Deadly Feasts

DEADLY FEASTS explains the threat posed by "mad cow disease" and other transmittable spongiform encephal-opathies. Rhodes's detailed account is paced like a good story, which George Wilson reads amazingly well. Wilson's tone is usually serious, but he captures every nuance of humor. Rhodes includes many interviews; Wilson's shifts in delivery always indicate clearly who is speaking. Since Rhodes's investigation ranges from New Guinea to the United States, vocabulary from many languages and disciplines is used, but Wilson delivers everything smoothly, including Rhodes's careful explanationof each medical term. This is difficult listening at times because Rhodes describes disease symptoms and meat-processing techniques so graphically, but it's extremely valuable, even necessary. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine