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The Premonition: A Pandemic Story
The Premonition: A Pandemic Story | Michael Lewis
For those who could read between the lines, the censored news out of China was terrifying. But the president insisted there was nothing to worry about. Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewiss taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19. The characters you will meet in these pages are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A thirteen-year-old girls science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worms-eye view to see what the CDC misses, and reveals great truths about American society. A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, world-class labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flueverything, that is, except official permission to implement their work. Michael Lewis is not shy about calling these people heroes for their refusal to follow directives that they know to be based on misinformation and bad science. Even the internet, as crucial as it is to their exchange of ideas, poses a risk to them. They never know for sure who else might be listening in.
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REPollock
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Pickpick

This is about factors that led to the US bungling the COVID-19 pandemic, historical instances of deadly virus outbreaks, the low-level state health officers who often are left to make difficult decisions about public health, & the epidemiologists & savants who tried to create & implement a plan for the nation working within & outside of the thick sludge of our national bureaucracy.

Highly recommended, a narrative nonfiction rollercoaster ride.

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REPollock
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Next physical book. Got this from my mom after she finished it.

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Brooke_H
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My purchases from Skylight Books…

Megabooks Loved both! 2y
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RamsFan1963
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Bailedbailed

I've had this book from Libby for 2 weeks and only read 25%, so it's time to move on. It's definitely a case of "it's not you its me" because I enjoyed both The Big Short and The Fifth Risk written by Michael Lewis. I'm just not in the mood for this book at this time. Maybe I'll come back to it later, try again on audio.

Pedrocamacho @RamsFan1963 Yeah, there are some pandemic books I can read and others I absolutely cannot. I‘ve dropped a few myself. 2y
mobill76 No mention of The Blind Side? Belated congratulations! I was thinking of how much you must be enjoying the super bowl. I lived in Cincy during the Marv Lewis years so not a fan. They don't seemed to have matured much since then either. 2y
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Tkgbjenn1
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Pickpick

An interesting, and detailed account, of what went on behind the scenes of understanding Covid-19 by a group of doctors and scientists who often went against directives and with little support to respond to the pandemic. Behind the scenes, the specialty of author Michael Lewis who also wrote “The Big Short” and “Money Ball”. You‘ll learn something here. My only complaint is the length of the chapters. It is a Herculean effort to finish a chapter.

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Suet624
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Pickpick

My friend was once the epidemiologist for my state & had no idea this book had been written. As she is a hero in my mind for the public health work she continues to do, I purchased the book for her. She‘ll love reading about these heroes. Their brilliance, quiet struggles & courage, their humble pursuit to protect us all, moved me deeply. I know personally the insidious nature of government bureaucracy and bosses who hide. It‘s all here to see.

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Suet624
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I CANNOT put this book down. Lewis provides us a glimpse of true heroes who take the health of humans personally and plan for pandemics against prevailing naysayers. Despite it being scientific Lewis makes it very easy to understand.

Leftcoastzen I couldn‘t either! 2y
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Pedrocamacho
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Pickpick

Lewis has written the only book about the Covid-19 pandemic, so far, that I‘ve found to be readable. It helps that he chose a fixed window in the past and stuck with it. That being said, Lewis always forms such a strong narrative around the people that he features. I am always left wondering if the nuance was missed.

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Gaylagal2
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🍁I love having maps in my books! I've always had an interest in geography and maps, even though I get lost all the time 😬
🍁I don't think I do, but not a 100% on that one. All my books are packed up 😞
🍁I would love to have a map of pandemic timeliness, where in the world they've been and a map/time line of the different people in Michael Lewis's book.

@ozma.of.oz
#sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Oh pandemic timelines would be fascinating! But a little too real for me personally right now! 😅 Thanks for posting! (edited) 3y
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Gaylagal2
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This book is so amazing and is my second nonfiction read on pandemics this year. Dr Charity Dean in the quote above is a stand out in her field. So sure of herself and her abilities...love 🤙
#sundayreading
#thepremonition

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Chiperskee
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Pickpick

Good read as usual from Michael Lewis. The book will make you mad about all the mistakes made with our handling of the pandemic.

