Autobiography
Dying to Know – Why the unthinkable has happened
I am a runner with a special local circuit. One and three-quarter miles up to the top of the hill at Little Trevalgan, within the Penwith peninsula in Cornwall – and then back down again. 3.5 miles for the free flow of thoughts.
You, the reader, are my companion as I run. Privy to the thoughts that bubble up from my subconscious, what you read is, in part, autobiographical. You also delve into the bole in my magic tree to access the fruits of research into matters that need further investigation. A touch of magical realism does not come amiss at the best of times – but this run of mine is being completed in the worst of times.
I am running in a pandemic. How has the world become gripped by a virus that is proving so deadly? Why are so many dying before their time? You share my journey of discovery in the realms of history, politics, economics and science over the first year of this pandemic.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Keep on Running Poetic, beautiful and shimmering with rage. Dying to Know offers a message of hope for those striving to keep the faith in these unjust times.
A must-have if you (like so many others) have already lost track of what's been going on during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his accessible writing style, Rob Donovan shows you the beauty of his surroundings, the ugliness of political games and the wonders of science. On his journey he takes you way back into history, but also into the future, our future. He cares about you and me, he cares about the environment. Another one of Rob's books which reads like a train (Dutch expression!): Once you start to you cannot stop.
Like a 21st century Pepys, Rob Donovan guides the reader through the early days of the COVID pandemic and beyond. During this journey many resonant layers of meaning reveal themselves through Dr. Donovan's idiosyncratic but compelling writing style. Historical, scientific, and economic matters merge with personal reflection, all of it expressed through the author's uniquely evocative literary voice. Ultimately, the book is a condemnation of our so-called leaders' astonishingly incompetent and unethical handling of the pandemic, and-- perhaps more importantly-- a heartfelt plea for humanity to find a better way forward. Dying to Know is an enlightening and inspiring book.
Rob Donovan is a talented author with the skill to present topics in a manor that quickly captures and holds the attention of readers. His writings reveal a man of conviction with world views founded in academic curiosity combined with life-years of experience. In Dying To Know, Donovan shares his views with readers, acknowledging that some views may not be those of his audience. But, this is at least in part the purpose of this book - to identify problems, propose solutions, and encourage constructive discourse in place of destructive polarized confrontations. In Dying To Know, Donovan presents a picture of the COVID-19 pandemic in a totally unique manner, that of a long distance runner pondering the many scientific, social, and political problems and revelations that accompanied this outbreak. His description of the global spread of COVID-19 and the virus which causes it is based on sound, peer-reviewed scientific and medical knowledge. Donovan's critique of pandemic prevention measures utilized or in many cases not, is illuminating and causes the reader to ponder how the onslaught of this virus might have been more effectively managed if persons in leadership positions had been more familiar or more willing to properly employ these measures. This scientifically sound description of pandemic events is refreshing in contrast to the volumes of misinformation and disinformation spread by some government entities and via many social media platforms. But, Dying To Know is not merely a treatise on the pandemic. Donovan presents a vivid and intriguing description of other life events, some of a personal nature and others at the societal level. Donovan's style is insightful, sometimes unconventional, often humourous, and always engaging. Rob Donovan, please keep writing books such as this!
"Dying to Know, what a gem of a book. Author, Rob, a runner of marathons, takes us with him on his regular training runs from his home in Cornish St. Ives and into the neighbouring countryside. During this time, we are privy to his thoughts and the sights he sees along the route he is pounding. By the end of the twelve short chapters, the reader can almost imagine they can see the sea and hear the passing traffic. It is a gloriously different kind of book which traces the first months of the pandemic as it hit the UK in early 2020. The sequence of events, the restrictions and lockdowns, details of which had already been forgotten by this reader, are catalogued in statistical detail as a reminder of this catastrophic period in our recent history. Rob's thoughts and opinions of those in power will chime with many readers. I found this book easy to read both in style and quality and am looking forward to the next outflowing from the pen of Rob Donovan.
