For most of us, a good way to calm work anxiety is to remind ourselves, “Well, it’s not a matter of life or death.” But for some people, like scientists working on a COVID vaccine, their daily work actually is a matter of life or death. So to check out the high-stakes world of cutting-edge medical science, we recommend cracking open the three gripping books below.
Moonshot: Inside Pfizer’s Nine-Month Race to Make the Impossible Possible
By Albert Bourla
A riveting, fast-paced, inside look at one of the most incredible private sector achievements in history, Moonshot recounts the intensive nine months in 2020 when the scientists at Pfizer created, tested, and manufactured a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine that previously would have taken years to develop. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Albert Bourla, in the Next Big Idea App
The Sleeping Beauties: And Other Stories of Mystery Illness
By Suzanne O’Sullivan
Inspired by a poignant encounter with the sleeping refugee children of Sweden, a Wellcome Prize-winning neurologist travels the world to visit other communities who have also been subject to outbreaks of so-called “mystery” illnesses. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Suzanne O’Sullivan, in the Next Big Idea App
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
By Walter Isaacson
A gripping account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Walter Isaacson, in the Next Big Idea App
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