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Neen32
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Pickpick

I always find Michael Lewis an engaging story teller. In this book, he tells the saga of those who shaped our pandemic response. A great look underneath the surface of policy making and a devastating critique of the CDC. Strong recommend.

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Amiable
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Pickpick

This book fascinated me, angered me and terrified me, all at the same time. When it comes to emergency preparedness and response in regards to the current and any future pandemics, we‘re basically all on our own. God help us.

Leftcoastzen I really liked it too. Agree with everything in your review. 3y
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Amiable
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I‘ve got to say, these are words I never would have expected to see together in a sentence. Huh.

Megabooks Right?? This is such a good book! 3y
Amiable @Megabooks And so is the book George W. read that started the whole thing! I try to recommend “The Great Influenza“ to everyone I can. 3y
Suet624 I thought the same thing when I read the sentence. 😄😄 2y
Amiable @Suet624 😃That George W.. -- constantly surprising people! This time in a good way. 😬 2y
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DavidDiamond
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Pickpick

How did the insights of a teenager's science fair project became the official policy of the US Gov when it came to controlling a pandemic? How did a group of rogue patriots working behind the scenes help to save the country? These are just some of the scenarios in Michael Lewis‘ fascinating book about what we‘ve learned from past pandemics & how that impacted how the US Gov, the CDC & the medical industrial complex are handling the current one.

Suet624 Great review. 2y
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DavidDiamond
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😂❤️

Suet624 This was like a movie moment as I was reading it. This woman is amazing. 2y
DavidDiamond @Suet624 His next book should be just about her! 2y
Suet624 @DavidDiamond seriously! 2y
33 likes3 comments
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Katenm
Mehso-so

There was something too easy about this discussion...although I agree withthe basic premise...it did seembiased and too much based on drama...Lewis definitely picked angels and devils...not sure I appreciate that style for this story...especially since I know this is nowhere over yet and it will end up being much more evil and awful if we survive it...

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TheStoriedLife
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Pickpick

Summer is half over and there are still So. Many. Books. I want to read. Almost done with The Premonition, which, like all Michael Lewis books, is just so stinking good. In this particular case, it‘s wonderfulness is even more astounding, as it‘s pandemic-related, and books are where I usually turn to *escape* thinking about the pandemic. #somanybooks #summerreadingstacks

BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
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Erosenthal
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Panpan

Just not that much information or insights

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TuesdayReviews
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“The CDC did many things. It published learned papers on health crises, after the fact. It managed, very carefully, public perception of itself. But when the shooting started, it leapt into the nearest hole, while others took fire.”

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Shakesteve
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Pickpick

A great book that looks at the few behind-the-scenes heroes who knew COVID was coming and had the knowledge to do something, only to be prevented from doing so by the government and the cowards who run its institutions. If you‘re not an idiot and are interested in the truth about viruses and pandemics and science, read this book.

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JenReadsAlot
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Amazon 3 for 2 sale got me again! #bookmail

Megabooks The Premonition is fantastic! 3y
JenReadsAlot @Megabooks Good to hear! 3y
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Jeannineth
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Pickpick

Excellent nonfiction account of the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic.

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midath75
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Pickpick

I love books like this. The type that show you the things that nobody knew what was going on in the background. It also shows how inept the US government was at containing the pandemic.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

It seems clear that the response of the US to COVID as it was becoming a pandemic disease was, in a word, disastrous. Michael Lewis‘s compulsively readable book looks at the competent people who saw this about to happen, then happening, and the ways they worked to try to right the bus. There are some flaws and errors in here, but overall it‘s a fascinating, if disheartening, read.

