I suppose that depends on whether you are interested in developing an informed opinion about, among other things, whether we should preserve or destroy remaining stocks of smallpox virus. If not, then no, it probably will not be useful. But that probably also means you are reading and commenting in the wrong thread.

Like any text or documentary on the world at large or political theory or philosophy or economics or a field you don't work in, it is probably of little personal value unless you hold a position of authority to affect it in some manner.

On the other hand, for the inquisitive mind (what else is a hacker?), it offers an opportunity to glimpse into another field, another world within our world. Time allowing, why wouldn't you want to know all the things? Knowledge allows synthesis, synthesis allows creativity, creativity allows change and growth.