BLIGHT Fungi and the Coming Pandemic

Rosemary Benson's clear, melodic narration aids the listener in following the myriad threads that Emily Monosson weaves in this fascinating audiobook on fungi. Some fungi are good. But there is also a parade of horribles--such as the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, which is decimating bat populations; rusts that have already pushed some chestnut trees into extinction; and Candida auris, which attacks immunocompromised hospital patients. Benson's clear fascination and mild alarm are contagious as she ably steers listeners through the risks brought by monoculture. (There used to be several different varieties of bananas, but now we all eat one.) Another concern is that as climate change continues, fungi are adapting to a warming planet even though they generally prefer the cold. A.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]