David Quammen
David Quammen
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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David Robert Quammen is an American journalist, author, and science writer known for his work in the fields of zoology, wildlife conservation, and infectious diseases.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on December 2, 1948, David Quammen is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession: Journalist, Author, Science Writer
Early Life and Background
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David Quammen was born in New York City but grew up in a small town in Ohio. He developed an interest in writing at an early age and began contributing to his high school newspaper. This led him to pursue a degree in English literature from the University of Iowa.
Quammen's passion for science writing started with a course on creative nonfiction, which encouraged him to blend literary techniques with scientific subject matter. After graduating, he worked as a journalist for various publications, including _Rolling Stone_ and _Outside Magazine_. His experiences as an outdoorsman, naturalist, and writer have greatly influenced his work.
Major Accomplishments
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Throughout his career, Quammen has published numerous books on science, nature, and conservation. Some of his notable works include:
"Q&A: David Quammen on Science Writing" (1997) - a collection of interviews showcasing the author's perspectives on science writing.
"The Reluctant Mr. Darwin" (2006) - a biography about Charles Darwin that explores the scientist's personal life and work.
"Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jagged Shaping of Human Evolution" (2003) - an exploration of human evolution through the lens of predator-prey relationships.
Quammen has also contributed articles to various publications, including _The New Yorker_, _Scientific American_, and _Nature_. His writing often focuses on topics such as wildlife conservation, infectious diseases, and scientific discovery.
Notable Works or Actions
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In addition to his books and articles, Quammen has made significant contributions to the field of science writing. Some notable examples include:
He was a key figure in promoting science journalism through his work at _Outside Magazine_.
Quammen's book "Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic" (2012) received critical acclaim for its exploration of zoonotic diseases, which can jump from animals to humans.Impact and Legacy
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David Quammen's work has had a lasting impact on science writing and conservation. His ability to merge scientific accuracy with literary flair has raised the bar for writers in this field. Through his books and articles, Quammen has educated readers about critical issues such as wildlife conservation and infectious diseases.
Quammen's legacy extends beyond his written works, as he continues to inspire a new generation of science writers and journalists.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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David Quammen is widely quoted or remembered due to several reasons:
His unique approach to blending scientific information with literary techniques has made him a respected figure in the field.
His dedication to conservation and infectious disease prevention has earned him recognition from both the scientific community and the general public.
Quammen's commitment to science writing as a medium for storytelling has encouraged others to follow in his footsteps.
Overall, David Quammen is an accomplished author and science writer known for his contributions to the fields of zoology, wildlife conservation, and infectious diseases. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers and scientists.
Quotes by David Quammen
David Quammen's insights on:
So you have density, infectivity, mortality, and recovery – four factors interrelated as fundamentally as heat, tinder, spark, and fuel. Brought together in the critical measure of each, the critical balance, they produce fire: epidemic.
If SARS had conformed to the perverse pattern of presymptomatic infectivity, its 2003 emergence wouldn’t be a case history in good luck and effective outbreak response. It would be a much darker story.
From the ecological point of view an outbreak can be defined as an explosive increase in the abundance of a particular species that occurs over a relatively short period of time.” Then, in the same bland tone, he noted: “From this perspective, the most serious outbreak on the planet earth is that of the species Homo sapiens.
From this perspective, the most serious outbreak on the planet earth is that of the species Homo sapiens.
If you look at the world from the point of view of a hungry virus,” the historian William H. McNeill has noted, “or even a bacterium – we offer a magnificent feeding ground with all our billions of human bodies, where, in the very recent past, there were only half as many people. In some 25 or 27 years, we have doubled in number. A marvelous target for any organism that can adapt itself to invading us.
We should appreciate that these recent outbreaks of new zoonotic diseases, as well as the recurrence and spread of old ones, are part of a larger pattern, and that humanity is responsible for generating that pattern. We should recognize that they reflect things that we’re doing, not just things that are happening to us. We should understand that, although some of the human-caused factors may seem virtually inexorable, others are within our control.
The purpose of this book is not to make you more worried. The purpose of this book is to make you more smart.
The result will be gradual transmutation of heritable forms, and adaptation to circumstances, by a process of selective culling. Eventually he gave the crank a name: natural selection. Twenty years passed after the E notebook entry. The world heard nothing about natural selection.
Any tiny little thing that people do,” Dwyer said, if it makes them different from one another, from the idealized standard of herd behavior, “is going to reduce infection rates.
Human-caused ecological pressures and disruptions are bringing animal pathogens ever more into contact with human populations, while human technology and behavior are spreading those pathogens ever more widely and quickly. There are three elements to the situation.