Panic in Level 4

Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science

By: Richard Preston

Narrated by: James Lurie

Bizarre illnesses and plagues that kill people in the most unspeakable ways. Obsessive and inspired efforts by scientists to solve mysteries and save lives. From The Hot Zone to The Demon in the Freezer and beyond, Richard Preston’s bestselling works have mesmerized readers everywhere by showing them strange worlds of nature they never dreamed of.

Panic in Level 4 is a grand tour through the eerie and unforgettable universe of Richard Preston, filled with incredible characters and mysteries that refuse to leave one’s mind. Here are dramatic true stories from this acclaimed and award-winning author, including:

• The phenomenon of “self-cannibals,” who suffer from a rare genetic condition caused by one wrong letter in their DNA that forces them to compulsively chew their own flesh–and why everyone may have a touch of this disease.
• The search for the unknown host of Ebola virus, an organism hidden somewhere in African rain forests, where the disease finds its way into the human species, causing outbreaks of unparalleled horror.
• The brilliant Russian brothers–“one mathematician divided between two bodies”–who built a supercomputer in their apartment from mail-order parts in an attempt to find hidden order in the number pi (π).

In fascinating, intimate, and exhilarating detail, Richard Preston portrays the frightening forces and constructive discoveries that are currently roiling and reordering our world, once again proving himself a master of the nonfiction narrative and, as noted in The Washington Post, “a science writer with an uncommon gift for turning complex biology into riveting page-turners.”©2008 Richard Preston; (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Compelling . . . stories of high scientific adventure.”—Seattle Times

“[Preston’s] stories sparkle with images of stark beauty and darkness; mature reflections about the complex worlds we all occupy.”—Denver Post

“With his 1994 sensation The Hot Zone, science writer Richard Preston terrified millions. . . . In his new book, Panic in Level 4, he continues to probe nature’s stranger side.”—USA Today

Needs to be shorter

First of all, several of these stories have been in the New Yorker already, so if you read The New Yorker, you may be disappointed that the stories are not new. I agree with the other reader reviewers that all the stories go on far too long and I lost interest with all the detail.

Don't believe the title

overall meh. No idea whybthe title, majority of book was on the number Pi. some bits interesting the portionon LN syndrome was better and the background on the Human Genome race was nice but the rest was awful.

Prolly not worth it.

This is a compendium of richard’s experiences interviewing his subjects. The equivalent of a behind the scenes making of his other works. Honestly unless you’re a die hard Hot Zone fan, I’d prolly give this a pass. The exciting information regarding genome sequencing and Ebola are out of date now too

Wow

Don't let the negative reviews sway you. If you're curious, interested in science and the macabre, this will interest you. As reviewers have, this is a set of essays from the New Yorker magazine and there is no running theme. But they are all excellent and held my interest more than about 75% of books I listen to.

Not What I Expected

Thank God this Audiobook wasn’t my first because it would have been my last. This book was not at all what I expected from Richard Preston. I read Hot Zone and Demon in the Freezer and those were real page turners. This one reads like a college dissertation. There is only a few parts that mention viruses. The rest is filled with discussion on the computation of Pi and the super computer used. Don’t waste your time, credits, and for Gods sake don’t spend your money on this book.