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Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic
A prescient warning about the mysterious and deadly world of fungi—and how to avert further loss across species, including our own.
Fungi are everywhere. Most are harmless; some are helpful. A few are killers. Collectively, infectious fungi are the most devastating agents of disease on earth, and a fungus that can persist in the environment without its host is here to stay. In Blight , Emily Monosson documents how trade, travel, and a changing climate are making us all more vulnerable to invasion. Populations of bats, frogs, and salamanders face extinction. In the Northwest, America’s beloved national parks are covered with the spindly corpses of whitebark pines. Food crops are under siege, threatening our coffee, bananas, and wheat—and, more broadly, our global food security. Candida auris , drug-resistant and resilient, infects hospital patients and those with weakened immune systems. Coccidioides , which lives in drier dusty regions, may cause infection in apparently healthy people. The horrors go on.
Yet prevention is not impossible. Tracing the history of fungal spread and the most recent discoveries in the field, Monosson meets scientists who are working tirelessly to protect species under threat, and whose innovative approaches to fungal invasion have the potential to save human lives. Delving into case studies at once fascinating, sobering, and hopeful, Blight serves as a wake-up call, a reminder of the delicate interconnectedness of the natural world, and a lesson in seeing life on our planet with renewed humility and awe.
Fungi are everywhere. Most are harmless; some are helpful. A few are killers. Collectively, infectious fungi are the most devastating agents of disease on earth, and a fungus that can persist in the environment without its host is here to stay. In Blight , Emily Monosson documents how trade, travel, and a changing climate are making us all more vulnerable to invasion. Populations of bats, frogs, and salamanders face extinction. In the Northwest, America’s beloved national parks are covered with the spindly corpses of whitebark pines. Food crops are under siege, threatening our coffee, bananas, and wheat—and, more broadly, our global food security. Candida auris , drug-resistant and resilient, infects hospital patients and those with weakened immune systems. Coccidioides , which lives in drier dusty regions, may cause infection in apparently healthy people. The horrors go on.
Yet prevention is not impossible. Tracing the history of fungal spread and the most recent discoveries in the field, Monosson meets scientists who are working tirelessly to protect species under threat, and whose innovative approaches to fungal invasion have the potential to save human lives. Delving into case studies at once fascinating, sobering, and hopeful, Blight serves as a wake-up call, a reminder of the delicate interconnectedness of the natural world, and a lesson in seeing life on our planet with renewed humility and awe.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2023
About the author
Emily Monosson
6 books29 followersEmily Monosson is an environmental toxicologist, an independent scholar at the Ronin Institute and an adjunct facutly at the University of Massachusetts. Most days she writes in a little coffee shop around the corner and overlooking the Sawmill River called the Lady Kiligrew at the Montague Bookmill in Montague, MA. Maybe see you there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
August 24, 2023
THE FROGS
The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, (commonly referred to as Bd) was first identified and described in 1999. Since then it has pushed world frog populations to, and sometimes beyond, the brink of extinction. The news is so grim that a recent study published by the Australian National University documents over 90 different amphibian species populations that are already gone. Wiped out. No more.
Bd is a fungal pathogen that sets off a skin disease, chytridiomycosis, which ravages the frog’s skin, disrupting their water/salt balance. Eventually the frogs (also toads, salamanders and other amphibians) succumb to the disease and die by way of heart failure. There is no effective, workable cure. Let me say that again, there is no effective, workable cure.
“In 2019 dozens of scientists . . . wrote of the destruction caused by Bd: “This represents the greatest documented loss of biodiversity attributable to a pathogen.” Before Bd, no one knew any disease could be so bad. Now they know.” (pg 27)
THE TREES
The fungus Cryphonectria parasitica is the reason most of us have never seen a full-grown American chestnut tree.
THE BANANAS
The fungus Fusarium oxysporum is the reason most of us have never laid eyes on a Gros Michel banana. And (it gets worse) the fungus Fusarium odoratissimum is the reason the Cavendish banana, the one we all know and love, may one day be history.
THE BATS
The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is the reason bat populations are now at a fraction of their pre-pandemic levels. The fungal infection, commonly referred to as white nose syndrome, has hammered bat colonies all across the United States and Canada. In the case of northern long-eared bats and tricolored bats, the losses exceed 90 percent of their population. Population declines of that magnitude are unsustainable and, in some cases, eventual extinctions are inevitable.
HIGH ANXIETY
If reading all that triggered a panic attack, welcome to the club. But all is not yet lost. Emily Monosson, author and purveyor of bad news, offers us a little ray of light at the end of this ominous tunnel. The second half of Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic is all about a path back to a bio-divergent planet. Monosson provides us with a roadmap to resolution. Her concluding chapters (titled Resistance, Diversity, Resurrection, Certification, and Responsibility) are written with scientific reason and measured optimism. This is not an uplifting read but it is, in the end, inspirational.
_________________________________
The Worst Disease Ever Recorded
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/a...
The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, (commonly referred to as Bd) was first identified and described in 1999. Since then it has pushed world frog populations to, and sometimes beyond, the brink of extinction. The news is so grim that a recent study published by the Australian National University documents over 90 different amphibian species populations that are already gone. Wiped out. No more.
Bd is a fungal pathogen that sets off a skin disease, chytridiomycosis, which ravages the frog’s skin, disrupting their water/salt balance. Eventually the frogs (also toads, salamanders and other amphibians) succumb to the disease and die by way of heart failure. There is no effective, workable cure. Let me say that again, there is no effective, workable cure.
“In 2019 dozens of scientists . . . wrote of the destruction caused by Bd: “This represents the greatest documented loss of biodiversity attributable to a pathogen.” Before Bd, no one knew any disease could be so bad. Now they know.” (pg 27)
THE TREES
The fungus Cryphonectria parasitica is the reason most of us have never seen a full-grown American chestnut tree.
THE BANANAS
The fungus Fusarium oxysporum is the reason most of us have never laid eyes on a Gros Michel banana. And (it gets worse) the fungus Fusarium odoratissimum is the reason the Cavendish banana, the one we all know and love, may one day be history.
THE BATS
The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is the reason bat populations are now at a fraction of their pre-pandemic levels. The fungal infection, commonly referred to as white nose syndrome, has hammered bat colonies all across the United States and Canada. In the case of northern long-eared bats and tricolored bats, the losses exceed 90 percent of their population. Population declines of that magnitude are unsustainable and, in some cases, eventual extinctions are inevitable.
