OT - Book (Non Fiction) Review/Recommendations Thread

[Targan]

Plague Wars: The Terrifying Reality of Biological Warfare by Tom Mangold and Jeff Goldberg, published by St. Martin's Press ISBN 0-312-20353-5 / 0-312-26379-1. The edition I have is from 2001 so it's a little bit dated now but it really is terrifying. Meticulously footnoted for sources and quite a few photos and illustrations too. You don't have to be an epidemiologist to understand this book. The biggest problem I had reading it is that it's so depressing how easily biological warfare could end modern human civilization.

[Raellus]

I've started reading Savage Continent and, so far, it's proving to be a veritable gold mine for T2K-related world-building. Fairly concise but colorful sections address everything from displaced persons, to famine, the black market, and the the physical and moral degradation and destruction of most of continental Europe. It's a must-have for anyone who wants/needs help creating a grim but realistic post-apocalyptic setting, especially in Europe (although a lot of it could just as well be applied to CONUS or other parts of the western world).

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Targan

The biggest problem I had reading it is that it's so depressing how easily biological warfare could end modern human civilization.

All it really takes is one person with a highly contagious disease that does not manifest for 48-72 hours. (Think a virulent flu) That person gets on a 747 or an Airbus with 500-600 people in an enclosed space for, say, an 8 hour flight. Now you have 500-600 disease vectors getting on OTHER flights. Need I go on?

I could see nukes being brought out in very short notice to try and BURN the bug out. All international travel stops. All trade stops.

I have got to stop here. I am depressing myself.....

My $0.02

Mike

[Cdnwolf]

http://www.ndemiccreations.com/en/

This is a fascinating app game I play on my phone and the purpose is to wipe out the world with a plague in the shortest time evolving it. It is scary how fast different virus types and bacteria's evolve.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

If you have at least a high-school graduate education I think Rise and Fall of the Third Reich should be mandatory reading.