4.2 stars. I had read a LOT of books on pandemics prior to our current one, as the 1918 Flu and other pandemics have always been an interest of mine. This book focuses more on the socio-political aspects of epidemiology, rather than the origins or biology of the virus, and what it says about our preparedness for the next, potentially more deadly global pandemic. This is more “novelized” than I typically prefer, with compelling main characters and a dramatic narrative, but I really enjoyed it. It did a great job of laying out how and why our state of California led the way in smart and relatively rapid response, while the federal government completely dropped the ball — and lays a lot of blame at the feet of the CDC and how it has changed in the past several decades. Highly recommended.