HIGH ANXIETY
If reading all that triggered a panic attack, welcome to the club. But all is not yet lost. Emily Monosson, author and purveyor of bad news, offers us a little ray of light at the end of this ominous tunnel. The second half of Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic is all about a path back to a bio-divergent planet. Monosson provides us with a roadmap to resolution. Her concluding chapters (titled Resistance, Diversity, Resurrection, Certification, and Responsibility) are written with scientific reason and measured optimism. This is not an uplifting read but it is, in the end, inspirational.
_________________________________
The Worst Disease Ever Recorded
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/a...
September 8, 2023
What! Another pandemic? This book describes the human pandemic that could potentially come from the biological kingdom of fungi which is separate from plants and animals—it’s actually more closely related to animal than plant. Of course not all fungi are bad. Many are our friends (e.g. bread yeast, mushrooms, penicillin) and are a major presence in our own gut microbiome.
So what’s the problem? Certain species of fungi have demonstrated devastating pathogenic characteristics. An alarming example is Candida auras which has evolved resistance to all three widely used anti fungal drugs. At present there are more than a thousand patients in the USA that have it, and on average thirty percent of them will die. Another example is Coccidioides infection known as Valley fever. More than 20,000 cases of Valley fever were reported in the USA in 2019, and on average two hundred people die per year.
Thus far in human history we’ve been spared from a true worldwide pandemic caused by fungal infections. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some other species. Some examples include chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, chytridiomycosis in amphibians, white pine blister rust, bat white-nose syndrome, and wheat stem rust. Most of this book is devoted to describing the history and current efforts at battling fungal infections in these and other examples. The future challenges are also speculated upon in the light of the new tools of genetic engineering and CRISPR technology.
There are an estimated six million species of fungi in the world and many have the potential of genetically evolving into more dangerous forms. Human world wide travel along with increased exposure to shipments of plants and animals contributes to the possible spread of fungal pathogenic forms. Also there are increased populations of humans with compromised immune systems from cancer and other medical issues who are at increased risk of infection. These and many other reasons lead to the conclusion that the potential of a future fungal pandemic is very real.
So what’s the problem? Certain species of fungi have demonstrated devastating pathogenic characteristics. An alarming example is Candida auras which has evolved resistance to all three widely used anti fungal drugs. At present there are more than a thousand patients in the USA that have it, and on average thirty percent of them will die. Another example is Coccidioides infection known as Valley fever. More than 20,000 cases of Valley fever were reported in the USA in 2019, and on average two hundred people die per year.
Thus far in human history we’ve been spared from a true worldwide pandemic caused by fungal infections. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some other species. Some examples include chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, chytridiomycosis in amphibians, white pine blister rust, bat white-nose syndrome, and wheat stem rust. Most of this book is devoted to describing the history and current efforts at battling fungal infections in these and other examples. The future challenges are also speculated upon in the light of the new tools of genetic engineering and CRISPR technology.
There are an estimated six million species of fungi in the world and many have the potential of genetically evolving into more dangerous forms. Human world wide travel along with increased exposure to shipments of plants and animals contributes to the possible spread of fungal pathogenic forms. Also there are increased populations of humans with compromised immune systems from cancer and other medical issues who are at increased risk of infection. These and many other reasons lead to the conclusion that the potential of a future fungal pandemic is very real.
October 17, 2023
Informatyvu, bet labai sausa.
July 27, 2023
A really fascinating read! As a public health scientist, I am a bit of hoarder of "looming public health threat" type books, so I've read plenty about viruses, bacteria, and even prions -- but I think this must be the first I've read on fungi! Monosson explores several interesting examples of ongoing fungal epidemics and does a really fantastic job of inserting little snippets of the technical science in a very accessible way. My only complaint is that I wish it had focused a little less on different types of trees (more on animals + humans), but still a really enjoyable and informative read. Would recommend!
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company for the ARC!
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company for the ARC!
July 14, 2024
Shouldn’t have been marketed as a looming public health threat. Informative but definitely not cohesive. Was at its best when explaining how fungi impact agricultural industries and human health in that way. Very much enjoyed the section on rust fungi and white bark pine.
December 28, 2023
Despite the scary title, this is mostly not about threats to humans. It spends much more time on fungal diseases of trees, bats, frogs and fish and how we should be trying to prevent and ameliorate those problems. Of course there are and will be fungi that can kill us, such as desert fever and C. auris.
July 29, 2023
Blight: Enlightening and Frightening
Wow!
This is a great book on fungi and pathogens.
It covered SO MANY topics, and I was so interested throughout. Really a book you will want to binge!
I learned a lot about things like the origins of COVID-19, bats, the resilience of pathogens, and how strong and prevalent they are!
It really opened a new world to me, and I highly recommend it
4.6/5
Wow!
This is a great book on fungi and pathogens.
It covered SO MANY topics, and I was so interested throughout. Really a book you will want to binge!
I learned a lot about things like the origins of COVID-19, bats, the resilience of pathogens, and how strong and prevalent they are!
It really opened a new world to me, and I highly recommend it
4.6/5
December 2, 2023
This book offers a fascinating and somewhat dire look at the current and potential pandemics caused by fungi, affecting species across the globe.
Discussions include fungi affecting humans, potatoes, bats, trees, frogs, bananas, and other life forms. And while terrifying, some hope for our ability to use science to overcome or avoid the effects exists.
It's a cautionary book about our mixed results from attempts to genetically modify or counteract against fungi, and the hubris of combating nature.
Discussions include fungi affecting humans, potatoes, bats, trees, frogs, bananas, and other life forms. And while terrifying, some hope for our ability to use science to overcome or avoid the effects exists.
It's a cautionary book about our mixed results from attempts to genetically modify or counteract against fungi, and the hubris of combating nature.
September 29, 2023
While I enjoyed this book overall, I wonder if "the Coming Pandemic" part of the title might be overselling things a bit. I expected this to have a much more human-focused, medical approach. It did, but not much. However, that doesn't take away from the picture being painted here.
Monosson looks at fungi and how they are evolving in response to climate change and increased global mobility. She writes about emerging fungal diseases that are affecting mammals more and more (white-nose syndrome in bats) and documents how fungal diseases have decimated amphibian populations world-wide. She also highlights fungal threats to food sources like bananas, and how are responses often exacerbate the problem. I'd forgotten that the blight that all but wiped out the American chestnut was a fungal disease.
It's not all gloom and doom, but this is a good overview of where we are in our understanding of the fungal landscape and the impacts it has, and likely will have, on our world.
[Aside: While discussing this with a colleague, she made me aware of the term "sporror" as a fiction genre. Definitely looking into that!]
