The Big One

“With his unique blend of knowledge, communications skills, and Midwestern forthrightness, Michael Osterholm has made himself indispensable in the fight to understand and overcome global infections. In The Big One, he marshals this depth and breadth to prepare us for the struggle that surely will come.”—Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science

“If there was one person to turn for future pandemic readiness, it would be Michael Osterholm, one of the world’s leading epidemiologists. In The Big One, a landmark book, he, along with Mark Olshaker, provide a remarkably clear-eyed, science-driven, and comprehensive preventive approach.”—Eric Topol, MD, author of Deep Medicine and Super Agers

“Mike Osterholm is an invaluable expert whose tremendous knowledge and humility also make him a trustworthy guide. In The Big One, Osterholm and Mark Olshaker take us through a tabletop exercise about a highly contagious, airborne virus capable of killing millions. We can only hope those in power heed its guidance.”—Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, author of Reinventing American Healthcare

"Three pandemic viruses have swept across the globe in the last 20 years. There will be another pandemic. The only question is when and how severe. At once thrilling and haunting, The Big One provides a life-saving guide for an inevitable event."—Paul A. Offit, MD, author of Tell Me When It's Over and Autism’s False Prophets

“A riveting warning—and a roadmap. In The Big One, infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm and bestselling author Mark Olshaker deliver a gripping, scientifically grounded account of a plausible—and perhaps inevitable—global crisis. Drawing on decades of experience, they reveal the political, logistical, and human challenges behind pandemic response, and show how we can do better next time. This book is a wake-up call we can't afford to ignore.”—Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

“The Big One is an extraordinary book. It's part thrilling disaster movie script, part insightful history of public health, part personal story. It's also the best after-action report on Covid-19 yet, along with the best advice on how both individuals and government can survive the next one—and there will be a next one. It's a book you won't just read. You'll reread it and learn something new each time.”—John M. Barry, author of The Great Influenza

"Osterholm and Olshaker shake us out of our post-COVID complacency to confront the potential for The Big One. Both a warning and a manual, the book provides clear and concise action plans for how we can collectively confront, prepare and respond to other, possibly worse pandemics. It also thoughtfully addresses the many ongoing debates about America's COVID response and shows how the American public may learn to trust again."—Juliette Kayyem, Former Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

"A vital, compelling read. The next pandemic is inevitable. Preparation is our only option. And there is no one better to show how than the duo of Osterholm and Olshaker."—Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, author of Being Mortal and The Checklist Manifesto

“A clear-eyed examination of pandemic fault lines and what must be done to fix them….Osterholm [and] Olshaker weave a tale that at time borders on horror, interspersing the gripping story of the fictional virus with historical accounts of global pandemics and the experience of preparation and mitigation. But the story never veers too far into darkness without returning practical advice.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“A powerful and persuasive rallying cry.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Superb...This important playbook for anticipating the next catastrophic pandemic is about nothing less than human and societal survival.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Osterholm makes his case not with charts but with a hypothetical that reads like a disaster movie.…This is no mere storytelling trick. Osterholm uses it to drive home [that] the nightmare is not far-fetched.”—New York Post