Megabooks Great review! Glad you enjoyed it too. 3y
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SayersLover
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This isn‘t really a book I‘d read, (don‘t really feel like reading any pandemic stuff) but this review on the back really cracked me up! 😂

TheStoriedLife I 100% agree with this review (and it made me laugh, too)! I‘ve enjoyed every single one of his books, even the ones that related to subjects I had little interest in! 3y
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Cinfhen
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Thanks to @eanderson for gifting me an Audible credit ❤️❤️❤️and thanks to my #AudioGuru @Megabooks for putting this one on my #ReadersRadar I‘ve added this audio to my ever growing collection 😀🤓

Megabooks How wonderful @eanderson ! I hope you enjoy it, Cindy! 3y
Lizpixie I love Audible! I‘ve been a member since 2010 & have over 250 audiobooks now🎧 3y
Cinfhen Yeah, Audible is THE BEST SERVICE ever @Lizpixie 💕💕💕 3y
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eanderson 💕💕 I‘m glad you were able to use it! I wasn‘t sure about audible but you‘ve helped me get addicted to it! @Megabooks just enabling audible lovers to treat themselves! 🤣😀 3y
britt_brooke I need to check out that Vans one! 3y
Cinfhen Right?!? Those Vans are iconic @britt_brooke I bet it‘s a cool story 3y
Cinfhen Such a great gift @eanderson and totally unnecessary but GREATLY APPRECIATED XX 3y
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akfreeborn
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Pickpick

This was interesting to see all the players and planning prior to the pandemic and what came before that informed how our covid response went. May seem too soon but I thought Michael Lewis reported on this well.

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BookishMarginalia
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Yep, after reading this in Time Magazine (and remembering how much I enjoyed the unfortunately named The Undoing Project), this book came home with me from the bookstore. 🤷🏻‍♀️😊🤓

Leftcoastzen I think you will like it , great read. 3y
Scochrane26 I saw on the news app that his daughter just died in a car wreck. Think she was 19. 3y
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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

That there are scientists & doctors in public health that saw this coming and never stopped fighting to understand the pandemic was heartening. To see that CDC is at best a slow moving reactionary body & at worst could stand in the way of actual progress was not good . Lewis is a great writer, now some unsung heroes get some recognition.

Megabooks Fantastic review! 3y
Leftcoastzen @Megabooks thank you ! 3y
batsy Nice review! I'd just read about this book and was thinking of checking it out. 3y
Suet624 This is a wonderful review. Only halfway through but loving it. Now I feel as if I need to read all of Michael Lewis‘s books. He‘s very readable. 2y
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plemmdog
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Pickpick

I tend to avoid most books on recent current events, but this was an impulse buy and just published. Lewis actually starts his story in the early 2000s. I can‘t believe I haven‘t read his other books! Quite Entertaining and devoured in a weekend. A less than flattering portrait of the CDC. The other surprise was a somewhat positive spin on George W. Bush.

Leftcoastzen 😂Yep , the obvious joke , I didn‘t know George ever read books.I am loving it too .Lewis writes so well. 3y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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My afternoon started out awesome. A friend accidentally ended up with two copies of this book and gave ME the extra. So excited! The end of my day wasn‘t so peachy though ... my car literally stopped working while I was driving. We think it‘s the alternator, which might not be terrible. But the experience was kinda scary ... ugh.

DaveGreen7777 Sorry about your car! That is a scary experience! 😢 3y
Graciouswarriorprincess Ugh. So sorry. 3y
kspenmoll That has happened to me. Very scary! Glad you are fine! 3y
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Andrea4 Ooo, I've had that happen...timing belt went, blew engine. Sucked! Glad you're ok! Hopefully your evening quiets down. 3y
AmyG Oy. As long as you are safe. 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @DaveGreen7777 @Graciouswarriorprincess Thanks. Hopefully it won‘t be a big deal to fix! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @kspenmoll Thank you! I‘m very glad it could pull over safely and that help arrived quickly. 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Andrea4 Yikes. Belts failing is scary too! Thankfully this is one part—although an expensive one. But we will see what the service folks think ... 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @AmyG Yes, thank you. I‘m 💯 safe! 3y
Ruthiella Paying for AAA is the best investment! Glad you are safe! 3y
LeahBergen Ugh! That sucks. 🙁 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Ruthiella Yes, AAA is worth every penny. Thanks! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @LeahBergen @TheBookHippie Yeah, it kinda undid the excitement about the book gift. 3y
77 likes14 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I could not put this down! This #audiobook is a post-mortem on the US Covid-19 response. Who knew what was going on and why they weren‘t listened to - and none of them are the people you‘d expect. I didn‘t believe it, but the CDC is a sluggish organization that was unprepared to implement anything. The real heroes of this story are mid-level people spread across the government and the private sector who weren‘t listened to. Read their story! 5++⭐️