Monosson looks at fungi and how they are evolving in response to climate change and increased global mobility. She writes about emerging fungal diseases that are affecting mammals more and more (white-nose syndrome in bats) and documents how fungal diseases have decimated amphibian populations world-wide. She also highlights fungal threats to food sources like bananas, and how are responses often exacerbate the problem. I'd forgotten that the blight that all but wiped out the American chestnut was a fungal disease.
It's not all gloom and doom, but this is a good overview of where we are in our understanding of the fungal landscape and the impacts it has, and likely will have, on our world.
[Aside: While discussing this with a colleague, she made me aware of the term "sporror" as a fiction genre. Definitely looking into that!]
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November 1, 2023I wish that had been a series of articles. There's some really interesting material here, and it certainly has a central thread, but it felt too padded to me. It's too bad, because I found the beginning FASCINATING, particularly the rise of fungal infections in humans. But I wondered about a lot of the historical evidence (or lack thereof) - I felt like disease that have (probably?) been around for a loooooong time, like thrush and yeast infections, weren't discussed. I also felt like the topic of increased rates of being immunocompromised were not treated with much care or consideration:
"An invasive fungal infection used to be a rare occurrence in the clinic. “If you had a fungal infection,” recalls Levitz of his early days in medicine in the 1980s, “the case would be presented at a conference,” that’s how rare they were. “Now we see them all the time.” The reason is because we live in the age of the immunocompromised. A growing global population lives with immune systems that are compromised to some degree."
It seems like the alternative would be to live without advanced medical care and antibiotics, right? I understand that the emphasis was on fungal pathogens but I would have appreciated if the discussion were a bit more nuanced.
Also, while again I appreciated the writing in the first portion of the book and the explinations of fungal biology, later sections seemed to need tighter editing to me. For example: "The old saying “the rabbit died” doesn’t necessarily mean a positive test because all the rabbits were killed. The frogs promised a less fraught test. Physicians simply injected them with a woman’s urine sample" - do we really need all the text here? Fraught for whom? Also if we're going to go that far into the rabbit pregnancy test, which really isn't needed in the first place, why not explain what happened after the rabbits were killed? I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the writing as the book went on, but that may have been related to my decreasing interest in the new topics.
"An invasive fungal infection used to be a rare occurrence in the clinic. “If you had a fungal infection,” recalls Levitz of his early days in medicine in the 1980s, “the case would be presented at a conference,” that’s how rare they were. “Now we see them all the time.” The reason is because we live in the age of the immunocompromised. A growing global population lives with immune systems that are compromised to some degree."
It seems like the alternative would be to live without advanced medical care and antibiotics, right? I understand that the emphasis was on fungal pathogens but I would have appreciated if the discussion were a bit more nuanced.
Also, while again I appreciated the writing in the first portion of the book and the explinations of fungal biology, later sections seemed to need tighter editing to me. For example: "The old saying “the rabbit died” doesn’t necessarily mean a positive test because all the rabbits were killed. The frogs promised a less fraught test. Physicians simply injected them with a woman’s urine sample" - do we really need all the text here? Fraught for whom? Also if we're going to go that far into the rabbit pregnancy test, which really isn't needed in the first place, why not explain what happened after the rabbits were killed? I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the writing as the book went on, but that may have been related to my decreasing interest in the new topics.
August 6, 2023
Emily Monsson, author of "Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic" has created an excellent book which reasonably hypothesizes the impact of climate change and the inevitable introduction of formerly exotic species of fungi. She also explores the wide-ranging impact and extinction threats we're seeing today, before things turn truly dire. Very insightful and somewhat terrifying in scope, to be honest. A bit dry and overly repetitive at times, this book is still super-interesting and provides some uncomfortable food for thought long after finishing the work.
November 22, 2023
[Hardcover]
This book is fascinating. I have a horticultural background and had heard of all of the fungi that largely effected plants discussed in this book. I hadn’t heard updates on some of these in a while so it was nice to get some new info.
I do wish this book had more human fungus content because that was new to me and extremely interesting.
And this book included some hope for the little brown bats which is nice. (Those poor little guys. It breaks my heart.)
There were a couple chapters towards the end that could have been wrapped up a lot faster but the book finished strong.
This book is fascinating. I have a horticultural background and had heard of all of the fungi that largely effected plants discussed in this book. I hadn’t heard updates on some of these in a while so it was nice to get some new info.
I do wish this book had more human fungus content because that was new to me and extremely interesting.
And this book included some hope for the little brown bats which is nice. (Those poor little guys. It breaks my heart.)
There were a couple chapters towards the end that could have been wrapped up a lot faster but the book finished strong.
June 21, 2024
I'm trying to read more non-fiction this year. Why? I have no idea, but that's the goal. Non-fiction goes down easier for me in audiobook format so that's how I consumed this book.The narrator did a fine job but the subject matter was...not as dramatically interesting as I had hoped. I wasn't expecting drama and alarm at the level of "The Last of Us" but I needed more than just having a huge chunk of the book spent discussing fungal contamination of trees. It's important stuff,to be sure, but not presented in the most interesting way.
July 10, 2024
Scary stuff! Our activities, especially moving species all over the world, have put many groups of plants and animals at risk. Fungal pathogens have put many taxa on the brink of extinction, especially when they become part of novel associations with new species. These pathogens are particularly hard or impossible to control, and for some plants and animals, massive die offs, sometimes with survivors having some level of resistance that allows their species to get by, in others, perhaps not. Mammals, including humans, have had some level of protection due to their higher body temperatures, but the times are a changing. Currently, and increasing so in the future, the battle against fungal pathogens for our crops, and for ourselves, will be a major issue. This book provides a well written account of what is at risk, case studies of successes and failures in the battle against fungal pathogens, and some of the scientists leading the charge with breeding programs for plants, quarantine procedures, and increasingly, genomic studies. Development of new anti-fungal agents will continue to be vital in our own fight. The fungi are amazing organisms, and can mostly be considered vital members of ecosystem, and microbiomes, and many are vital to our own lives. However, the few harmful ones can be very serious agents of disease, and we will likely encounter more of these in the future. One more contributor to a bleak future for our species, and many others, but we continue to develop new methods to understand the fungi - they are well worth the study! I hope that the few problematic species do not turn people away from this amazing Kingdom of life. There are dangerous species for sure, but many of our actions have made them this way. Well worth the read!
