The Big One
How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping basket is already at capacity.
Add to cart failed.
Please try again later
Add to wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Remove from wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
New to Audible Prime Member exclusive: 2 credits with free trial
1 credit a month to use on any title to download and keep
Listen to anything from the Plus Catalogue—thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks
Download titles to your library and listen offline
₹199 per month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Big One
Narrated by:
Peter Ganim
Buy Now for ₹500.00
-
Narrated by:
-
Peter Ganim
-
Written by:
-
Michael T. Osterholm PhD MPH PhD MPH
-
Mark Olshaker
About this listen
The Covid-19 pandemic was the most devastating natural event of the last century, killing more than 7 million people around the globe, straining the fabric of societies internationally, and shaking the foundations of the global economy. And yet, as horrifying as the experience was, Covid-19 was not actually “the Big One” — the dreaded potential pandemic that haunts the nightmares of epidemiologists and public health officials everywhere, and which will alter life across the world on every meaningful level unless we are ready to deal with it. Indeed, even as we learn to live with Covid-19 and continue to recover from its worst effects, the next pandemic is already lurking around the corner—and it may very well be worse.
In The Big One, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker examine past pandemics, highlighting the ways societies both succeeded and failed to address them; trace the Covid-19 pandemic and evaluate how it was handled; and look to the future, projecting what the next pandemics might look like and what must be done to mitigate them. Drawing on years of high-level research as well as cutting-edge analysis and an innovative hypothetical scenario threaded throughout each chapter, The Big One is a gripping, comprehensive, and urgent wake-up call. Because Covid-19 was just a taste of what’s to come. If we’re going to survive the next big pandemic, we need to be prepared.
Critic Reviews
“With his unique blend of knowledge, communications skills, and Midwestern forthrightness, Michael Osterholm has made himself indispensable in the fight to understand and overcome global infections. In The Big One, he marshals this depth and breadth to prepare us for the struggle that surely will come.”—Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine, and author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science
“If there was one person to turn for future pandemic readiness, it would be Michael Osterholm, one of the world’s leading epidemiologists. In The Big One, a landmark book, he, along with Mark Olshaker, provide a remarkably clear-eyed, science-driven, and comprehensive preventive approach.”—Eric Topol, MD, PhD, author of Deep Medicine and Super Agers
“Mike Osterholm is an invaluable expert whose tremendous knowledge and humility also make him a trustworthy guide. In The Big One, Osterholm and Mark Olshaker take us through a tabletop exercise about a highly contagious, airborne virus capable of killing millions. We can only hope those in power heed its guidance.”—Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, author of Reinventing American Healthcare
"Three pandemic viruses have swept across the globe in the last 20 years. There will be another pandemic. The only question is when and how severe. At once thrilling and haunting, The Big One provides a life-saving guide for an inevitable event."—Paul A. Offit, MD, author of Tell Me When It's Over and Autism’s False Prophets
“A riveting warning—and a roadmap. In The Big One, infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm and bestselling author Mark Olshaker deliver a gripping, scientifically grounded account of a plausible—and perhaps inevitable—global crisis. Drawing on decades of experience, they reveal the political, logistical, and human challenges behind pandemic response, and show how we can do better next time. This book is a wake-up call we can't afford to ignore.”—Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
“The Big One is an extraordinary book. It's part thrilling disaster movie script, part insightful history of public health, part personal story. It's also the best after-action report on Covid-19 yet, along with the best advice on how both individuals and government can survive the next one—and there will be a next one. It's a book you won't just read. You'll reread it and learn something new each time.”—John M. Barry, author of The Great Influenza
"The Big One" is a compelling and timely read that stands out for its unique approach to understanding and preparing for future pandemics. Instead of just focusing on the grim possibilities of what's to come, the book masterfully zooms into past catastrophes, using them as a lens to visualize and prepare for the next "big one." This historical perspective makes the future threat feel tangible and preventable, rather than just abstractly terrifying.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is its exploration of how airborne diseases emerge, specifically highlighting the dangers of human populations living in close proximity to wildlife. It's a stark reminder of the delicate balance of our ecosystem and the consequences of disrupting it.
The author provides incredible insights into the complex machinery that swings into action during a health crisis. I found the sections on the manufacturing and distributing vaccines and the intricate design and technology behind the humble N95 mask particularly enlightening. It's a side of pandemic response that is often overlooked but is absolutely critical.
What truly sets this book apart is its treatment of pandemics as the war-like situations they are. It rightfully frames the global response in terms of strategy, logistics, and front-line soldiers. The perspective on physicians as our "sentinels"—the first line of defense watching for emerging threats—was powerful and well-deserved. "The Big One" is not just a book about a potential disaster; it's a blueprint for preparedness and a call to action.
Learning from the Past to Survive the Future
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.