New Science Nonfiction Review: Blight

Summary: A fascinating book that is both informative and full of great stories.

Although humans have most recently experienced a viral pandemic, many of the diseases threatening our world right now are caused by fungi. Some of these fungal diseases have caused enough devastation that you’ve probably heard of them in the news. Victims of these pathogens include: North American bats and elm trees; white pine and bananas; and both salamanders and frogs in South America and Asia. Fungal diseases are also directly relevant to people, causing deadly illnesses in those who are immune compromised or post-antibiotic treatment.

I have a few small complaints about this book that I’ll get out of the way first. The organization could have been better. The first half of the book was mostly focused on fungal diseases and the second half focused on mitigation efforts. Chapter titles only intermittently followed a pattern and didn’t always make sense with their contents. Transitions between chapters were choppy. This felt more like an essay collection than a book. Definitions for genetics terms were glossed past quickly; I think someone with no background might miss some fascinating details. And the last two chapters got slightly repetitive and preachy without clear actions individuals could take.

As is often the case, the minor issues with this book take up more space in my review then in my feelings about the book. Overall, this was a great read. The writing was clear and urgent. By telling the story of specific researchers watching species decline, the author made these terrifying diseases feel dramatic and personal. The author did a great job of working basic science info into the narrative in an engaging way. Except for the genetics sections, where I knew what was being left out, I found the level of scientific detail spot on. The author’s vivid descriptions of disease symptoms were strikingly creepy. She does take the time to mention the many ways fungi help us too though. While not her main focus, this helped give a balanced view of how fungi impact our world.

If you’d like to learn more but aren’t quite sold on picking up the book, I recommend the Kirkus review for a great summary of the key points.

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