December 15, 2023
Fantastic discussion about the persistence of fungi, how they've wreaked havoc in the past, and some advice about how we can help prevent (or at least lessen) the next pandemic caused by fungi
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December 15, 2023Think less “the last of us” and more worldwide famines
September 2, 2023
fungus has been a little sketchy to me ever since a college biology class. I'm not fond of eating mushrooms. I'm just not really certain about where they stand in the scheme of things. I wouldn't be surprised if they were sentient. This book, written by an author who lives one town away from me, is a wonderful examination of the potential of fungus, in its astounding varieties, to evolve into something that could be more deadly to humanity. She looks at fungal infections afflicting frogs, salamanders, trees, potatoes, bats, and humans. It's a cautionary tale about the global community and how our connection is sometimes a dangerous inroad for microscopic passengers to cross oceans a continents, with the potential ability to wipe out entire species... like Chestnut trees and frogs. If you've watched the tv series The Last of Us, you'll be curious to read this book.
August 10, 2023
It was certainly informative.
August 17, 2023
Having consumed plenty of media related to the Covid-19 pandemic the last few years, I entered the Goodreads giveaway for this book thinking that this would educate us on the next big threat that none of us are thinking about. And it does, ably.
But while it is descriptive of how widespread and devastating fungi can be, it doesn't connect the dots, go deep into policy prescriptions, or speculate on what that pandemic might look like or how serious it could be in a way that lives up to the book's description. It describes early in the book how fungi previously unable to thrive in humans due to their body temperature have adapted and pose a real threat to the future. And then it moves on to other species, like trees, frogs, bananas, and so forth. Felt like it kind of left me hanging.
I wasn't looking for anything alarmist about the threat, but in my opinion this book actually might not be alarmist enough. But it's certainly worth a read for people who want a reasonably deep dive into the devastation fungi can wreak.
But while it is descriptive of how widespread and devastating fungi can be, it doesn't connect the dots, go deep into policy prescriptions, or speculate on what that pandemic might look like or how serious it could be in a way that lives up to the book's description. It describes early in the book how fungi previously unable to thrive in humans due to their body temperature have adapted and pose a real threat to the future. And then it moves on to other species, like trees, frogs, bananas, and so forth. Felt like it kind of left me hanging.
I wasn't looking for anything alarmist about the threat, but in my opinion this book actually might not be alarmist enough. But it's certainly worth a read for people who want a reasonably deep dive into the devastation fungi can wreak.
August 23, 2023
inevitable
May 5, 2024
Let's dispense with my greatest nit to be picked about Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic, the title. The word pandemic denotes a multinational disease affecting animal life with a decided emphasis on human animals. However, Monosson's book is decidedly focused on plant diseases, particularly those spread by fungal spores, which are ubiquitous in the environment. Personally, I would be perfectly happy to apply the term pandemic to botanical diseases; however, multiple online and print dictionaries are quite clear that it applies to diseases infecting humans. The word itself derives from Greek pandēmos meaning “of all the people.” The title, one must conclude, is misleading and does not accurately describe the contents of the book.
Since I've begun by picking nits, we may as well get the minor ones out of the way as well. While Blight is generally well written with few stylistic errors, as readers near the end they do encounter a few surprising grammatical faux pas. Page 193 tells us that fungi “will bide their time in some other species—a plant or an animal—waiting for a preferred host or lay [sic] dormant in the soil for months or years as spores.” I do not expect a professional author to confuse the verbs lie and lay. As readers are recovering from this shock, along comes this on page 200: “I am grateful to Luis Pocasangre, who hosted my husband and I [sic] at EARTH University in Costa Rica. . . .” A pronoun object of the verb hosted should be in the objective case, not the nominative. Much earlier in the book on page 148, the acronym for The American Chestnut Foundation is given as TAFC instead of the correct TACF. Yes, these are isolated errors that fortunately do not characterize most of the text; still, considering the work of the author, the editor, the proofreader, and others who, according to the acknowledgments, also read the text before publication, there should be none whatsoever foisted upon readers of the published book.
What precisely does Monosson wish to accomplish in her book? Page 199 refers to an article in Nature magazine entitled “Emerging Fungal Threats to Animal, Plant and Ecosystem Health,” and Monosson observes that “scientists were ringing a warning bell.” She explains that one of her goals “was to amplify their warning and wake readers up to the breadth of species lost to fungal pathogens that have gone pandemic. Another goal was to remind them that this is just the beginning unless we take responsibility for our actions, which have aided these outbreaks.” Blight does a very effective job in accomplishing these goals—at least among those who will read it.
Are there indeed pandemic (to use the word as Monosson does, etymologically accurate or not) diseases among the Earth's plants and non-human animals that impact the planet's ecosystem? She offers many examples: coffee rust, the American chestnut tree, California's tanoak and live oak trees, tar spot fungus on corn crops, the Netherland's fire salamanders, potato blight, a species of frogs in Costa Rica, Fusarium wilt of bananas, and more. As for causes of such widespread infections, especially as they are worsened by human action, she cites the planting of monocultures by farmers and the inadequately regulated worldwide trade in animals and plants by commercial dealers.
I did not find this an especially entertaining book nor one characterized by inspired or engrossing text. Explanations of genetic manipulation of plants with the goal of heightening natural resistance to infection seemed to become a bit too technical at times for easy comprehension by laymen. Nonetheless, I did find Blight informative and, as the author hoped, a wake up call as to the breadth of species damaged or lost to fungal pathogens. There are portions of the book of interest to readers who wish to expand their knowledge of agricultural practices, international trade in animal and plant species, fungi and fungal spores, ecology and the Earth's ecosystem, methods of (unintentionally) spreading disease across oceans and continents, and even a bit of the science of genetics. Blight is not unduly long, 203 pages not counting peritext, and is surely worthy of one's time expended in its reading. Just be prepared to concentrate fairly frequently to achieve a firm grasp of the content.
Since I've begun by picking nits, we may as well get the minor ones out of the way as well. While Blight is generally well written with few stylistic errors, as readers near the end they do encounter a few surprising grammatical faux pas. Page 193 tells us that fungi “will bide their time in some other species—a plant or an animal—waiting for a preferred host or lay [sic] dormant in the soil for months or years as spores.” I do not expect a professional author to confuse the verbs lie and lay. As readers are recovering from this shock, along comes this on page 200: “I am grateful to Luis Pocasangre, who hosted my husband and I [sic] at EARTH University in Costa Rica. . . .” A pronoun object of the verb hosted should be in the objective case, not the nominative. Much earlier in the book on page 148, the acronym for The American Chestnut Foundation is given as TAFC instead of the correct TACF. Yes, these are isolated errors that fortunately do not characterize most of the text; still, considering the work of the author, the editor, the proofreader, and others who, according to the acknowledgments, also read the text before publication, there should be none whatsoever foisted upon readers of the published book.
