What do you think?
Rate this book
Plight of the Living Dead: What Real-Life Zombies Reveal About Our World--and Ourselves
A brain-bending exploration of real-life zombies and mind controllers, and what they reveal to us about nature—and ourselves
Zombieism isn’t just the stuff of movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead . It’s real, and it’s happening in the world around us, from wasps and worms to dogs and moose—and even humans.
In Plight of the Living Dead , science journalist Matt Simon documents his journey through the bizarre evolutionary history of mind control. Along the way, he visits a lab where scientists infect ants with zombifying fungi, joins the search for kamikaze crickets in the hills of New Mexico, and travels to Israel to meet the wasp that stings cockroaches in the brain before leading them to their doom.
Nothing Hollywood dreams up can match the brilliant, horrific zombies that natural selection has produced time and time again. Plight of the Living Dead is a surreal dive into a world that would be totally unbelievable if very smart scientists didn’t happen to be proving it’s real, and most troublingly—or maybe intriguingly—of how even we humans are affected.
“Fantastic . . . You'll be thinking about this book long after you're done reading it.” —Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Soonish
Zombieism isn’t just the stuff of movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead . It’s real, and it’s happening in the world around us, from wasps and worms to dogs and moose—and even humans.
In Plight of the Living Dead , science journalist Matt Simon documents his journey through the bizarre evolutionary history of mind control. Along the way, he visits a lab where scientists infect ants with zombifying fungi, joins the search for kamikaze crickets in the hills of New Mexico, and travels to Israel to meet the wasp that stings cockroaches in the brain before leading them to their doom.
Nothing Hollywood dreams up can match the brilliant, horrific zombies that natural selection has produced time and time again. Plight of the Living Dead is a surreal dive into a world that would be totally unbelievable if very smart scientists didn’t happen to be proving it’s real, and most troublingly—or maybe intriguingly—of how even we humans are affected.
“Fantastic . . . You'll be thinking about this book long after you're done reading it.” —Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Soonish
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2018
55 people are currently reading
1193 people want to read
About the author
Matt Simon
2 books33 followersMatt Simon is a journalist who writes Wired Science's 'Absurd Creature of the Week' column. He has also edited Wired's 'This Day in Tech blog', which was compiled into the book Mad Science, and writes a second column called 'Fantastically Wrong' that explores the strangest mistakes in folklore and science. He lives in San Francisco.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 1, 2024
A book that provides an interesting view into how parasites manipulate insects and animals to control their bodies/brains to continue the breeding and life of the parasitic organism.
Having enjoyed this, it is, however, a dip into rather than a more detailed study, but the bibliography offers much further reading on these parasites and organsims and the fish, molluscs, insects, and animals they dupe, replace and invariably kill.
If fat-sucking worms, brain surgery inciting wasps, pheromone apeing bugs, and devious intelligence, changing fungi is your thing, then you'll enjoy this one.
Having enjoyed this, it is, however, a dip into rather than a more detailed study, but the bibliography offers much further reading on these parasites and organsims and the fish, molluscs, insects, and animals they dupe, replace and invariably kill.
If fat-sucking worms, brain surgery inciting wasps, pheromone apeing bugs, and devious intelligence, changing fungi is your thing, then you'll enjoy this one.
January 19, 2019
This was a very good pop-science book about parasites that manipulate their hosts and environment to thrive and reproduce. The tactics these parasites (Simon refers to them as "zombifiers") use to survive shows how nature Nature truly is majestic and terrifying at the same time.
Simon starts with cases most similar to what we think of when we think of zombies: some external force invading a host and taking over its mind. Simon gives the example of wasps (nature's assholes) and fungi that infect ants. In both those cases the parasite directly alters the physiology of its victim to behave in a way that suits the reproductive needs of the attacker. In the wasps' case it is turning caterpillars into guardians over wasp larva and passively letting said larva eat them. In the case of the fungus the ant is completely taken over from stem to stern and directed to a place that will allow the fungus to spread its spores and infect other ants. The complexity of what these parasites do it astounding and horrifying at the same time (heck, wasps made Darwin doubt the existence of a loving God).
But parasites have way more tools in their tool box to influence their victims then direct brain control. They range from altering how the victim perceives the world (possibly driving them towards an area that will get the victim eaten by a creature that is the next step in the parasite's life cycle or making them invisible to their victim population), to fooling the host into caring for its offspring (like with the cuckoo bird), to causing the host to avoid circumstances that would reduce the ability of the parasite to reproduce (such as in the case of rabies victims avoiding water that would wash away the virus rich foam at the mouth). The range of parasitic behavior highlighted in the book was eye opening and gave me a deeper respect/fear of the forces of evolution.
