Compendium Pandemica: A Guide to Horrible Infectious Diseases

This book is a fantastic addition to anyone fascinated by infectious disease’s collection! And even if you’re just casually interested – as the author states so poignantly, especially in these current quaran-times, “Gaining a basic understanding of how diseases operate and what to do about them can impart a sense of empowerment.”It’s a quick read, easy enough to whip right though or pick up and down as you have a few minutes, as each disease is just a couple pages. The writing is clever, concise, with a comedic wit that makes it seem like a friend is telling you about these intriguing diseases. The language is accessible enough for those who have never studied any biological sciences, while not being too boring for those who have. I love the way each disease is laid out, with just the “need to know” facts of each disease, organized by history, life cycle, disease course, treatment, and prevention. I also appreciate the works cited numbered throughout the book, so it is super easy to find out more if you’re interested.Overall, I highly recommend this book if you’re even remotely interested in learning about the most fascinating and significant diseases in human history!

I really enjoyed reading through this book. This is a must have for anyone with an interest in diseases, pandemics, biology, or really anyone with a bit of morbid curiosity. The chapters are short and concise, giving just enough info on each biological baddie to satiate your curiosity. Each gives you the down and dirty on the pathogen/disease, its effects on the body, it's history & lesser known facts, as well as any known treatments. This makes for an easy read for anyone (like me) who has a short attention span.As someone who has studied and deals with the CBRNE (Chem, Bio, Rad) field, I ate up all the new facts and history that I wasn't previously aware of before. AD Gray delivers all this great info with a flare of dark humor that I (and most anyone in the medical and first responder fields) will appreciate.

I love this book! I have been a Registered Nurse for a very long time and I thought I had read it all, but whenI started to read Compendium Pandemica I was pleasantly surprised and then blown away. The material was very well explained with a quirky comedic form that I found hilarious. It went from "partying parasites" to a description of the adrenal glands as "pretty yellow hats on top of the kidneys" to many other phrases that made me look forward to every page in a book that could have bored me stiff. I can see this perky little P.A. running around a pathology lab screaming bloody murder when she found a live parasite in a jar. Anyone interested in medical reading,or learning about disease should definitely pick up a copy of "A Guide To Horrible Infectious Diseases." A.D. Gray really knows her stuff and she should keep writing!! C.J. Wynne

From others, you should already know that this book is an excellent guide for even pathology neophytes like myself. But really, this handy and so timely guide appealed to me on multiple levels. For starters, referencing Anthrax (the band) and a Kings of Leon pigeon-poop-in-eye incident make this hard rock fan appreciate real, tangible, topical examples. The mini-history lessons are also fascinating. Having survived spinal meningitis (after a long childhood coma), I found that section personally enriching. Also, being a data analyst in the social service realm (and part-time research methods prof), I found the tone to be just the right balance between presenting research and letting the people know what it means in laymen's terms. The author knows her stuff but she wants us to know enough to appreciate the backgrounds and have applicable knowledge. Awesome work!

As a pathologist, I know many facts about infectious diseases already, however, I learned a great deal of interest in reading this book. I loved learning medical history about those who discovered the disease or the treatments for these diseases and how diseases appear in popular culture. Often in medical school - there is so much science to learn, these facts are not taught. The narrative voice of the author makes the text easy to understand and entertaining for readers at many different educational levels. I plan to share this book with my daughter as she loves learning about diseases and with some help from me could understand the majority of information presented. Very pleased with my purchase.

I've followed @autopsy.pathology on Instagram for awhile and was eager to buy her book. The book does not disappoint and seemed an appropriate read, given the current pandemic. You will learn about many diseases, how they spread, symptoms, treatments and prevention interspersed with witty stories and the author's personal experiences. I couldn't put the book down and have received funny looks when reading in doctor's waiting rooms. I read it a second time out of fear that I missed something the first time since I read it so quickly!

This book is VERY informative and great for curious minds!

This book is fantastic! I love how the author gives such great information in an entertaining way. The book covers various illnesses, their histories, treatment courses and preventions. I've read it multiple times and it's one of my favorites.

A well referenced introduction to infectious diseases with an engaging writing style. Provides an interesting history of the diseases as well as disease course, symptoms, and treatments. Written by an American so a bit of a US focus but still very relevant to UK readers.

Absolutely fantastic book, her instagram page is very educational as well.I hope to see more books like this! 5* reading for those interested in these types of studies.

This is my kind of reading. Brilliantly written and packed with very detailed descriptions, I definitely recommend to the curious.

says it all