What precisely does Monosson wish to accomplish in her book? Page 199 refers to an article in Nature magazine entitled “Emerging Fungal Threats to Animal, Plant and Ecosystem Health,” and Monosson observes that “scientists were ringing a warning bell.” She explains that one of her goals “was to amplify their warning and wake readers up to the breadth of species lost to fungal pathogens that have gone pandemic. Another goal was to remind them that this is just the beginning unless we take responsibility for our actions, which have aided these outbreaks.” Blight does a very effective job in accomplishing these goals—at least among those who will read it.
Are there indeed pandemic (to use the word as Monosson does, etymologically accurate or not) diseases among the Earth's plants and non-human animals that impact the planet's ecosystem? She offers many examples: coffee rust, the American chestnut tree, California's tanoak and live oak trees, tar spot fungus on corn crops, the Netherland's fire salamanders, potato blight, a species of frogs in Costa Rica, Fusarium wilt of bananas, and more. As for causes of such widespread infections, especially as they are worsened by human action, she cites the planting of monocultures by farmers and the inadequately regulated worldwide trade in animals and plants by commercial dealers.
I did not find this an especially entertaining book nor one characterized by inspired or engrossing text. Explanations of genetic manipulation of plants with the goal of heightening natural resistance to infection seemed to become a bit too technical at times for easy comprehension by laymen. Nonetheless, I did find Blight informative and, as the author hoped, a wake up call as to the breadth of species damaged or lost to fungal pathogens. There are portions of the book of interest to readers who wish to expand their knowledge of agricultural practices, international trade in animal and plant species, fungi and fungal spores, ecology and the Earth's ecosystem, methods of (unintentionally) spreading disease across oceans and continents, and even a bit of the science of genetics. Blight is not unduly long, 203 pages not counting peritext, and is surely worthy of one's time expended in its reading. Just be prepared to concentrate fairly frequently to achieve a firm grasp of the content.
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February 13, 2024Blight: Fungi and The Coming Pandemic is a work of nature nonfiction that explores the implications fungi can have on various branches of ecosystems and the delicate balance on which our world teeters. The book is divided into two sections: Consequences and Resolutions.
The “Consequences” section gives examples of fungal pandemics that have taken various organisms by storm throughout history and the present. Each chapter focuses on a specific group, touching upon endemic instances in amphibians (frogs and salamanders), mammals (humans and bats), agriculture (bananas and other monocrops), and trees (chestnut and white pine), just to name a few. Monosson traces how these fungal disruptions could have possibly been introduced to these species that have not evolved fast enough to protect themselves from this attack by human expansion of global transportation.
The “Resolutions” section circled back to each of the instances relayed in the “Consequences” section, discussing the historical and current action steps people are making in the science, agricultural, and legal work. It discusses various experiments and laws that are helping reduce blight amongst native species, as well as imports and exports of plant life and wildlife. It even extends to the possible outcomes of space travel and microbial spread beyond Earth.
This book was not quite what I expected. As a whole, this book was informative and I learned a lot about the deathly side of fungi on a large scale. Honestly, if it weren’t for this book, I would not have known about the mass death of bats identified in Howe Caverns, a location I have visited quite a few times in my life, and is one of my favorite places. I hoped that this book would have dove more into the science behind fungi and how they work on a deeper level; moreover, this book was more of an overview of the fungi and discussed more of the effect on these various species and dove deep into that aspect. I picked up this book due to my fascination with fungi but got a narrative that educated me more on awareness. We do not need to focus on the “monstrosity” but on the consequences and possible resolutions for victimized species to survive extinctions and bounce back.
The “Consequences” section gives examples of fungal pandemics that have taken various organisms by storm throughout history and the present. Each chapter focuses on a specific group, touching upon endemic instances in amphibians (frogs and salamanders), mammals (humans and bats), agriculture (bananas and other monocrops), and trees (chestnut and white pine), just to name a few. Monosson traces how these fungal disruptions could have possibly been introduced to these species that have not evolved fast enough to protect themselves from this attack by human expansion of global transportation.
The “Resolutions” section circled back to each of the instances relayed in the “Consequences” section, discussing the historical and current action steps people are making in the science, agricultural, and legal work. It discusses various experiments and laws that are helping reduce blight amongst native species, as well as imports and exports of plant life and wildlife. It even extends to the possible outcomes of space travel and microbial spread beyond Earth.
This book was not quite what I expected. As a whole, this book was informative and I learned a lot about the deathly side of fungi on a large scale. Honestly, if it weren’t for this book, I would not have known about the mass death of bats identified in Howe Caverns, a location I have visited quite a few times in my life, and is one of my favorite places. I hoped that this book would have dove more into the science behind fungi and how they work on a deeper level; moreover, this book was more of an overview of the fungi and discussed more of the effect on these various species and dove deep into that aspect. I picked up this book due to my fascination with fungi but got a narrative that educated me more on awareness. We do not need to focus on the “monstrosity” but on the consequences and possible resolutions for victimized species to survive extinctions and bounce back.
September 17, 2023
Here we go, yet another disaster type to worry about. The problem presented here is that many fungi are parasites and when parasites find hosts that have never been exposed to them the results can be can be pandemically widespread and deadly. The logistical problem with dealing with that is that fungi travel long distances via spores; they can hop oceans in the mud on the soles of an airline passenger's shoes. Once relocated to a new area, spores can live months or years waiting to find new hosts. Procreation via spores guarantees that fungi can spread almost everywhere and, once there, become almost impossible to stop. Thus, as soon as a fungus invades a new territory and finds viable hosts, any disease it carries becomes endemic from that point on.
So why is this more of a danger now than in the past? Because global temperatures are now on a steep, rising trajectory. Fungi apparently don't like hosts who keep too high an internal temperature. (This might have been one reason warm-blooded animals did so well after the dinosaur age.) Until now, lower external temperatures have kept us relatively safe. As fungi perforce adapt to higher temperatures -- with normal highs approaching human body temperature -- at some point they'll discover humans have suddenly become viable hosts.
The book contains a wonderful and very sad chapter about North American bats, very valuable creatures (insect-control benefits north of $3 billion/yr. in the U.S.), who since 2008 have been dying by the millions from an imported fungal disease called white nose syndrome. Some North American bat species have already been driven to extinction and others reduced by 90% or more. This tragedy, probably facilitated by bats' lower body temperature during hibernation, appears to have been enabled by human transmission of spores (perhaps on the sneakers of an explorer visiting European bat caves and then returning to the U.S. to explore American ones). Whereas European bats had developed some immunity to the white nose fungus over time, the American ones were and are defenseless. Something to think about.