Simon also made two novel points that I had not deeply considered before. The presence of a parasite can have a significant impact on the local ecosystem beyond its immediate victim. A parasite's effects can alter the availability of a particular type of food, sustaining certain types of populations and altering the makeup of the local flora and fauna. Nature is a complex system so the presence of a parasite would naturally have a cascading effect on its local ecosystem.
The other insightful point Simon raises in the idea of Umwelt, the unique way an organism perceives the world. Humans mostly perceive the world through sight and sound with some touch, taste, and smell thrown in, but many other creatures rely on a greater emphasis on the other senses (such as smell for ants) or senses that we do not posses (such as seeing into the ultraviolet range for birds). Parasites of such creatures may be "hacking" those creatures' specific umwelts to achieve their ends, but because we can't really detect those areas of sense (such as a bat's sonar before the advent of certain types of machines) we are likely missing whole swathes of the world where parasites are influencing their victims. There is still a lot we don't know about how parasites might influence their hosts but what we do know is fascinating.
The book read very quickly. Simon as a good knack for explaining the many "zombifying" behaviors without getting too deep into the weeds of the process. He also does a good job drawing on past examples and contrasting them with whatever new section he is discussing. It gives the book a feel of being one cohesive read instead of siloed chapters that have little bearing on each other. All in all a very good introductory book to the amazing world of behavior altering parasites.
Simon starts with cases most similar to what we think of when we think of zombies: some external force invading a host and taking over its mind. Simon gives the example of wasps (nature's assholes) and fungi that infect ants. In both those cases the parasite directly alters the physiology of its victim to behave in a way that suits the reproductive needs of the attacker. In the wasps' case it is turning caterpillars into guardians over wasp larva and passively letting said larva eat them. In the case of the fungus the ant is completely taken over from stem to stern and directed to a place that will allow the fungus to spread its spores and infect other ants. The complexity of what these parasites do it astounding and horrifying at the same time (heck, wasps made Darwin doubt the existence of a loving God).
But parasites have way more tools in their tool box to influence their victims then direct brain control. They range from altering how the victim perceives the world (possibly driving them towards an area that will get the victim eaten by a creature that is the next step in the parasite's life cycle or making them invisible to their victim population), to fooling the host into caring for its offspring (like with the cuckoo bird), to causing the host to avoid circumstances that would reduce the ability of the parasite to reproduce (such as in the case of rabies victims avoiding water that would wash away the virus rich foam at the mouth). The range of parasitic behavior highlighted in the book was eye opening and gave me a deeper respect/fear of the forces of evolution.
Simon also made two novel points that I had not deeply considered before. The presence of a parasite can have a significant impact on the local ecosystem beyond its immediate victim. A parasite's effects can alter the availability of a particular type of food, sustaining certain types of populations and altering the makeup of the local flora and fauna. Nature is a complex system so the presence of a parasite would naturally have a cascading effect on its local ecosystem.
The other insightful point Simon raises in the idea of Umwelt, the unique way an organism perceives the world. Humans mostly perceive the world through sight and sound with some touch, taste, and smell thrown in, but many other creatures rely on a greater emphasis on the other senses (such as smell for ants) or senses that we do not posses (such as seeing into the ultraviolet range for birds). Parasites of such creatures may be "hacking" those creatures' specific umwelts to achieve their ends, but because we can't really detect those areas of sense (such as a bat's sonar before the advent of certain types of machines) we are likely missing whole swathes of the world where parasites are influencing their victims. There is still a lot we don't know about how parasites might influence their hosts but what we do know is fascinating.
The book read very quickly. Simon as a good knack for explaining the many "zombifying" behaviors without getting too deep into the weeds of the process. He also does a good job drawing on past examples and contrasting them with whatever new section he is discussing. It gives the book a feel of being one cohesive read instead of siloed chapters that have little bearing on each other. All in all a very good introductory book to the amazing world of behavior altering parasites.
February 15, 2020
When I first read about Toxoplasma I was horrified & fascinated. This is a well documented parasite that needs to breed by going through both a rat & cat, so it makes rats go looking for cats. Of course, this behavior isn't good for the rat, but the parasite doesn't care. It's used that vehicle long enough & needs to trade in on a new model. Woah! How weird.
I thought Toxo was unique. No! In fact, there are way more such parasites than I thought possible throughout the animal kingdom & some of them have even more complex life cycles. Simon does a creditable job describing why this sort of behavior may have evolved & explains how it works in a great style. I highly recommend this as an audiobook as the narrator really caught the tone of his writing & made it an absolute joy to listen to.
This is informative & funny. The first chapter:
The First Rule of Zombification: You Do Not Want to Be a Zombie
Wasps—aka the flying middle fingers of the animal kingdom—prove that evolution is the meanest and most beautiful thing the world has ever known. How elegant & engaging!
