Breathless

The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus

By David Quammen | Publisher: Random House

About the book

**A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023**
*Shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize 2023*

From the author of Spillover, the book that predicted the pandemic, Breathless
is the story of Covid-19 and its fierce journey through the human population, as seen by the scientists tasked with fighting it.

Bestelling author David Quammen draws on countless interviews with experts, including leading virologists, to take us inside the global race to understand SARS-CoV-2, it's ever-changing nature and capacity to kill. In doing so, he explains how new viruses emerge when we disrupt ecosystems and suggests why the coronavirus may be here to stay.

By peering over the shoulders of the brilliant scientists leading the chase, Breathless uncovers the warnings from infectious diseases experts that went unheeded; and which clues are the most compelling in the hunt for the virus' origin.

'A viral howdunnit that is pacy and unafraid to educate readers' Observer

'A luminous, passionate account of the defining crisis of our time' New York Times

'A classic...a masterpiece' Stanley Prusiner, Nobel Prize Winner

'As close to authoritative history as we have... It reads like a real-time thriller' Chicago Tribune

Editions of Breathless

Hardcover
ISBN 9781847926685
Paperback
ISBN 9781847926692
Paperback
ISBN 9781529114188
EBook
ISBN 9781473588806

Read an Excerpt

**A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023**
*Shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize 2023*

From the author of Spillover, the book that predicted the pandemic, Breathless
is the story of Covid-19 and its fierce journey through the human population, as seen by the scientists tasked with fighting it.

Bestelling author David Quammen draws on countless interviews with experts, including leading virologists, to take us inside the global race to understand SARS-CoV-2, it's ever-changing nature and capacity to kill. In doing so, he explains how new viruses emerge when we disrupt ecosystems and suggests why the coronavirus may be here to stay.

By peering over the shoulders of the brilliant scientists leading the chase, Breathless uncovers the warnings from infectious diseases experts that went unheeded; and which clues are the most compelling in the hunt for the virus' origin.

'A viral howdunnit that is pacy and unafraid to educate readers' Observer

'A luminous, passionate account of the defining crisis of our time' New York Times

'A classic...a masterpiece' Stanley Prusiner, Nobel Prize Winner

'As close to authoritative history as we have... It reads like a real-time thriller' Chicago Tribune

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Breathless about?

**A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023**
*Shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize 2023*

From the author of Spillover, the book that predicted the pandemic, Breathless
is the story of Covid-19 and its fierce journey through the human population, as seen by the scientists tasked with fighting it.

Bestelling author David Quammen draws on countless interviews with experts, including leading virologists, to take us inside the global race to understand SARS-CoV-2, it's ever-changing nature and capacity to kill. In doing so, he explains how new viruses emerge when we disrupt ecosystems and suggests why the coronavirus may be here to stay.

By peering over the shoulders of the brilliant scientists leading the chase, Breathless uncovers the warnings from infectious diseases experts that went unheeded; and which clues are the most compelling in the hunt for the virus' origin.

'A viral howdunnit that is pacy and unafraid to educate readers' Observer

'A luminous, passionate account of the defining crisis of our time' New York Times

'A classic...a masterpiece' Stanley Prusiner, Nobel Prize Winner

'As close to authoritative history as we have... It reads like a real-time thriller' Chicago Tribune

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Breathless?

Mathematics and Science > Biology, life sciences > Human biology

Where can I read a sample of Breathless?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781847926685

How long is Breathless and how many pages does it have?

Breathless has 416 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Breathless?

David Quammen

Who is the Publisher of the book Breathless?

Random House

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Breathless is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781847926685) and paperback(ISBN 9781847926692) and paperback(ISBN 9781529114188) and ebook(ISBN 9781473588806)

Where can I buy Breathless online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Breathless from below

Where can I buy Breathless?