Planning Miracles - by Jon Cohen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A groundbreaking book about the past, present, and future of pandemics, and a behind-the-scenes portrait of the groundbreaking community of scientists working tirelessly to stop the next one before it starts. In 1955, the vaccine that eliminated polio was celebrated as a "planned miracle;" today, despite the astonishing global effort that came together to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 faster than ever before, we now struggle against the rise of science denial and misinformation. Since 2020, we have had to face a terrifying truth: it's not if we'll experience another pandemic, it's when. How do we prepare to face it? Planning Miracles tells the stories of the heroes at the frontlines of epidemiology, fighting back against societal distrust and panic, monitoring the threats that exist, detecting outbreaks early, and developing new interventions as quickly as possible. Renowned science reporter Jon Cohen travels from the mountains of Vietnam to the rainforests in the Amazon, from the "wet" markets in Cambodia to fairgrounds in the United States, asking how we'll defend ourselves against the growing threat of pandemics, and finds surprising-and encouraging-answers. He meets scientists sampling bats, pigs, wild birds, and insects to hunt for the next dangerous virus. He visits labs developing next generation vaccines with cutting edge technology that aim to protect us from entire viral families. Cohen discovers the unexpected links between climate change and the spread of disease and explores efforts to improve the equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and data sharing around the world. Weaving together history, reportage, and science writing, Planning Miracles is revelatory and necessary"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A groundbreaking book about the past, present, and future of pandemics, and a behind-the-scenes portrait of the intrepid and innovative community of scientists working tirelessly to stop the next one before it starts

In 1955, the vaccine that eliminated polio was celebrated as a "planned miracle." Today, despite the astonishing global effort that came together to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 at unprecedented speed, we struggle against the rise of science denial and misinformation. Since 2020, we have had to face a terrifying truth: It's not if we'll experience another pandemic, it's when. How do we prepare?

Planning Miracles tells the stories of the committed scientists at the front lines, fighting back against societal distrust and panic, monitoring the threats that exist, detecting outbreaks early, and developing new interventions as quickly as possible. Renowned science reporter Jon Cohen travels from the mountains of Vietnam to the rainforests in the Amazon, from the "wet" markets in Cambodia to fairgrounds in the United States, exploring how we can better defend ourselves against the growing threat of pandemics, and he finds surprising--and encouraging--answers. Cohen meets scientists sampling bats, pigs, wild birds, poultry, and insects to hunt for the next dangerous virus. He visits labs developing next-generation vaccines with cutting-edge technology that aim to protect us from entire viral families. Cohen discovers the unexpected links between climate change and the spread of disease and describes efforts to improve the equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and data sharing around the world.

Weaving together history, reportage, and science writing, Planning Miracles is revelatory and necessary--providing hope that if we work together to plan for the next pandemic, we can avoid disaster.

Review Quotes

"Both a celebration of scientific achievement and a warning about the costs of complacency... The book's central argument about the importance of investing in pandemic preparedness resonates, especially now, as the devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic fades into memory and is replaced by corrosive skepticism and indifference. In reminding us that miracles must be planned, Cohen delivers an essential message for our tumultuous times."
--Science

"Cohen... traveled the globe to document the vast amount of work being done to identify emerging threats, along with the vaccines and other containment practices to stop their spread... At every opportunity, Cohen gives vivid details -- orange-colored whole roasted pigs, crabs the size of two fists, and mountains of dried fish at an outdoor market in Phnom Penh, for example -- that let readers tag along on his adventures... Cohen inspires readers to be optimistic that scientists will win the war against viruses... [Cohen] offers readers a glimmer of hope."
--Lola Butcher, Undark

"In clear, precise prose buttressed by meticulous research, he lays out what went wrong with Covid-19--from China's calamitous lack of transparency at the start, to global unpreparedness, to the United States' failure to mobilize and contain the virus... The author shows no patience for bad actors, or those who help them with conspiracy theories and junk science... As the world rebuilds from the wreckage of Covid-19, policymakers would be wise to take Cohen's work to heart. Pandemics, after all, are an ongoing fact of human life, not an anomaly."
--Kirkus, starred

"On the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic, this urgent alarm bell rings loud and clear."
--Publishers Weekly

"Compelling and timely... A sobering but ultimately empowering read providing a clear-eyed look on recent history and a call to plan wisely for the pandemics of tomorrow."
--Library Journal

"Jon Cohen is the real thing: a veteran science journalist of high intelligence, keen judgement, and rock-solid integrity who also writes fascinating books. This one is especially eye-opening and important. Trust him: He sees the pandemic future, it ain't pretty, but he has positive ideas about what should be done."
--David Quammen, author of Breathless and Spillover

"In his new book, Jon Cohen spans the breadth of possibilities in pandemic preparedness - from tackling zoonoses at their source, to producing leading edge vaccines in record time. He presents the point that when curious and talented scientists from around the world are supported to work together, they can create miracles which could prevent disease from emerging and spreading. Yet as shown time and again, including in COVID-19, when the potential advances of science and collaboration are curtailed, or are not shared equitably, people suffer and we all lose. I hope Cohen's book leads to renewed commitment to support collaboration in science, that will benefit all people, everywhere."
--The Right Honourable Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

"Jon Cohen's book is a masterpiece--reading it is like reading a thriller, each chapter whetting your appetite for more. It tells the story of man's quest to conquer pathogens that make us sick, explains the cutting edge research on viruses, bats, chicken, and the creation of new vaccines that's going on around the world, delves into the sometimes murky world of big business, politics and rivalry that interfere with what's really needed--a transparent, fair, and equitable global system to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats. Written in his characteristic lucid and engaging style, Planning Miracles is a must read for anyone interested in global health security and our war against microbes."
--Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization

"Planning Miracles is an accessible and compelling exploration of the threats pandemics pose to humanity, written in Cohen's signature clear and engaging style for a broad audience. Drawing on vivid storytelling and on-the-ground reporting, Cohen unpacks the complex interplay of politics, science, and global health. This must-read book offers crucial insights into how pandemics shape our world and what it will take to plan--and hope for--future 'miracles' in public health."
--John Nkengasong, Former Ambassador at Large, U.S Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy-State Department

"Future pandemics and epidemics of deadly infectious diseases are inevitable; we cannot wish these events away. Failing to prepare leaves us as susceptible to their disruptive powers as we were when Covid-19 raced round the globe. But there is much that science is doing and can do to stave off some of these threats and to mitigate the impact of those that cannot be forestalled. Cohen's Planning Miracles is a masterclass in that research, and the dangers of letting it falter."
--Helen Branswell, Senior Writer, Infectious Diseases and Global Health, STAT

About the Author

JON COHEN, a longtime correspondent for Science magazine, is a widely published magazine writer and author who specializes in biomedicine and infectious diseases. He has a degree in science writing and has done field reporting on health topics in more than 50 countries. He frequently appears on TV and radio shows, and he has collaborated on several documentaries and series. His print and broadcast stories have won awards from leading science academies and journalism organizations, as well as two national Emmys.