The early chapters discuss the zombifiers, their victims, & the life cycles, but as it goes on he describes more about the mechanisms involved & they seem too complicated. How could something like this have evolved? Then he finally gets into the Umwelt, how we perceive & think of the 'real' world, our environment, it becomes clear. It often takes an amazingly small amount of work on the part of the parasite to drive the host into the wildest behavior. Light can become dark & vice versa. Sometimes this is done simply by causing the host's own body to overproduce a chemical or two such as testosterone in males. It often isn't clear how the parasite causes the same effect in a female & sometimes they can't or vice versa. Sometimes they just turn the host into a female, no matter its genetic predilection.
The final chapters mention why this branch is so underdeveloped. A large part of it is our own Umwelt. It took an amazingly long time for scientists to believe that bats could navigate by sounds we couldn't hear or birds could see light that we can't. A large part of this is religion, of course. We believed were the penultimate creation or final stage of evolution (The latter notion is still prevalent today.) when actually we're just one more complicated machine ("badly behaving sacks of chemicals" per Vonnegut) created through evolution. Technology is allowing us to see what birds do now, but we still don't know much about smell, arguably the earliest & most primitive sense. What does the world look like to a tick? Are we even looking in the right places?
The final chapter focuses more on the notion of free will & how it is an illusion. Mentioned & recommended by both Simon & myself is Free Will by Sam Harris which takes an interesting trip down that wormhole, if you're really interested. (I'm going to keep acting as if I had it, but YMMV.)
Table of Contents
1 - The First Rule of Zombification: You Do Not Want to Be a Zombie
2 - Nothing Brings the World Together Like Unsolicited Mind Control
3 - When Life Gets Complicated, Life Gets Zombified
4 - No Creature Lives in a Vacuum, Not Even a Zombie
5 - How to Succeed in Parasitism Without Really Dying
6 - Dawn of the Sexually Undead
7 - The Great Escape from the Umwelt
8 - The Great Hacking of the Umwelt
9 - The Brain-Hacked Mouse That Wore a Funny Hat and Destroyed the Notion of Free Will
10 - You, the Undead
11 - End Times
Highly recommended!
I thought Toxo was unique. No! In fact, there are way more such parasites than I thought possible throughout the animal kingdom & some of them have even more complex life cycles. Simon does a creditable job describing why this sort of behavior may have evolved & explains how it works in a great style. I highly recommend this as an audiobook as the narrator really caught the tone of his writing & made it an absolute joy to listen to.
This is informative & funny. The first chapter:
The First Rule of Zombification: You Do Not Want to Be a Zombie
Wasps—aka the flying middle fingers of the animal kingdom—prove that evolution is the meanest and most beautiful thing the world has ever known. How elegant & engaging!
The early chapters discuss the zombifiers, their victims, & the life cycles, but as it goes on he describes more about the mechanisms involved & they seem too complicated. How could something like this have evolved? Then he finally gets into the Umwelt, how we perceive & think of the 'real' world, our environment, it becomes clear. It often takes an amazingly small amount of work on the part of the parasite to drive the host into the wildest behavior. Light can become dark & vice versa. Sometimes this is done simply by causing the host's own body to overproduce a chemical or two such as testosterone in males. It often isn't clear how the parasite causes the same effect in a female & sometimes they can't or vice versa. Sometimes they just turn the host into a female, no matter its genetic predilection.
The final chapters mention why this branch is so underdeveloped. A large part of it is our own Umwelt. It took an amazingly long time for scientists to believe that bats could navigate by sounds we couldn't hear or birds could see light that we can't. A large part of this is religion, of course. We believed were the penultimate creation or final stage of evolution (The latter notion is still prevalent today.) when actually we're just one more complicated machine ("badly behaving sacks of chemicals" per Vonnegut) created through evolution. Technology is allowing us to see what birds do now, but we still don't know much about smell, arguably the earliest & most primitive sense. What does the world look like to a tick? Are we even looking in the right places?
The final chapter focuses more on the notion of free will & how it is an illusion. Mentioned & recommended by both Simon & myself is Free Will by Sam Harris which takes an interesting trip down that wormhole, if you're really interested. (I'm going to keep acting as if I had it, but YMMV.)
Table of Contents
1 - The First Rule of Zombification: You Do Not Want to Be a Zombie
2 - Nothing Brings the World Together Like Unsolicited Mind Control
3 - When Life Gets Complicated, Life Gets Zombified
4 - No Creature Lives in a Vacuum, Not Even a Zombie
5 - How to Succeed in Parasitism Without Really Dying
6 - Dawn of the Sexually Undead
7 - The Great Escape from the Umwelt
8 - The Great Hacking of the Umwelt
9 - The Brain-Hacked Mouse That Wore a Funny Hat and Destroyed the Notion of Free Will
10 - You, the Undead
11 - End Times
Highly recommended!
