Buy used:
$10.06
$3.99 delivery May 20 - 24. Details
Or fastest delivery May 16 - 21. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by Half Price Books Inc
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Richard Preston
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science Audio CD – Unabridged, May 27, 2008

by Richard Preston (Author), James James (Reader)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 444 ratings
See all formats and editions
Bizarre illnesses and plagues that kill people in the most unspeakable ways. Obsessive and inspired efforts by scientists to solve mysteries and save lives. From The Hot Zone to The Demon in the Freezer and beyond, Richard Preston’s bestselling works have mesmerized readers everywhere by showing them strange worlds of nature they never dreamed of.

Panic in Level 4 is a grand tour through the eerie and unforgettable universe of Richard Preston, filled with incredible characters and mysteries that refuse to leave one’s mind. Here are dramatic true stories from this acclaimed and award-winning author, including:

• The phenomenon of “self-cannibals,” who suffer from a rare genetic condition caused by one wrong letter in their DNA that forces them to compulsively chew their own flesh–and why everyone may have a touch of this disease.
• The search for the unknown host of Ebola virus, an organism hidden somewhere in African rain forests, where the disease finds its way into the human species, causing outbreaks of unparalleled horror.
• The brilliant Russian brothers–“one mathematician divided between two bodies”–who built a supercomputer in their apartment from mail-order parts in an attempt to find hidden order in the number pi (π).

In fascinating, intimate, and exhilarating detail, Richard Preston portrays the frightening forces and constructive discoveries that are currently roiling and reordering our world, once again proving himself a master of the nonfiction narrative and, as noted in The Washington Post, “a science writer with an uncommon gift for turning complex biology into riveting page-turners.”


From the Hardcover edition.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  3. Publication date
    May 27, 2008
  4. Dimensions
    5.08 x 1.14 x 5.96 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0739328891
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0739328897
  7. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Compelling . . . stories of high scientific adventure.”—Seattle Times

“[Preston’s] stories sparkle with images of stark beauty and darkness; mature reflections about the complex worlds we all occupy.”—Denver Post

“With his 1994 sensation The Hot Zone, science writer Richard Preston terrified millions. . . . In his new book, Panic in Level 4, he continues to probe nature’s stranger side.”—USA Today



From the Trade Paperback edition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Audio; Unabridged edition (May 27, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0739328891
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0739328897
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 1.14 x 5.96 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 444 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Richard Preston

Richard Preston

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Richard Preston is the bestselling author of The Hot Zone, The Demon in the Freezer, and the novel The Cobra Event. A writer for The New Yorker since 1985, Preston is the only nondoctor to have received the Centers for Disease Control's Champion of Prevention Award. He also holds an award from the American Institute of Physics. Preston lives outside of New York City.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
444 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Richard Preston is the most knowledgeable writer of level 4 diseases. The Hot Zone was the most complete and informative book about Ebola.
Helpful
 Report
California Dreaming
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Primer for Richard Preston's Works
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I've read many nonfiction books now from Richard Preston. In order: "The Hot Zone," "The Demon in the Freezer," "Crisis in the Red Zone," and now, "Panic in Level 4" (PL4). This is I believe the first review I've ever written though for one of his books, not because I don't like them -- I love them as a matter of fact -- but it's just that many readers before me wrote reviews and anyone who writes reviews knows, if you're late in the queue, your review will simply rot at the end of that queue. And if no one is going to read it then why write it in the first place? I'm sure that authors feel this way themselves; even if they write "the next great American novel," but no one reads it, what's the point?

PL4 is not much different although it appears as if it's one of his less popular nonfiction books. There might be a reason for it, not that PL4 isn't well written -- it is of course. But it seems that it's simply broken into bits and pieces of his previous works. Some are chapters from previous books, while others appear to be magazine articles, probably from "The New Yorker" (TNY) when he wrote articles for that periodical. He still might write articles for TNY as of 2023 but I generally don't buy magazines, so I don't know. But each story in PL4 is contained in one chapter which can make for some pretty lengthy chapters, but that's fine. It's a very good way of delineating each story for the reader.

I will write that while most of Mr. Preston's books read like thrillers, I will also add after reading PL4 that he has a wicked sense of humor as well. I actually was laughing quite a bit depending upon the story. In particular a chapter about the Chudnovsky brothers, a pair of math geniuses who built their own supercomputer at first simply to calculate the value of PI to an insane number of digits, has some hilarious moments. But Mr. Preston walks a fine line. While he at times is obviously tongue-in-cheek with his humor, he never devolves to the point of ridiculing his subjects. Mr. Preston is certainly knowledgeable about the sciences while simultaneously being a terrific writer, so he understands the blood, sweat and tears that those subjects sometimes endure during the discovery process. Left in lesser hands, PL4 could've easily devolved into one Hot Zone mess. Not with Mr. Preston.

