Overview

There are few visible markers of the accomplishments of public health. If epidemiologists do their jobs, nothing happens. An outbreak does not grow into an epidemic. A child does not go hungry. A would-be smoker never lights up. These achievements are rarely noticed or celebrated, but Caitlin Rivers lives for such victories. By making sure that things don't happen, she and legions of scientists, practitioners, and policymakers change the course of history. We have many of the tools and experiences needed to prevent the next crisis, but countless challenges remain, including constantly emerging pathogens, the rapid growth of biotechnology, and the inconsistent cycles of funding for government organizations like the CDC. Progress can be slow, even with the next pandemic potentially right around the corner, but the unsung heroes in public health remain focused on their missions. Crisis Averted is their story - from the eradication of smallpox in the 20th century to today's safeguards against extraterrestrial germs. By taking a candid look at how we solve problems in public health, Caitlin Rivers illuminates the role of epidemiology in all our lives and lays out the case for what can be accomplished, given sufficient vision, leadership, and resources. Crisis Averted is an inspiring and galvanizing clarion call for us to work together towards a healthier, more resilient future.

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Reviews

“Few public health leaders have been as prophetic as Caitlin Rivers. She has been at the forefront of identifying the risks we face from pathogens, foretelling outbreaks, and guiding our responses with remarkable foresight. In Crisis Averted, Rivers offers a masterclass in how we can pinpoint and prevent health crises before they spiral out of control and use the tools of public health to reduce suffering from disease.”—Scott Gottlieb, M.D., author of Uncontrolled Spread “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Caitlin Rivers became one of our most trusted voices in public health. Now her goal ‘is to make the threads of public health visible in the fabric of our lives.’ Through fascinating stories paired with compelling insights, she succeeds remarkably. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in public health—which should be all of us by now.”—Sandeep Jauhar, New York Times bestselling author of Heart and My Father's Brain ""I've known for several years now that Caitlin Rivers is one of the most inspiring practitioners of—and advocates for—public health in the United States. But reading Crisis Averted made it clear to me that she was also a gifted storyteller. With powerful narratives and hard-won expertise from her work on the frontlines of the COVID crisis, Rivers shines essential light on the often invisible ways that public health protects us all."" —Steven Johnson, author of The Ghost Map and Extra Life “Digging into little-known successes and underappreciated failures, Crisis Averted makes a powerful and persuasive case for how societies can get better at responding to disease threats. A must read for anyone interested in public health.”—Adam Kucharski, author of The Rules of Contagion

"“Few public health leaders have been as prophetic as Caitlin Rivers. She has been at the forefront of identifying the risks we face from pathogens, foretelling outbreaks, and guiding our responses with remarkable foresight. In Crisis Averted, Rivers offers a masterclass in how we can pinpoint and prevent health crises before they spiral out of control and use the tools of public health to reduce suffering from disease.”—Scott Gottlieb, M.D., author of Uncontrolled Spread “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Caitlin Rivers became one of our most trusted voices in public health. Now her goal ‘is to make the threads of public health visible in the fabric of our lives.’ Through fascinating stories paired with compelling insights, she succeeds remarkably. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in public health—which should be all of us by now.”—Sandeep Jauhar, New York Times bestselling author of Heart and My Father's Brain ""I've known for several years now that Caitlin Rivers is one of the most inspiring practitioners of—and advocates for—public health in the United States. But reading Crisis Averted made it clear to me that she was also a gifted storyteller. With powerful narratives and hard-won expertise from her work on the frontlines of the COVID crisis, Rivers shines essential light on the often invisible ways that public health protects us all."" —Steven Johnson, author of The Ghost Map and Extra Life “Digging into little-known successes and underappreciated failures, Crisis Averted makes a powerful and persuasive case for how societies can get better at responding to disease threats. A must read for anyone interested in public health.”—Adam Kucharski, author of The Rules of Contagion"

"“Few public health leaders have been as prophetic as Caitlin Rivers. She has been at the forefront of identifying the risks we face from pathogens, foretelling outbreaks, and guiding our responses with remarkable foresight. In Crisis Averted, Rivers offers a masterclass in how we can pinpoint and prevent health crises before they spiral out of control and use the tools of public health to reduce suffering from disease.”—Scott Gottlieb, M.D., author of Uncontrolled Spread “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Caitlin Rivers became one of our most trusted voices in public health. Now her goal ‘is to make the threads of public health visible in the fabric of our lives.’ Through fascinating stories paired with compelling insights, she succeeds remarkably. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in public health—which should be all of us by now.”—Sandeep Jauhar, New York Times bestselling author of Heart and My Father's Brain ""I've known for several years now that Caitlin Rivers is one of the most inspiring practitioners of—and advocates for—public health in the United States. But reading Crisis Averted made it clear to me that she was also a gifted storyteller. With powerful narratives and hard-won expertise from her work on the frontlines of the COVID crisis, Rivers shines essential light on the often invisible ways that public health protects us all."" —Steven Johnson, author of The Ghost Map and Extra Life “Digging into little-known successes and underappreciated failures, Crisis Averted makes a powerful and persuasive case for how societies can get better at responding to disease threads. A must read for anyone interested in public health.”—Adam Kucharski, author of The Rules of Contagion"

Author Information

Caitlin Rivers, PhD, is an epidemiologist who specializes in outbreak science and an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She was a founding member of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a longtime advocate for its creation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rivers participated in influential reports that guided the US pandemic response. She has written for or has been featured in media such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Science, Foreign Affairs, Vox, and NPR. She talks about outbreaks and public health in her weekly newsletter, Force of Infection.

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