin Rivers (P)2024 Penguin AudioCritic reviews
“Crisis Averted is Ms. Rivers’s ambitious and…successful attempt to reset our relationship with the field of public health. With a judicious blend of candor, hopefulness and pragmatism, she calls out its mistakes, reminds us of its historic accomplishments and emphasizes the need for the discipline to adjust its strategies if its full promise is to be realized.”—Wall Street Journal
“Few public health leaders have been as prophetic as Caitlin Rivers. She has been at the forefront of identifying the risks we face from pathogens, foretelling outbreaks, and guiding our responses with remarkable foresight. In Crisis Averted, Rivers offers a masterclass in how we can pinpoint and prevent health crises before they spiral out of control and use the tools of public health to reduce suffering from disease.”—Scott Gottlieb, M.D., author of Uncontrolled Spread
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Caitlin Rivers became one of our most trusted voices in public health. Now her goal ‘is to make the threads of public health visible in the fabric of our lives.’ Through fascinating stories paired with compelling insights, she succeeds remarkably. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in public health—which should be all of us by now.”—Sandeep Jauhar, New York Times bestselling author of Heart and My Father's Brain
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Confused about AI and worried about what it means for your future and the future of the world? You’re not alone. AI is everywhere—and few things are surrounded by so much hype, misinformation, and misunderstanding. In AI Snake Oil, computer scientists Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor cut through the confusion to give you an essential understanding of how AI works, why it often doesn’t, where it might be useful or harmful, and when you should suspect that companies are using AI hype to sell AI snake oil—products that don’t work, and probably never will.
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Timely, in-depth and accessible
- By P. Wang on 10-13-24
By: Arvind Narayanan, and others
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Area X
- The Southern Reach Trilogy - Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance
- By: Jeff VanderMeer
- Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick, Bronson Pinchot, Xe Sands
- Length: 26 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Dive into the mysteries of Area X, a remote and lush terrain that has inexplicably sequestered itself from civilization. Twelve expeditions have gone in, and not a single member of any of them has remained unchanged by the experience - for better or worse.
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Book 1: intriguing! Book 2: Zzzz. Book 3: WTF!
- By KR on 02-03-15
By: Jeff VanderMeer
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The Big Guy
- How a President and His Son Sold Out America
- By: Miranda Devine
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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It’s rare that a campaign season has anything like an IRS whistleblower and a California US attorney saying they were blocked from pursuing charges, foreign wire transfers of millions of dollars going to several members of politician’s family, suspicious slap-on-the-wrist plea deals, mounds of incrimination texts, a previously unacknowledged child with a stripper, and multiple congressional investigations. It’s unprecedented to have them all tied to one politician like Joe Biden.
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mainstream truth better late than never
- By Stephen F. Tate on 09-25-24
By: Miranda Devine
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Countdown 1960
- The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the 312 Days That Changed America's Politics Forever
- By: Chris Wallace, Mitch Weiss - contributor
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker, Chris Wallace
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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It’s January 2, 1960: the day that Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy declared his candidacy; and with this opening scene, Chris Wallace offers listeners a front-row seat to history. From the challenge of primary battles in a nation that had never elected a Catholic president, to the intense machinations of the national conventions—where JFK chose Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate over the impassioned objections of his brother Bobby—this is a nonfiction political thriller filled with intrigue, cinematic action, and fresh reporting.
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Shallow
- By Ian R on 11-14-24
By: Chris Wallace, and others
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Blind Spots
- When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health
- By: Marty Makary MD
- Narrated by: Marty Makary MD
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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In Blind Spots, Dr. Makary explores the latest research on critical topics ranging from the microbiome to childbirth to nutrition and longevity and more, revealing the biggest blind spots of modern medicine and tackling the most urgent yet unsung issues in our $4.5 trillion health care ecosystem. The path to medical mishaps can be absurd, entertaining, and jaw-dropping—but the truth is essential to our health.
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Outstanding and arguably daring
- By Scott J. Jones MD on 10-08-24
By: Marty Makary MD
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On Call
- A Doctor's Journey in Public Service
- By: Anthony Fauci M.D.
- Narrated by: Anthony Fauci M.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Anthony Fauci is arguably the most famous–and most revered–doctor in the world today. His role guiding America sanely and calmly through Covid (and through the torrents of Trump) earned him the trust of millions during one of the most terrifying periods in modern American history, but this was only the most recent of the global epidemics in which Dr. Fauci played a major role. His crucial role in researching HIV and bringing AIDS into sympathetic public view and his leadership in navigating the Ebola, SARS, West Nile, and anthrax crises, make him truly an American hero.
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Must listen
- By RGB on 06-23-24