Some of the stories I had heard about -- after all some were pieces from some of his books I've read or were at least modified versions of those stories -- and some I hadn't heard about before. In particular the chapter on "self-cannibals" is a disease I had never heard of before. It is interesting because Mr. Preston actually spent quite a bit of time with some sufferers of the disease, and his empathy and patience shines through. I had a sister with a deadly disease who died in her 20s and I know from personal experience that most people didn't want to have anything to do with her. It was genetic but people would act as if they could catch it themselves simply through contact, like Ebola or Smallpox. So I know firsthand that the vast majority of Americans aren't as empathetic as they like to believe. Well, Mr. Preston, while understanding the dangers of all kinds of diseases, seems to be nearly afraid of nothing. He'll even climb hundreds of feet into the air into trees, or enter a Level 4 Hot Zone, simply so that he can write a better article. That is dedication.

If you haven't read any of Richard Preston's books, I'll make a recommendation, a recommendation that I wish someone else had given to me a long time ago. I would first take on "Panic in Level 4" which will give you a real feel for his writing style and stories. If you like that -- I can't believe anyone wouldn't -- then you might want to take on the other books I mentioned. As a matter of fact, I still have a few of his nonfiction books left to read myself. In particular I want to next take on "First Light" and then maybe "The Wild Trees." I'm not much into fiction but I still might eventually read, "The Cobra Event" (TCE). Even though I believe that TCE is fiction I know that it will be a terrific read. After reading other books from Mr. Preston there is no doubt in my mind.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Riviting!
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
I read this book in one day finding it head to put down. Richard Preston's style of writing brings the subjects to life. I got a little lost in the mathematical section only because I have weak background knowledge but loved it anyway. I've actually seen a child with Lesch-Nyhe syndrome at Kennedy Kreiger Institute in Baltimore where my son was admitted for his own rare chromosome disorder. This was a great read---I highly recommend it!
Helpful
 Report
Esse
3.0 out of 5 stars Pop sci essays with a human touch
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2010
Verified Purchase
This collection of essays is a well-written exploration of a variety of different topics, including mathematicians' search for pi, the race to sequence the human genome, and an examination of the ebola virus. One's opinion about the collection as a whole will inevitably depend on one's interest in the six topics covered but I found this collection held my interest even through the slower essays.

Here, Preston's writing is largely sharp and concise as readers have come to expect. He peppers in a bit more of himself in these essays through personal observations and comments on the writing process. This can be off-putting to some readers but I found it fit the tone of the essays. His empathy for others comes through clearly and it lends the popular science writing a human touch. Standout essays include "The Mountains of Pi," which was a very empathic and grounded look at a completely abstract subject, and "The Human Kabbalah," in which the story of the genome sequencing race read like a piece you'd see on ESPN. Overall I enjoyed this collection.

Kindle edition: The book offers a working table of contents, working footnotes, and zoomable images. It includes a non-working index. It was well-formatted and free from any noticeable typographical errors.
Helpful
 Report
SenderaGypsy
5.0 out of 5 stars Some people will love this and some won't....
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
I loved this book, but I'm also not surprised that the rating is a bit lower than his other stuff. You really have to have some hopeless nerd qualities to get into it, because it's not his typical scary ride, telling a true story so well you forget it's not fiction. These are vignettes, and the longest one is about 2 Russian brothers holed up in an apartment, with a supercomputer, attempting to calculate the value of Pi. I found it fascinating, and when I finished the book, I reread that section.

But if you're looking for something along the lines of The Hot Zone, read Demon in the Freezer or even The Cobra Event. That last one is fiction, I believe, but the story is compelling anyway.
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Aunt B
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
Well written. Good information.
Report
Alan
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2014
Verified Purchase
Very good buy, the seller was top class. Thank you very much for a great book, and being helpful. :-)
One person found this helpful
 Report
hattings
4.0 out of 5 stars Thriller
Reviewed in Germany on April 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
Bessere Handlung als die meisten Fiction Thriller, unwahrscheinliche Begebenheiten sehr packend beschrieben. Man lernt was dazu, Sein erstes Buch Hot Zone ist noch besser
Report
misha_67
4.0 out of 5 stars Good short stories
Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
I teresting well writtenshort stories. I always learn things when i read his books!
Report
Kat Davis
3.0 out of 5 stars not what I was expecting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
This wasn't quite what I was expecting. The blurb makes it sound far more engaging than it actually is. Consisting of several topics Preston had previously written about in The New Yorker and publications like The Hot Zone, this is more a summary of some interesting things. Although I suppose that depends on your definition if interesting; while the idea of pi and its fathomless depths intrigues me, reading about it for 45 pages got kind of boring even with the addition of a home made supercomputer that had a tendency to blow up. Same as the Human Genome Project...that article seemed more of a political wrangling match and spat between school boys. So, this is not an adventurous narrative nonfiction in the sense of The Hot Zone, but rather smaller magazine type articles that delve more into universal oddities and motivations for knowledge. I was bored in parts, but I also learnt something.
Report