September 19, 2019
This is very much a 'Popular Science' book. That may be good or bad depending on your own preferences so I'll try to avoid a value judgement, but let me at least explain what I mean.
Plight of the Living Dead reads like a very, very long article on something like IFLS. The stories about mind-altering parasitism are flashy and awe-inspiring (Or Horror-inspiring take your pick), but lack the substance I was expecting from a published, paper-bound book. If you just want to get a vague idea of some cool animal facts this book has dinner-table stories in droves. If you want to gain a deeper understanding at the biology, evolution, and ecology that underlies those species-species relationships, you'll need to dig deeper than this book.
Unfortunately, this often means the book ends up a little sensationalist and misleading because of the choice in what to focus on, and what not to include. For me, that was a huge disappointment - I expected a book to have a greater opportunity to tackle in-depth the science behind these parasitic interactions, but here the book favours is a sweeping narrative - using its length to cover a higher number of species interactions, rather than exploring any in detail. Because it misses out on these detailed explanations for any example, it flounders in its attempt to build generalising explanations for all.
The book also paints a pretty misleading picture of both the science and scientists behind the topic. It throws a lot of off-hand shade at the scientists studying parasitic organisms in what feels like a strange attempt to inject humour and keep narrative momentum. For example, the book makes the important point that in order to understand an animal, you need to see the world though its own eyes – or whatever sensory systems it has - and look at the abilities and limitations of its own senses and how it interacts with the world. This is all true, but the book seems to push it as an important revelation, when in fact scientists have known and worked with this to the best of the ability for a very long time. Indeed, the entire field of ethology is dedicated to such an approach.
From a straight reading of the book, I think the author could have benefited from some more in depth research into the topics behind the direct topics that were covered – general behavioural biology and ecology, and especially the discussion of free will. However, It is difficult to tell how much the author really knows, and how much he just isn’t writing down.
The product is clear, though. Philosophically speaking, the book is a mess - unsure if it wants to advocate for or against dualism, and constantly contradicting itself. It argues for hard determinism in the free-will debate, but seems to neglect the extensive literature on free will. Scientifically speaking, the book is a light scratch on the surface. Ultimately, I was disappointed because I expected more from a book, and it feels like what I got was a very, very extensive article - one that keeps coming to a natural close and then jumping up with 'And another example...'
But I can't be too harsh on the book, because I did genuinely learn from it. I learned some specific species-species interactions I'd not heard of, but that's not surprising: Of the thousands of host-parasites symbioses that exist in the world it would be very unlikely for the author to have chosen just the couple I was already familiar with, and I did genuinely enjoy reading about the ones I'd not encountered before (and then looking them up on Wikipedia to get my fix of a deeper understanding). But this book also did change my thinking, and for the better.
The book sells itself as being about mind-control parasites. When I picked it up, I expected the few I knew of - Jewel wasps, T. Gondi - things that get into the brain and play havoc with neural control systems. When the book first started describing other parasites - I was a little taken aback. That isn't mind control. Well, The book convinced me that this kind of sensory (non-neuronal) 'mind hacking' definitely deserves to be classed with the rest, and is perhaps even more scary than brain-slugs because it *doesn't* require direct tampering with neuronal systems. That's a cognitive paradigm shift I’m grateful for and, despite my many issues with the book, thankful for.
Plight of the Living Dead reads like a very, very long article on something like IFLS. The stories about mind-altering parasitism are flashy and awe-inspiring (Or Horror-inspiring take your pick), but lack the substance I was expecting from a published, paper-bound book. If you just want to get a vague idea of some cool animal facts this book has dinner-table stories in droves. If you want to gain a deeper understanding at the biology, evolution, and ecology that underlies those species-species relationships, you'll need to dig deeper than this book.
Unfortunately, this often means the book ends up a little sensationalist and misleading because of the choice in what to focus on, and what not to include. For me, that was a huge disappointment - I expected a book to have a greater opportunity to tackle in-depth the science behind these parasitic interactions, but here the book favours is a sweeping narrative - using its length to cover a higher number of species interactions, rather than exploring any in detail. Because it misses out on these detailed explanations for any example, it flounders in its attempt to build generalising explanations for all.
The book also paints a pretty misleading picture of both the science and scientists behind the topic. It throws a lot of off-hand shade at the scientists studying parasitic organisms in what feels like a strange attempt to inject humour and keep narrative momentum. For example, the book makes the important point that in order to understand an animal, you need to see the world though its own eyes – or whatever sensory systems it has - and look at the abilities and limitations of its own senses and how it interacts with the world. This is all true, but the book seems to push it as an important revelation, when in fact scientists have known and worked with this to the best of the ability for a very long time. Indeed, the entire field of ethology is dedicated to such an approach.
From a straight reading of the book, I think the author could have benefited from some more in depth research into the topics behind the direct topics that were covered – general behavioural biology and ecology, and especially the discussion of free will. However, It is difficult to tell how much the author really knows, and how much he just isn’t writing down.
The product is clear, though. Philosophically speaking, the book is a mess - unsure if it wants to advocate for or against dualism, and constantly contradicting itself. It argues for hard determinism in the free-will debate, but seems to neglect the extensive literature on free will. Scientifically speaking, the book is a light scratch on the surface. Ultimately, I was disappointed because I expected more from a book, and it feels like what I got was a very, very extensive article - one that keeps coming to a natural close and then jumping up with 'And another example...'
But I can't be too harsh on the book, because I did genuinely learn from it. I learned some specific species-species interactions I'd not heard of, but that's not surprising: Of the thousands of host-parasites symbioses that exist in the world it would be very unlikely for the author to have chosen just the couple I was already familiar with, and I did genuinely enjoy reading about the ones I'd not encountered before (and then looking them up on Wikipedia to get my fix of a deeper understanding). But this book also did change my thinking, and for the better.
The book sells itself as being about mind-control parasites. When I picked it up, I expected the few I knew of - Jewel wasps, T. Gondi - things that get into the brain and play havoc with neural control systems. When the book first started describing other parasites - I was a little taken aback. That isn't mind control. Well, The book convinced me that this kind of sensory (non-neuronal) 'mind hacking' definitely deserves to be classed with the rest, and is perhaps even more scary than brain-slugs because it *doesn't* require direct tampering with neuronal systems. That's a cognitive paradigm shift I’m grateful for and, despite my many issues with the book, thankful for.
June 16, 2020
Horrors! If this book wasn't so informative, unique and well-written, I'd say skip it, it'll give you nightmares. But it's vastly entertaining, and the facts of life about the birds and the bees (as well as the body-snatching fungi, the brain surgeon wasps, and the mind controlling caterpillars) are like nothing I've ever read before.
Not sold on his final conclusions that free will doesnt exist, but it's uncomfortable icing on a disturbing book, so ok, I won't hold it against the author.
And did I mention that, as horrifying as this book is, it's laugh out loud funny?
Not sold on his final conclusions that free will doesnt exist, but it's uncomfortable icing on a disturbing book, so ok, I won't hold it against the author.
And did I mention that, as horrifying as this book is, it's laugh out loud funny?
January 7, 2019
Interesting and gross. 4.5⭐️
February 13, 2019
I wanted to like this book. I really did, I swear.
I'm the kind of person who is open to most everything. I consider myself to be pretty well-educated, and receptive to new ideas and beliefs. I came upon this book and was instantly hooked on the weirder scientific aspects of nature, and I had hoped for a witty, in-depth look at the world of biological zombification.
Did I get this??? Yes, but at the expense of my own patience.
Let's start with the positives. Matt Simon writes in an ironic, humourous tone that will keep readers engaged and laughing. It's also clear that Simon has put a lot of research into his work, interviewing experts on subjects from jewel wasps to Ophios. Readers who are scientifically-inclined and fans of the grosser side of nature will surely find this a compelling read.
What I couldn't stand was the nihilism. Now, while I consider myself to be an optimist and somewhat spiritual, I'm not ignorant. I believe in evolution, climate change, the works. I encourage people to speak their own minds and to question worldviews as they try to discover why on earth we're alive. What I cannot tolerate, however, is the assumption that someone has figured out EVERYTHING. As I read this work, I couldn't help but grow frustrated at Simon's continual emphasis on his beliefs that there is no higher power, there is no human soul, and there is no reason for being on this Earth except to procreate. To put it frankly, I ended "Plight of the Living Dead" feeling hopeless. Perhaps I read too far into it, but I had hoped to gain a fascinating insight into a relatively unknown aspect of biology, and I was struck in the fact with what I saw to be intensive fatalism. Which, as I must assert, is fine for some, but not for me.
Will this deter everyone from reading this work??? Definitely not. Is it worth a read??? Of course!!! But just bear in mind that for someone like me who believes that humans are more than walking sacks of meat, "Plight of the Living Dead" can be a little difficult to swallow in one sitting. Matt Simon WILL make you think, regardless of your beliefs, and if that's good enough for you, then I commend you.
I'm the kind of person who is open to most everything. I consider myself to be pretty well-educated, and receptive to new ideas and beliefs. I came upon this book and was instantly hooked on the weirder scientific aspects of nature, and I had hoped for a witty, in-depth look at the world of biological zombification.
Did I get this??? Yes, but at the expense of my own patience.
Let's start with the positives. Matt Simon writes in an ironic, humourous tone that will keep readers engaged and laughing. It's also clear that Simon has put a lot of research into his work, interviewing experts on subjects from jewel wasps to Ophios. Readers who are scientifically-inclined and fans of the grosser side of nature will surely find this a compelling read.
What I couldn't stand was the nihilism. Now, while I consider myself to be an optimist and somewhat spiritual, I'm not ignorant. I believe in evolution, climate change, the works. I encourage people to speak their own minds and to question worldviews as they try to discover why on earth we're alive. What I cannot tolerate, however, is the assumption that someone has figured out EVERYTHING. As I read this work, I couldn't help but grow frustrated at Simon's continual emphasis on his beliefs that there is no higher power, there is no human soul, and there is no reason for being on this Earth except to procreate. To put it frankly, I ended "Plight of the Living Dead" feeling hopeless. Perhaps I read too far into it, but I had hoped to gain a fascinating insight into a relatively unknown aspect of biology, and I was struck in the fact with what I saw to be intensive fatalism. Which, as I must assert, is fine for some, but not for me.
Will this deter everyone from reading this work??? Definitely not. Is it worth a read??? Of course!!! But just bear in mind that for someone like me who believes that humans are more than walking sacks of meat, "Plight of the Living Dead" can be a little difficult to swallow in one sitting. Matt Simon WILL make you think, regardless of your beliefs, and if that's good enough for you, then I commend you.
January 26, 2019
Viegli, saprotami un pietiekami labi uzrakstīta pop(varbūt nedaudz pārāk pop)-zinātniska grāmata.
March 12, 2020
Deeply, deeply disappointed in this book. As disgusting as they are, I've always been fascinated by parasites and was incredibly excited to read Mr. Simon's book when I first learned it was being released. I'd never read any of this other stuff, so had no preconceived ideas and just dove in with an open mind.
Unfortunately, this book is a terrible read. It's hard to believe, but Mr. Simon manages to take one of the weirdest and most riveting topics possible and turn it into a boring drudge. His writing style is also embarrassingly unprofessional and his thought process--such as as it--is hyperactive and disorganized, which means the book jumps all over the place. So annoying. He's also clearly left-leaning, so is completely obsessed with endlessly pontificating about totally unproven theories of evolution. In other words, there's very little of actual science or of any worth here.
For those interested in a far superior study of parasites, I very highly recommend Carl Zimmer's "Parasite Rex"--STILL one of the best science-related books I have ever read to date. Mr. Zimmer is a well-respected, professional, award-winning science writer and it definitely shows as his books are very interesting and difficult to set aside for any length of time. I daresay that Mr. Simon could certainly learn a thing or two from him.
Unfortunately, this book is a terrible read. It's hard to believe, but Mr. Simon manages to take one of the weirdest and most riveting topics possible and turn it into a boring drudge. His writing style is also embarrassingly unprofessional and his thought process--such as as it--is hyperactive and disorganized, which means the book jumps all over the place. So annoying. He's also clearly left-leaning, so is completely obsessed with endlessly pontificating about totally unproven theories of evolution. In other words, there's very little of actual science or of any worth here.
For those interested in a far superior study of parasites, I very highly recommend Carl Zimmer's "Parasite Rex"--STILL one of the best science-related books I have ever read to date. Mr. Zimmer is a well-respected, professional, award-winning science writer and it definitely shows as his books are very interesting and difficult to set aside for any length of time. I daresay that Mr. Simon could certainly learn a thing or two from him.
December 13, 2018
The jewel wasp did WHAT to the cockroach?! Holy guacamole!!! Sort of saw the “yartsa gunbu” bit coming, and loved Simon’s spin on the lack of Hollywood capitalization over Chinese burglars getting their hands on unicorn caterpillars!
- A must read due to unavailability of free will. You will succumb.
- A must read due to unavailability of free will. You will succumb.
February 7, 2021
A nonsensical account of how parasites can control their hosts like zombies. Don’t bother wastMATT SIMON IS GOOD! HUMAN! HUMANS SHOULD BUY HIS BOOK! MATT SIMON ID GOOD HUMAN! HUMANS SHOULD BUY HIS BOOK!
April 2, 2019
This was a really cool, interesting read!
I'd recommend it.
I'd recommend it.
October 27, 2019
This was a creepy cool read. It could have been a little longer, but I enjoyed what it was.
October 19, 2018
If the Matt Simon wasn't such a great science communicator and Holter Graham wasn't such a great narrator this book would have scared me sleepless but they are great and this book is hilarious. Nature is both creepy as f*ck and weird as f*ck. This book tells that stories of animals that use mind control, pheromones, and viruses to take over other animals and control their doings.
July 30, 2024
Interesting dive into the realm of parasitism in nature. Simon covers ants that have been parasatized to destroy their own colony, lady bugs that have been zombified to defend the parasite that ultimately kills them, all the way to mammals that have been infected with rabies. Tons of examples throughout that were really fascinating.
If Simon had stuck to just sharing facts and not interjecting his own worldview I probably would have rated this higher. However, his overt disdain and antagonism to the idea of a creator were prevalent and off putting throughout the book.
Early in the book Simon lets us know his stand, "In the grand scheme of things, you're not all that different from the ant or the fungus....In addition to every species that's ever lived, descended form a common ancestor, the first organism to appear on Earth some 3.5 billion years ago. (p. 35) A thought that is easily overlooked in a science type book as it is still a common theory. He continues on p. 55 to state that "creationist have used this kind of complexity {the complexity of life, specifically the brain} to argue that nothing other than a higher power could create such a thing. But it's brains and manipulative works that prove the opposite. Life is beautifully complicated because life (read as evolution0 made it so."
Simon doesn't stop with his belief that we all evolved from goo. He goes so far as to answer the question, "What is the purpose of life?" His statement that we shouldn't "think for a moment that you're on this planet for any reason other than to make babies," (p. 122) to "when in fact as a sterilized animal, there's no point in it existing any longer-if it wasn't able to mate before infection, it's failed its one mission in life." (p. 128) make it very clear that our purpose is procreation only.
He continues to reassure us that, "your free will is indeed a sham." Every "choice" we make is not a choice, but rather a neurological process that has evolved over millennia to ensure our ability to procreate. In fact the entire chapter, "The Brain-Hacked Mouse That Wore a Funny Hand and Destroyed the Notion of Free Will," is dedicated to demonstrating this. The mouse, by the way, was brain altered to react aggressively when stimulated by a light after being infected with a virus in a specific part of its brain.
Simon ends the book by saying, "You may not want to believe me about all of this, and I can't say I blame you...when it comes down to it, you're not all that different from the animals you share a planet with. And you certainly don't want to believe that free will is a lie, that you're a slave to your brain and its billions of neurons, all firing out of your control." And at least in my case, he is right. I don't believe his conclusions. As a matter of fact, so much of this book reaffirms the idea that life is not random, that there is a complicated system in place. And despite Simon's efforts to convince me that my responses to the world are out of my control, I walk away from this book more firmly convinced that there is a Creator with a plan.
If Simon had stuck to just sharing facts and not interjecting his own worldview I probably would have rated this higher. However, his overt disdain and antagonism to the idea of a creator were prevalent and off putting throughout the book.
Early in the book Simon lets us know his stand, "In the grand scheme of things, you're not all that different from the ant or the fungus....In addition to every species that's ever lived, descended form a common ancestor, the first organism to appear on Earth some 3.5 billion years ago. (p. 35) A thought that is easily overlooked in a science type book as it is still a common theory. He continues on p. 55 to state that "creationist have used this kind of complexity {the complexity of life, specifically the brain} to argue that nothing other than a higher power could create such a thing. But it's brains and manipulative works that prove the opposite. Life is beautifully complicated because life (read as evolution0 made it so."
Simon doesn't stop with his belief that we all evolved from goo. He goes so far as to answer the question, "What is the purpose of life?" His statement that we shouldn't "think for a moment that you're on this planet for any reason other than to make babies," (p. 122) to "when in fact as a sterilized animal, there's no point in it existing any longer-if it wasn't able to mate before infection, it's failed its one mission in life." (p. 128) make it very clear that our purpose is procreation only.
He continues to reassure us that, "your free will is indeed a sham." Every "choice" we make is not a choice, but rather a neurological process that has evolved over millennia to ensure our ability to procreate. In fact the entire chapter, "The Brain-Hacked Mouse That Wore a Funny Hand and Destroyed the Notion of Free Will," is dedicated to demonstrating this. The mouse, by the way, was brain altered to react aggressively when stimulated by a light after being infected with a virus in a specific part of its brain.
Simon ends the book by saying, "You may not want to believe me about all of this, and I can't say I blame you...when it comes down to it, you're not all that different from the animals you share a planet with. And you certainly don't want to believe that free will is a lie, that you're a slave to your brain and its billions of neurons, all firing out of your control." And at least in my case, he is right. I don't believe his conclusions. As a matter of fact, so much of this book reaffirms the idea that life is not random, that there is a complicated system in place. And despite Simon's efforts to convince me that my responses to the world are out of my control, I walk away from this book more firmly convinced that there is a Creator with a plan.
March 21, 2020
4.5 stars rounded off.
