In the late 1800s, scientists Ivanovsky and Beijerinck independently confirmed the existence of submicroscopic pathogens, which must invade a living cell to replicate. Beijerinck coined the term “virus,” which means poison in Latin. The 1918 Spanish Flu was the first known viral pandemic, killing over twenty million people in just two years. It is considered the origin of all influenza pandemics. To date, scientists have discovered seven coronaviruses, most of which primarily affected animals. However, 2002 marked a disturbing change. The SARS-CoV-1 outbreak affected humans and was particularly deadly for the elderly. Presidents Bush, Jr. and Obama attempted to ensure America’s preparedness for the next pandemic. However, their efforts were thwarted by budget deficits, political differences, and apathy. In January 2019, the Trump administration conducted an extensive pandemic simulation that predicted widespread infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Executive Order 13887 called for the development of advanced technologies in vaccine manufacturing. The fact that the COVID-19 outbreak occurred soon thereafter led to a host of conspiracy theories and mistrust of vaccination campaigns.

Still, President Trump initially made comments that minimized the severity of the risk posed by COVID-19. His proponents in the media argued that the virus was a political hoax intended to harm the president. As a result, a large segment of the American population did not believe that COVID-19 posed a threat to public health. In early March 2020, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic. German Chancellor Merkel advised her people that they faced a serious health crisis, which required national solidarity and the restriction of freedoms. Her leadership resulted in Germany having one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates among developed countries. By mid-March, the rising death toll led President Trump to declare a national emergency and a lockdown directive. The resulting impact on the American economy was devastating. With over twenty million wage earners out of work, angry protests cropped up across the nation. A public health crisis morphed into a political divide. Meanwhile, Chinese and American officials slung accusations back and forth as to where the virus originated. A mini-industry emerged that preyed on consumers by selling fraudulent COVID-19 cures and prevention products. Conspiracy theories abounded. In the end, COVID-19 killed 750,000 people worldwide in just six months and almost seven million over the next three years.

An impressively successful entrepreneur, Gruner has considerable experience as the founder and CEO of multiple technology companies. During his four decades as a corporate executive, he refined his ability to balance the needs of his staff, investors, and clients, as well as his capacity to address immediate problems while maintaining focus on long-term solutions and goals. In this book, Gruner leverages his business experience and corporate skills to deliver a thorough account of the COVID-19 outbreak from a historical perspective. The introduction establishes Gruner’s admirable intent to provide an objective, accurate, and wide-ranging assessment of the pandemic and its progression. Opening with a detailed record of the scientific discovery of viral pathogens, the book gives chilling recounts of the devastation and loss of life caused by pandemics throughout history. Powerful imagery describing morgues packed to capacity and trains overflowing with caskets evoke horror and bewilderment.

The author’s clear and concise writing style is a refreshing and engaging deviation from the stuffy, academic tone of most historical nonfiction. His inclusion of illustrations, charts, tables, and maps not only demonstrates the thoroughness of his research but also serves to keep readers engaged. The book depicts the parallels that exist between the COVID-19 outbreak and coronaviruses throughout history: transmission from animal to human hosts, governments that hide or minimize the severity of the public health risks, and citizens who ignore public health warnings. Gruner also provides an in-depth, unbiased analysis of America’s management of the pandemic compared to that of other developed nations. The result is a successful fulfillment of the author’s objective to write a factual account of one of the most significant crises in United States history. This book will help future historians grasp the complexity of the public health policies, socioeconomics, and partisan politics that dominated America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gruner paints a vivid picture of the widespread pandemonium that the COVID-19 outbreak wreaked upon the American people.

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