Uncontrolled Spread by Scott Gottlieb Summary
Overview of Uncontrolled Spread
Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb delivers a chilling insider account of America's COVID-19 failures. Praised by CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta as "sprinkled with true wisdom," this NYT bestseller reveals why our public health infrastructure collapsed - and how we prevent the next catastrophe.
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The Pandemic We Never Saw Coming
When a routine White House ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett became a superspreader event infecting President Trump and dozens of others despite rigorous testing protocols, it perfectly encapsulated America's failed COVID-19 response. How did the nation ranked best-prepared for a pandemic suffer one of the world's worst outcomes? Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's insider perspective reveals a cascade of institutional failures that left America vulnerable when it mattered most. By January 2020, the warning signs were unmistakable-a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan was spreading with alarming velocity. Despite China's initial claims of just a dozen cases linked to a market, the numbers quadrupled overnight. Videos showing medics in hazmat suits screening airline passengers contradicted official denials of human-to-human transmission. When China locked down Wuhan on January 23-a city of 11 million people-it should have triggered immediate action beyond mere travel restrictions. What America truly needed was diagnostic testing capacity, medical supplies, vaccine development, and expanded local health capabilities. Instead, we watched the crisis unfold in slow motion, unable to see what was already here.
Behind the Great Wall of Silence
America's Testing Catastrophe
Preparing for Yesterday's Pandemic
A Tale of Two Responses: South Korea and America
Operation Warp Speed: Science's Finest Hour
Pandemic as National Security: The Path Forward
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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