Bad Bugs Book Club
The aim of the Bad Bugs Book Club is to get people interested in science, specifically microbiology, by reading books (novels) in which infectious disease forms some part of the story. We also try to associate books, where possible, with some other activity or event, to widen interest, and to broaden impact.
Our bookclub comprises both microbiologists and members of the general public. We felt that this would encourage some discussion on the science – accuracy, impact etc – as well as about the book.
We have established a fairly fluid membership of our bookclub through our website In The Loop (www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/intheloop), but we hope to encourage others to join, to set up their own bookclub, suggest books and accompanying activities to us, and give feedback about the books that they have read, using our website as the focus for communication. So please get in touch!
Below, we have provided information on the books we have read so far.
Hot Zone by Richard Preston,meeting report and reading guide.
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Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks,meeting report and reading guide. |
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Dorian by Will Selfmeeting report and reading guide.
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The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton meeting report and reading guide. |
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Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskellmeeting report and reading guide. Held during National Science Week, with the support of New Manchester Walks. |
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The Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghoshmeeting report and reading guide. Sponsored by the Society for Applied Microbiology. A collaboration between In the Loop, the Manchester Beacon for Public Engagement and the Single Cell Collective.
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Film made about the malaria awareness event for the Manchester Beacon
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Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwellmeeting report and reading guide. Sponsored by In the Loop |
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Body Farm, by Patricia Cornwellmeeting report and reading guide. Article describing microbiological aspects of the Body Farm, published in SGM's magazine, Microbiology Today (November 2001) Sponsors are the Society for General Microbiology, and Manchester Science Festival |
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Dracula by Bram Stoker |
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The Satan Bug by Alistair Mclean |
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The Street Philosopher by Matthew Plampinmeeting report and reading guide.
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Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor |
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Toxin by Robin Cookmeeting report and reading guide E. coli as a cause of outbreaks of diarrhoeal
disease in the UK
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot |
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I am Legend by Richard Matheson |
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World War Z by Max Brooks |
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28 stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen |
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The Island by Victoria Hislopmeeting report and reading guide Podcast |
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Nemesis by Philip Roth |
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The Painted Veil by W Somerset Maugham |
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Intuition by Allegra Goodman |
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Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis |
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The Air we Breathe by Andrea Barrett |
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The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson |
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Meeting Photos