So why is this more of a danger now than in the past? Because global temperatures are now on a steep, rising trajectory. Fungi apparently don't like hosts who keep too high an internal temperature. (This might have been one reason warm-blooded animals did so well after the dinosaur age.) Until now, lower external temperatures have kept us relatively safe. As fungi perforce adapt to higher temperatures -- with normal highs approaching human body temperature -- at some point they'll discover humans have suddenly become viable hosts.
The book contains a wonderful and very sad chapter about North American bats, very valuable creatures (insect-control benefits north of $3 billion/yr. in the U.S.), who since 2008 have been dying by the millions from an imported fungal disease called white nose syndrome. Some North American bat species have already been driven to extinction and others reduced by 90% or more. This tragedy, probably facilitated by bats' lower body temperature during hibernation, appears to have been enabled by human transmission of spores (perhaps on the sneakers of an explorer visiting European bat caves and then returning to the U.S. to explore American ones). Whereas European bats had developed some immunity to the white nose fungus over time, the American ones were and are defenseless. Something to think about.
January 14, 2024
I came across this book in a university library and idly read the introduction for some downtime between work. It had me hooked from there. The idea of a mycological pandemic is not a foreign one today with the rise of the (great) Last of Us and other such media, but like most people, I did not know much of the history of fungal disease ravaging hosts as diverse as the American chestnut to the African clawed frog. Monosson shares this history in a straightforward way without boring, including lots of fun asides for trivia nerds and a number of helpful illustrations. Key names and ideas are gently emphasized by seamless repetition, and the book reassuringly leads us from alarm to hope, emphasizing the importance of serious care for screening, reducing our reliance on crop monocultures, and other measures to prevent the history of the cavendish banana repeating itself elsewhere.
There is only as much scientific detail as is needed and no more, so people without any background in genetics for whom something like CAS9 would be foreign are able to follow along nicely. In some respects, I wish there were more detail on this front alongside more illustrations, but that's perhaps only a matter of personal taste. I've been lucky to receive a substantial education in microbiology, genetics, and the like, but the only organism-specific study I ever undertook was mammalian and human biology. Yet more and more, I've come to appreciate how incredible the other kingdoms of life are!
One other aspect of this story that I was surprised did not play a larger role given the initial pitch was the idea of fungi adapting to infect warmer blooded species such as humans and how that might play out. Presumably, this is for two reasons: first, it would involve much speculation; second, it would require more scientific detail than is perhaps appropriate for this kind of popular science.
There is only as much scientific detail as is needed and no more, so people without any background in genetics for whom something like CAS9 would be foreign are able to follow along nicely. In some respects, I wish there were more detail on this front alongside more illustrations, but that's perhaps only a matter of personal taste. I've been lucky to receive a substantial education in microbiology, genetics, and the like, but the only organism-specific study I ever undertook was mammalian and human biology. Yet more and more, I've come to appreciate how incredible the other kingdoms of life are!
One other aspect of this story that I was surprised did not play a larger role given the initial pitch was the idea of fungi adapting to infect warmer blooded species such as humans and how that might play out. Presumably, this is for two reasons: first, it would involve much speculation; second, it would require more scientific detail than is perhaps appropriate for this kind of popular science.
September 25, 2023
The book opens with Monosson telling of a future where bats, trees and infirm humans are at risk of devastation and death from the fungi that are found all around us. It serves its purpose, catching your attention as she then weaves the facts about fungi and the many forms of life that it impacts - Bats; Frogs; Bananas; Salamanders; Trees; humans. And pretty much all of it is unintended consequence of man's journey on the planet.
She does an excellent job of providing history and background of many contributing factors as well as the scientists and researchers who have figured out some of the mystery behind what is it that is killing (fill in the blank), how did it get here and what can we do about it. Most often it was the movement of plants, animals and (unknowingly) microbes around the world by individuals.
At various times, countries around the world encouraged, questioned, debated, discouraged, banned or ignored these activities. The bottom line today is that a multitude of Fungi exist across the world and in some cases they are very damaging or dangerous to many forms of life.
I gained a new appreciation for genetic engineering and some work being done to attempt to engineer an American Chestnut that can withstand the attacks of its fungal enemy. I was also reminded of the extreme protocols that NASA (USA) used in the early years of space exploration and travel in order to minimize (or prevent) the transfer of microbes between planets.
A very educational and enjoyable read. Thanks to Emily Monosson for an outstanding book.
She does an excellent job of providing history and background of many contributing factors as well as the scientists and researchers who have figured out some of the mystery behind what is it that is killing (fill in the blank), how did it get here and what can we do about it. Most often it was the movement of plants, animals and (unknowingly) microbes around the world by individuals.
At various times, countries around the world encouraged, questioned, debated, discouraged, banned or ignored these activities. The bottom line today is that a multitude of Fungi exist across the world and in some cases they are very damaging or dangerous to many forms of life.
I gained a new appreciation for genetic engineering and some work being done to attempt to engineer an American Chestnut that can withstand the attacks of its fungal enemy. I was also reminded of the extreme protocols that NASA (USA) used in the early years of space exploration and travel in order to minimize (or prevent) the transfer of microbes between planets.
A very educational and enjoyable read. Thanks to Emily Monosson for an outstanding book.
March 21, 2024
This book shifts that creepy opening visual of the mini-series “The Last Of Us” from science-fiction to reality. Monosson, who teaches in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, presents a mix of biology, ecology, history and public health policy in this highly readable brief book.
Not all fungi are harmful. Mushrooms are for many a culinary treat. The diverse yeasts in sourdough starter are part of the fungi family Saccharomyces. Others, like Candida albicans are benign residents in the microbiodome of our guts. Most fungi, in fact, are helpful. A few, however, are killers. Frog and American bat populations have been decimated by fungal infections in our own lifetimes. Even more well publicized due to their threats to the food supply are Fusarium odoratissimum, a fungus deadly to banana plants, and Puccinia graminis, responsible for Wheat Stem Rust.
2024 article on fungi devastation of amphibians: https://www.theguardian.com/environme...?
Monosson describes a number of cases in detail. The story of the bats is told with special poignancy. “For at least half a century and probably longer, bat watching had been a summer tradition in my town of Montague, Massachusetts. The most common bat is the little brownbat, or Myotis lucifugus (Myotis means mouse-eared; lucifugus means to flee the light)." (p.84) In the short span of a few decades a fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans has wiped out some 90% of littlebrowns and other species.
