Product Description

Viruses are disarmingly small and simple. None the less, the smallpox virus killed over 300 million people in the 20th century prior to its eradication in 1980. The AIDS virus, HIV, is now the single most common cause of death in Africa. In recent years, the outbreaks of several lethal viruses such as Ebola and hanta virus have caused great public concern. In her fascinating and vividly written book, Dorothy Crawford describes all aspects of the natural history of these deadly parasites, explaining how they differ from other microorganisms. She looks at the havoc viruses have caused in the past, where they have come from, and the detective work involved in uncovering them. Finally, she considers whether a new virus could potentially wipe out the human race. This is an informative and highly readable book, which will be read by all those seeking a deeper understanding of these minute but remarkably efficient killers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15657 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though the Berlin Wall has fallen, we find ourselves still struggling with an even older enemy in the eternal Common Cold War. Virologist Dorothy H Crawford has studied the link between Epstein-Barr virus and human cancer for years and casts a wary eye through the electron microscope to check up on them and report on our strange and occasionally deadly symbiosis in The Invisible Enemy.

This slim book, scholarly but accessible, examines these barely-living (or unliving, depending on whom you ask) gene packages with a strong emphasis on their disease-causing antics and the intellectual heroics of the various campaigns of eradication and control humans have waged for centuries. Though biological relativists might cringe occasionally at Crawford's dogged humanocentrism, few of them would really pine for the days of smallpox or embrace the raging HIV pandemic if pressed. Crawford looks at the wake of devastation left by these two viruses as well as her own favorite subject, which is strongly implicated in the formation of many cancers. Going a bit farther afield, she explains the weird behavior of the non-genetic reproduction of prions that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy; though these scary proteins aren't viruses by any definition, their behavior is similar enough to warrant inclusion. The Invisible Enemy, calmer than its title would suggest, provokes a sense of optimism in the reader; though the war might last forever, we can hope for fewer and fewer casualties as the years go by.--Rob Lightner

Nature, January 2001
...this fascinating book provides a rapid and accessible introduction to modern virology

About the Author
Dorothy Crawford is Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Edinburgh. This is her first book for a popular audience.

Customer Reviews

This is a book for 'us' to read, not scientific boffins !
Review of 'The Invisible Enemy' by Dorothy Crawford, October 2000

This book should come with a 'Highly Recommended' label. For those who have ever felt the slightest pang of curiosity when our doctor tells us we are suffering from "only a virus" (when we feel that we are at death's door), at last we have a book that explains in plain language how one of man's greatest enemies - viruses - work ! The most deadly infectious disease of the present day, the world's biggest killer, is a virus - Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). However, viruses and man go back millions of years to the evolution of our earliest ancestors. Since the dawn of civilisation, approximately 10,000 years ago, viral infections have outwitted us at every turn, and still manage to do so. Amazingly, just over 100 years ago, medical science had still failed to discern that viruses were responsible for some of our most common afflictions. Only within the last century have we managed to: - establish the disease associations of viruses and man - isolate 20 families of viruses that infect humans (some with over 100 family members !) - produce images of viruses, using the electron microscope - analyse the genetic makeup of some viruses, (and exploit them using genetic engineering) - produce effective treatments and vaccines for viruses (but these are sadly few) We have even succeeded in completely eradicating one virus infection within the population - the dreaded smallpox, which until 1980 was responsible for approximately 4 million deaths per year, worldwide. These are all major achievements, but new virus infections are emerging all the time - for example, HIV was unknown until the early 1980's. This means that the battle against these old adversaries is never likely to stop ! Despite this, the majority of people are unaware of the basic characteristics of viruses, which is perhaps alarming considering the intimate relationship that exists between viruses and man ? Professor Crawford has come to our rescue with a book that explains all aspects of viruses' interactions with man in a clear and accessible way. Have you ever wondered why we catch so many colds ? Ever wondered why your doctor is reluctant to give you antibiotics for flu ? Did you know that some cancers are caused by a virus ? Even more startling revelations are provided, for example the story of a group of eminent physicians who contracted hepatitis 'A' from a raspberry parfait ! Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction ! This book is written in a 'user friendly' way, with minimal jargon for easy reading. A helpful glossary is provided to explain those terms that we may be unfamiliar with. My favourite aspect is the enthusiastic and amusing way that Professor Crawford approaches her subject; with chapter titles such as (the perhaps cynical) 'Unlike love, herpes is forever' we know that this is a book for us to read, not scientific boffins.

A really informative and thought provoking book.
I really enjoyed this book, and though I regularly follow scientific developments, this book really set the story straight on some of the most socially important diseases of the moment such as AIDS and Ebola. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in diseases and how humans have lived with and adapted to them or even overcome them. My only criticism is of the conclusion drawn at the end of the book which lacked the depth and authoritive insight displayed in the rest of the book.

This book has to be read!
Amazing! That is the one word to describe this book. A great entertainer. The author has cleaved an element of fiction into pure science to help the reader visualize and grasp an understanding of how viruses work.

What I found particularly convincing abut the book was how the author mentions 'pandemics' and how one was due to occur in 2010. We are now all aware that such an event has indeed taken place, in the form of 'swine flu'. The author saw this coming, and I am sure they were probably watching the news at some point and thought, 'I told you so!".

There is so much we can learn from this book, I can't recommend it enough!