Cinfhen #Stacked and did you see??? Amazon is having their sale again!!!! 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Now why‘d you have to tell me that?? 😂😂😘 Feeling pretty crappy from my Covid vaccine so I‘ll look later. Same severe headache I had when I had Covid. 3y
Reviewsbylola This may be too soon for me. 🤪 Sounds good tho! 3y
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Reviewsbylola So glad I saw Cindy‘s comment. Off to shop! @Cinfhen @Megabooks 3y
Cinfhen #SorryNotSorry 💜Hopefully you‘ll feel better in a few hours, Meg!! My son had similar reaction and the headache lasted about 12 hours then he was totally fine. 3y
Cinfhen I‘m so annoyed since I just bought books last week when my hubby was in the states @Reviewsbylola 3y
Librariana I actually got to grab this one off our processing shelf late yesterday and will be adding it to our library's catalog today! 😊 I'm grateful for your fabulous review Meg and glad Cindy mentioned the sale 😁 I've got 2 credits saved up! @Cinfhen 3y
Cinfhen This sale is on the print books @Librariana it‘s buy one get one half off 3y
Librariana @Cinfhen - Ah! Good to know 😉 I usually save my print purchases for my local indie bookstore, but I might use one of my Audible credits for the audiobook 😁😊 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola @Reviewsbylola I ended up getting two...for now. Not very many books that I want in the sale so far. 3y
Megabooks @Librariana I‘d definitely recommend the audiobook. I‘m glad you‘re library has a copy. Hopefully your patrons will learn as much as I did. Definitely worth an audible credit. (edited) 3y
Reviewsbylola I almost got two but actually stopped myself and went the library route instead. I have no idea what‘s wrong with me. 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola good for you!!! 👏🏻👏🏻 there are so many things I‘d rather read on audio now, so I‘m doing the library a lot. I went with one I didn‘t like the narrator of and another my library didn‘t have on audio. Plus it seemed like they didn‘t have much in the Amazon sale yet. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
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Megabooks
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“Men like that always underestimate me. They think my spirit animal is a bunny and it‘s a fucking dragon.” - Santa Barbara County, CA public health officer

Scochrane26 I like Michael Lewis, but I only saw the main title today when my bookstore promoted it. Sounds interesting. 3y
Megabooks @Scochrane26 It definitely is so far. I‘m about 40% in. My reaction to the Covid vaccine is getting worse, so I‘m glad to have a good audiobook. 3y
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Leftcoastzen
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Got it today ! No impulse control .It‘s super hot outside anyway .Enough excuses, I‘m gonna start reading it.🦠

BarbaraTheBibliophage What do you think so far? This is at the top of my impulse buy list! 3y
Leftcoastzen @BarbaraTheBibliophage It‘s pretty good ! I‘m about halfway thru , inspiring thinkers that won‘t quit & points out how bureaucratic systems are resistant to change & possible failure. He writes so well . 3y
59 likes2 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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This segment on NPR morning edition confirms many of the thoughts I had early pandemic. Book is out tomorrow.I‘m sure gonna read it. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/03/991570372/michael-lewis-the-premonition-is-a-swee...

Megabooks I preordered this. Excited for it! 3y
The_Penniless_Author I love pretty much everything Michael Lewis writes, so I'll be reading this too. 3y
36 likes2 comments