Danger Close | Annie Jacobsen

Annie Jacobsen's 'Biological War: A Scenario' examines the threat of biological weapons through investigative reporting and hypothetical scenarios to highlight vulnerabilities. The book explores historical precedents, scientific developments, and policy failures that could enable biological attacks, warning of significant global risks. Jacobsen combines interviews with experts, analysis of institutional preparedness, and narrative reconstruction to make complex topics accessible. She calls for urgent reforms in public health and national security to prevent catastrophic outbreaks, whether accidental or deliberate. The work aims to spur policymakers and the public to reckon with the realities of biological threats.

The Devil's Hand is the fourth book in Jack Carr's 'Terminal List' series. The story unfolds with a regional superpower facing sanctions from the United States and its European allies, leading the Supreme Leader to devise a plan to defeat the most powerful nation on earth. Meanwhile, a young PhD student gains access to a classified bioweapon and is assigned a mission to bring his adopted homeland to its knees. The book is known for its intense and gripping authenticity, reflecting Carr's real-world military experience.

In 'Nuclear War: A Scenario', Annie Jacobsen presents a meticulously researched and chilling scenario of a nuclear war. The book begins with a surprise nuclear attack by North Korea on the United States, triggering a cascade of events that involve multiple nations and lead to catastrophic consequences. Jacobsen draws on exclusive interviews with military and civilian experts, as well as recently declassified government reports, to outline the minute-by-minute unfolding of a nuclear conflict. The book highlights the dangers of the 'Launch on Warning' policy, the inadequacy of current nuclear defenses, and the devastating impact on global civilization, including the immediate destruction, long-term environmental damage, and the eventual collapse of societal structures. Jacobsen's work serves as a call to action for disarmament and a stark reminder of the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.

The Hot Zone tells the dramatic story of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses from the central African rain forest, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. The book is structured around several key events: the discovery of Marburg virus in the 1960s, the 1976 outbreak of Ebola Zaire in Sudan and Zaire, the 1989 outbreak of Reston virus in Northern Virginia, and the author's visit to a sub-Saharan cave suspected to be the natural host of Ebola. Preston's account is a hair-raising narrative that highlights the dangers and mysteries of these highly infectious and deadly viruses.