The Premonition
A Pandemic Story
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:31st Mar '22
Should be back in stock very soon
A compelling exploration of the scientists who foresaw the COVID-19 pandemic, The Premonition reveals their urgent quest to save lives.
In The Premonition, the narrative unfolds in January 2020 as a mysterious virus emerges in Wuhan, China. While the world is largely unaware of the impending crisis, a small band of unconventional scientists recognizes the gravity of the situation. These individuals, driven by a lifelong obsession with viral behavior and the systemic failures of public health institutions, understand that a pandemic is on the horizon. Their unique insights compel them to act swiftly, as they grasp the urgency of the moment.
The story chronicles the journey of these maverick thinkers as they anticipate, trace, and confront the coronavirus. They challenge conventional wisdom, drawing on historical lessons and the need for innovative approaches to public health. The group’s efforts illuminate the complexities of human judgment and the potential for both failure and triumph in times of crisis. As they race against time to save lives, they also grapple with the broader implications of their findings for society as a whole.
Ultimately, The Premonition serves as a profound exploration of the human mind's capabilities and limitations. It emphasizes the importance of questioning established norms and adapting quickly to emerging threats. This compelling tale not only recounts the events leading up to the pandemic but also reflects on how we can learn from the past to better prepare for the future.
When the stories of our times are told, there will be no more seminal documents than the books of Michael Lewis. * Guardian *
He is so good everyone else may as well pack up. * Evening Standard *
Michael Lewis is one of the premier chroniclers of our age. * Huffington Post *
Superb ... It is tremendous fun, tremendously told. There is a lot to take from it - about the inertia of the US civil service, about the "malignant obedience" of middle managers, about how people fearful of the pandemic were treated with the "wary indulgence of the sane in the presence of the fanatic" ... Among those truths, in a familiar lesson for much of the world this year, is the danger of hubris. -- Tom Whipple * The Times *
A gripping story ... This is a book about some brave, curious people who tried hard to swim against the tide. As always in a Lewis book they are brought vividly alive ... Lewis is a master of his form. -- Christina Patterson * The Sunday Times *
A fluid intellectual thriller ... As always with Lewis, the book is full of fascinating facts and personal angles. -- Steven Poole * Daily Telegraph Books of the Year 2021 *
[Reading The Premonition] we see a disturbing common trait emerging in our country and others: the unwillingness to prioritise people's lives over ideas and ingrained structures. -- Kazuo Ishiguro * Observer Books of the Year 2021 *
It is hard to think of a writer who has had more success than Michael Lewis at turning forbiddingly complex situations into propulsive nonfiction narratives ... Without his ever having to spell it out, Lewis's message comes across very powerfully: the US government, in its institutional dysfunction, is in danger of abandoning its citizens to a private sector that is even less equipped to deal with large-scale disasters such as Covid. -- Mark O’Connell * The Guardian *
ISBN: 9780141996578
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 18mm
Weight: 236g
320 pages