Scientists hypothesize that the bats become vulnerable during hibernation (called torpor because they awaken and move about every 10 to 20 days). During torpor their body temperatures drop from a range of 95-100 degrees F. to 39.2-50 degrees F. During torpor B-cells and T-cells, part of the bat's defensive mechanism, appear to be absent from their circulating blood. The sequestering of these cells is consistent with the energy reduction that occurs during torpor. Virulent spores grow those insidious hyphae. The alarming tendrils branch through the keratin-rich membrane of the wing, tearing holes and choking off nutrients. By 2008 when Jon Reichard visited Aeolus Cave in Vermont, once host to the largest population of hibernating bats in the northeast, he found the floor of the cave carpeted with thousands of carcasses and the walls curtained with the dying. The outlook is grim. Fewer than 10% of bat populations infected by the so-called white-nose syndrome survive. A slim hope for survival hinges on genetic diversity. The fungus was present in European bats at least a century ago. Those bats did not die from the infection. American bats appear to have been infected as recently as the mid to late 20th century. Scientists hope that the genomes of the few survivors will evolve into a species-wide immunity in the American bats.
The case of White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola) offers a lesson in complexity. After stands of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), prized for the masts of sailing ships, were cut down in the 18th century, efforts to replace the trees relied on importing German seedling stock. Western European pines were infected but had evolved resistance to the fungus' fatal effects.
Spores first infect currant and gooseberry bushes. There, a second type of spore, one that can only germinate on pine needles, is produced. These spores penetrate the waxy coating of needles and spread through needles, stems and the trunk of the tree. “Male” and “female” elements fuse and “mate.” The recombined genetic variations offer additional protection to the fungi spores which then disburse to land on the berry bushes thus renewing the cycle.
In the West the fungus was first noticed in British Columbia around 1910. By the early 1930's it was decimating Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) and Whitebark Pines (Pinus albicaulis). Whitebarks are dependent on the Clark's nutcracker to reach the tight cones situated in the upper reaches of trees which typically grown to heights of 40-60 feet. The nutcrackers harvest huge quantities of the seeds and cache them in the ground. They are crucial to the dispersal of the seeds. Monosson details the heroic efforts over generations to save the Whitebark. In 1970 Bokum Kinloch discovered a gene Cr1 in sugar pines that caused infected needles to die before the fungus could spread. This die-out deprived the fungus of nutrients. However, so-called single-gene protection is an ephemeral defense because fungus' quickly evolve workarounds. Currently, research on genome sequencing may offer potentiality. It's a race against time.
Monosson has written this book to heighten our awareness of actions we still can take and lessons we should be learning from past mistakes. What her writing lacks in literary imagery it more than makes up for in both drama and urgency. “We are the direct and indirect cause of species extinction and disruptions caused by fungi. We are all living in the same little boat: planet Earth. Pine trees, bats, frogs and myriad others – we save them, we save ourselves. Acting on Hope to prevent further degradation is our moral obligation.” (p.196)
Equally compelling is the ecological subtext of these examples. We are all connected, not in a simplistic “circle of life,” but in a complex and dynamic web of interdependence which includes not just visible nature but invisible and active microbiodomes in the soil. Habitat loss, unrestricted transport of exotic species and the reduction of genetic variation have provided gateways to the next fungal pandemic. “Some of the best defenses for any species – trees, wildlife, crops – is the genetic diversity within their population. We make it difficult for species to retain diversity: we clear-cut forest, breed and plant monocro, clear land for our use, and cause the planet to warm.” (p.159)
NOTES:
In addition to ample footnotes the author provides lists of “Further Reading” and of nonprofits which support research and science-based policy-making advice on current and future fungal pandemics.
I have tried to include Latin names in this review because there is such a variety of common names can often lead to confusion.
2024 article on fungi killing amphibians: https://www.theguardian.com/environme...?
Not all fungi are harmful. Mushrooms are for many a culinary treat. The diverse yeasts in sourdough starter are part of the fungi family Saccharomyces. Others, like Candida albicans are benign residents in the microbiodome of our guts. Most fungi, in fact, are helpful. A few, however, are killers. Frog and American bat populations have been decimated by fungal infections in our own lifetimes. Even more well publicized due to their threats to the food supply are Fusarium odoratissimum, a fungus deadly to banana plants, and Puccinia graminis, responsible for Wheat Stem Rust.
2024 article on fungi devastation of amphibians: https://www.theguardian.com/environme...?
Monosson describes a number of cases in detail. The story of the bats is told with special poignancy. “For at least half a century and probably longer, bat watching had been a summer tradition in my town of Montague, Massachusetts. The most common bat is the little brownbat, or Myotis lucifugus (Myotis means mouse-eared; lucifugus means to flee the light)." (p.84) In the short span of a few decades a fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans has wiped out some 90% of littlebrowns and other species.
Scientists hypothesize that the bats become vulnerable during hibernation (called torpor because they awaken and move about every 10 to 20 days). During torpor their body temperatures drop from a range of 95-100 degrees F. to 39.2-50 degrees F. During torpor B-cells and T-cells, part of the bat's defensive mechanism, appear to be absent from their circulating blood. The sequestering of these cells is consistent with the energy reduction that occurs during torpor. Virulent spores grow those insidious hyphae. The alarming tendrils branch through the keratin-rich membrane of the wing, tearing holes and choking off nutrients. By 2008 when Jon Reichard visited Aeolus Cave in Vermont, once host to the largest population of hibernating bats in the northeast, he found the floor of the cave carpeted with thousands of carcasses and the walls curtained with the dying. The outlook is grim. Fewer than 10% of bat populations infected by the so-called white-nose syndrome survive. A slim hope for survival hinges on genetic diversity. The fungus was present in European bats at least a century ago. Those bats did not die from the infection. American bats appear to have been infected as recently as the mid to late 20th century. Scientists hope that the genomes of the few survivors will evolve into a species-wide immunity in the American bats.
The case of White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola) offers a lesson in complexity. After stands of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), prized for the masts of sailing ships, were cut down in the 18th century, efforts to replace the trees relied on importing German seedling stock. Western European pines were infected but had evolved resistance to the fungus' fatal effects.
Spores first infect currant and gooseberry bushes. There, a second type of spore, one that can only germinate on pine needles, is produced. These spores penetrate the waxy coating of needles and spread through needles, stems and the trunk of the tree. “Male” and “female” elements fuse and “mate.” The recombined genetic variations offer additional protection to the fungi spores which then disburse to land on the berry bushes thus renewing the cycle.
