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Biological War

The Sunday Times bestselling non-fiction thriller

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Biological War

By: Annie Jacobsen
Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
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There is an invisible weapon among us.
By the time you know you are a victim, it has turned you into a killer.

A compelling, fast-paced, ticking clock non-fiction thriller from the author of the bestselling Nuclear War: A Scenario.

A lab accident, a bio-attack, a global pandemic, and the collapse of human society. In this explosive new book, based on dozens of new interviews with experts with high-level political, governmental, medical, and military responsibility, Annie Jacobsen examines this very scenario.

There is no mushroom cloud, no shock wave or blast. Instead, the scenario that could end the world as we know it begins with something so small and malicious, that when used for evil, only evil can result.

This is what could happen; a roadmap to the hours, days, and weeks following the release of a biological agent, that serves as the most essential, forward-looking journalism in preparation for urgent societal upheaval.

'A persuasive and unnerving argument' The New Yorker

'Read this book. It is a better briefing on the problem than the one we recived in Downing Street six years ago.' James Phillips, Spectator

'It's gripping and very, very scary how this scenario plays out.' Transfer Orbit

© Annie Jacobsen 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Editors Select Freedom & Security Future Studies Military Politics & Government Social Sciences War & Crisis Weapons & Warfare War
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Critic Reviews

Very effective . . . you might argue that her books on nuclear and biological warfare establish a new genre we might call New Fear Unlocked . . . all too credible . . . the author's timing is impeccable.
Read this book. It is a better briefing on the problem than the one we received in Downing Street six years ago. (James Phillips)
Energetic, detailed and disturbing . . . an engrossing, plausible book
A persuasive and unnerving argument.
Graphic and sobering . . . Jacobsen is back with another scenario that promises to be even more ghastly and perversely thrilling than [Nuclear War: A Scenario]. (Killian Fox)
A scrupulously realistic book about the inconceivable…This is important work...Biological War is an indictment of the weapons programs that created our discomfiting reality, and of a leadership that has allowed it to continue.
This book moves like a meteor… Biological War is a heavily researched book about contagious and potentially civilization-ending pathogens…That so many were willing to talk to her, and have their names affixed to this book, indicates the esteem in which she is held.
A compelling and deeply unsettling examination of how biological warfare could shape the next global catastrophe . . . Biological War is difficult to put down, but it is even harder to stop thinking about once finished. (Hamish de Bretton-Gordon)
Horrifying . . . a good read (Jacob Aron)
Biological War: A Scenario will scare your pants off, but in a deliciously readable fashion.
All stars
Most relevant
Deeply disturbing and told in a way that will get you hooked finished this book in two days couldn’t stop listening

Great book

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Highly recommended. Truely a nightmare scenario narrated brilliantly. Could not stop listening. Five stars audible.

Excellent

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annie creates a movie in your ears. this is hands down similarly to her nuclear audio book some of the best listening I've ever listened to. 12/10 cannot wait for her next one.

annie jacobsen better than lord of the rings

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The scenario is interesting, with some questionable assumptions at certain points. feels like it is slightly written as a movie pitch

The pace that this book is originally recorded in is so slow, that it makes me think it was done intentionally to make the book seem like it is longer than it is. It starts to feel like a normal pace around 2x speed.

Also it seems like some content is filler as it is repeated so many times throughout.

Interesting Scenario but the pace is glacial

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if the JRE episode left you worried , this book will blow your mind. it's well researched and written , and always a positive when the author reads the book. As a "worst" case scenario , this will leave you thinking things over for hours or even days.

wow.

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