In the West the fungus was first noticed in British Columbia around 1910. By the early 1930's it was decimating Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) and Whitebark Pines (Pinus albicaulis). Whitebarks are dependent on the Clark's nutcracker to reach the tight cones situated in the upper reaches of trees which typically grown to heights of 40-60 feet. The nutcrackers harvest huge quantities of the seeds and cache them in the ground. They are crucial to the dispersal of the seeds. Monosson details the heroic efforts over generations to save the Whitebark. In 1970 Bokum Kinloch discovered a gene Cr1 in sugar pines that caused infected needles to die before the fungus could spread. This die-out deprived the fungus of nutrients. However, so-called single-gene protection is an ephemeral defense because fungus' quickly evolve workarounds. Currently, research on genome sequencing may offer potentiality. It's a race against time.
Monosson has written this book to heighten our awareness of actions we still can take and lessons we should be learning from past mistakes. What her writing lacks in literary imagery it more than makes up for in both drama and urgency. “We are the direct and indirect cause of species extinction and disruptions caused by fungi. We are all living in the same little boat: planet Earth. Pine trees, bats, frogs and myriad others – we save them, we save ourselves. Acting on Hope to prevent further degradation is our moral obligation.” (p.196)
Equally compelling is the ecological subtext of these examples. We are all connected, not in a simplistic “circle of life,” but in a complex and dynamic web of interdependence which includes not just visible nature but invisible and active microbiodomes in the soil. Habitat loss, unrestricted transport of exotic species and the reduction of genetic variation have provided gateways to the next fungal pandemic. “Some of the best defenses for any species – trees, wildlife, crops – is the genetic diversity within their population. We make it difficult for species to retain diversity: we clear-cut forest, breed and plant monocro, clear land for our use, and cause the planet to warm.” (p.159)
NOTES:
In addition to ample footnotes the author provides lists of “Further Reading” and of nonprofits which support research and science-based policy-making advice on current and future fungal pandemics.
I have tried to include Latin names in this review because there is such a variety of common names can often lead to confusion.
2024 article on fungi killing amphibians: https://www.theguardian.com/environme...?
May 2, 2024
This is an interesting work of non-fiction warning about potential fungal pandemics. The first chapter, focusing on novel human pathogens and how they may be aided in their colonization by global warming and a growing population of chronically immunocomprimized individuals, was gripping. Afterward the book did jump around a bit to more plant, and animal fungal epidemics. I found the chapter on bat white-nose syndrome interesting, but the plant-focused chapters weren't as gripping. Partly because I was already familiar with the epidemics/pandemics described. This may be a book more suited for people who are new to the topics of epidemics and pathology in general, as a decent amount of time is spent explaining basic concepts like genetic diversity. That part lost me a bit, as a biologist I wanted to get to the 'new' and 'interesting' stuff. There was quite a bit of speculation in the final chapter that needed more grounding. Speaking of speculations: I was a bit confused about the fungal-selection hypothesis meant to explain the boom of mammals that followed large dinosaur extinction. Birds run hot as well, and by default so did most dinosaurs, so I didn't understand why the hypothesis explained mammalian rise in particular.
Overall, I recommend this book more to new readers on topics of biology and disease, as it takes the time to explain the concepts at length. It may be more hit-or-miss for a more advanced audience.
Overall, I recommend this book more to new readers on topics of biology and disease, as it takes the time to explain the concepts at length. It may be more hit-or-miss for a more advanced audience.
December 18, 2023
This is an unusually good book for its genre. The subject is approach from an ecological viewpoint and the author makes a very convincing case that there will be many fungal pandemics to come if we do not address global warming, monocrop agricultural practices, clear-cutting of forests, mass clearing of natural brush, do not tighten Fishing and Wild Policy in treating it more like the way FDA treats plants and animals raised for food, speed up the adoption genetic engineering methods to enhance fungal resistance, disallow the free import of exotic animals and plants unless thoroughly tested for disease. Strong Government is essential in this authors and if not implemented quickly, then we are on the edge of pandemic after pandemic. It has already begun as she illustrates by going through many case studies but the tempo will quicken if a new policy and way of thinking is not quickly adopted. With space travel in the wings , we are on the cusp of introducing of foreign microbes if we do not quickly act. Good book and written very clearly.
March 15, 2024
Phenomenal book about something that I really do not know enough about - fungi. I was a bit worried going in as the first chapter seemed beyond my brain level, but I settled in and found her coverage of the material to be both strongly supported by data and experience and easy to read. Her discussion of how fungus has affected plants and animals are somewhat scary, not going to lie, we should collectively be more aware of the power of fungi to destroy our plants and animals e.g. bats and amphibians, that we are.
The only thing I would have liked to of seen, even though it might be beyond her wheelhouse, is just a couple pages on the ways in which pop culture has started to reflect the concern for fungi spreading and infecting/zombiefying humans. I've read several books where fungi are to cause for weird behavior and while I haven't seen The Last of Us, the root(spore?) of the show is of a mutated fungi. That pop-culture shift from zombies being created as a result of a mutated rabies virus to a more fungal based problem is interesting.
Also, Monosson could have beefed up her section on the coming pandemic a bit more. Yes, the book is in itself a strong testament to the dangers ahead, but specifically focusing on a coming pandemic would have been well warranted.
The only thing I would have liked to of seen, even though it might be beyond her wheelhouse, is just a couple pages on the ways in which pop culture has started to reflect the concern for fungi spreading and infecting/zombiefying humans. I've read several books where fungi are to cause for weird behavior and while I haven't seen The Last of Us, the root(spore?) of the show is of a mutated fungi. That pop-culture shift from zombies being created as a result of a mutated rabies virus to a more fungal based problem is interesting.
Also, Monosson could have beefed up her section on the coming pandemic a bit more. Yes, the book is in itself a strong testament to the dangers ahead, but specifically focusing on a coming pandemic would have been well warranted.
July 31, 2023
(4/5 stars) I initially requested this audiobook on NetGalley because I heard part of an interview with the author on NPR and thought it seemed interesting. While this book focuses primarily on how fungi have affected plants (trees and crops) and animals (bats, frogs, salamanders, etc), the author also touches on how fungi have impacted human health (especially where immunocompromising diseases are now more common). This book was fascinating and I found it accessible to a layperson. I don't plan on becoming a mycologist any time soon, but I do think there are ways that we can and should consider adapting our practices to prevent the spread of dangerous fungi that could cause mass extinctions of important species.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Blight is out now!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Blight is out now!
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