I have always been fascinated by the theory of evolution. And here I got to know about the absolutely bizarre ways evolution plays out with respect to parasitism. It really hit me hard to know that it is the parasites that actually form the majority of the life forms on earth, and why not? When you have an efficient way to pass down your genes, by simply mind-controlling your host to fulfill your needs, that is what natural selection will promote! The feat may seem easy, but it ain't so at all. And when you get to know about the intricate ways, the parasites go about doing their 'nasty and cruel' business, you can't help but be absolutely blown away! There are fascinating stories of wasps doing 'brain-surgery' on cockroaches, and, eating out a caterpillar from the inside out and boring out of it; of worms changing the arthropods' sense of light and darkness and lodging them into their prey's bellies, or worms asking crickets to jump into rivers only to drill out of them for a great dive! You don't believe me? Go and grab this book and you will find such bizarre stories of 'evolution gone wrong' (or may be right!) - the weirder the better! The idea that your brain is the pristine symbol of complexity achieved on earth, is hardly hit in two ways. First, there are creatures with no brains of their own going about captivating their hosts and ordering them to move at their own will! (Go and read about the Ophio fungus controlling an ant's movement!). And secondly, your own brain is no exception - it can be manipulated too! (Go and read about the rabies virus!).
That was about the absolutely 'mind-blowing' content! Coming to the writing, what can I say! It's humor and wit studded all around! The author feels like your close buddy, and it's as if your two are having a chat about such weird and fascinating stuff! The writing is so accessible! Matt brilliantly conveys the science of parasitism is such a lucid and simple way. The chapters are well organized and very well-knit, moving from one concept to another progressively.
I really loved the book, but the reason I cut half-a-star in my rating was because of the lack of illustrations. The book would have been just perfect if we had some illustrations of all the fascinating phenomena that the author so beautifully elucidates! Otherwise, it's simply a brilliant read, light, funny and enthralling too!
I have always been fascinated by the theory of evolution. And here I got to know about the absolutely bizarre ways evolution plays out with respect to parasitism. It really hit me hard to know that it is the parasites that actually form the majority of the life forms on earth, and why not? When you have an efficient way to pass down your genes, by simply mind-controlling your host to fulfill your needs, that is what natural selection will promote! The feat may seem easy, but it ain't so at all. And when you get to know about the intricate ways, the parasites go about doing their 'nasty and cruel' business, you can't help but be absolutely blown away! There are fascinating stories of wasps doing 'brain-surgery' on cockroaches, and, eating out a caterpillar from the inside out and boring out of it; of worms changing the arthropods' sense of light and darkness and lodging them into their prey's bellies, or worms asking crickets to jump into rivers only to drill out of them for a great dive! You don't believe me? Go and grab this book and you will find such bizarre stories of 'evolution gone wrong' (or may be right!) - the weirder the better! The idea that your brain is the pristine symbol of complexity achieved on earth, is hardly hit in two ways. First, there are creatures with no brains of their own going about captivating their hosts and ordering them to move at their own will! (Go and read about the Ophio fungus controlling an ant's movement!). And secondly, your own brain is no exception - it can be manipulated too! (Go and read about the rabies virus!).
That was about the absolutely 'mind-blowing' content! Coming to the writing, what can I say! It's humor and wit studded all around! The author feels like your close buddy, and it's as if your two are having a chat about such weird and fascinating stuff! The writing is so accessible! Matt brilliantly conveys the science of parasitism is such a lucid and simple way. The chapters are well organized and very well-knit, moving from one concept to another progressively.
I really loved the book, but the reason I cut half-a-star in my rating was because of the lack of illustrations. The book would have been just perfect if we had some illustrations of all the fascinating phenomena that the author so beautifully elucidates! Otherwise, it's simply a brilliant read, light, funny and enthralling too!
March 26, 2019
I started this book a few weeks ago but got side tracked by some other books I was reading.
This is a fairly lighthearted approach to some truly gruesome aspects of biology, namely parasites that infect animals (from insects to humans) and alter their brains in service to themselves and their progeny.
Some examples include a wasp that injects a specific region of a cockroach brain, directing the roach to its doom. The wasp lays its egg in the abdomen of the roach. Then there are ants invaded by fungi which takeover their muscles and behavior. Apparently there are many different varieties of fungi affecting multiple kinds of insects.
These interrelationships are very common and are being studied in some detail. Most involve manipulati0on of hormones by the predators, which change the behavior of the infected.
Many parasites have complex life cycles and require more than one host. In fact, the author states that "scientists estimate that over half of animal species on the planet are parasites!!"
That is a shock for sure! And this is despite the many and various defenses developed to counter them.
I found the most interesting sections to be those related to humans. Rabies is a curse that not only usually kills (without early treatment) but robs the infected of personality and free will with its effects on the brain and consciousness.
Another is Toxoplasmosis, caused by a single celled parasite (Toxoplasma Gondii). It is transmitted from rodents to cats and thence to humans. And although it is estimated (according to the author) that up to a third of humans are infected, less than 1% ever experience symptoms. But, that said, the organism has been linked to schizophrenia, aggression and even suicide risk. It is possible that those with certain genes may interact with toxo in unique ways resulting in mental breakdown.
This is a fascinating and well researched book by a good science writer. I recommend it!
This is a fairly lighthearted approach to some truly gruesome aspects of biology, namely parasites that infect animals (from insects to humans) and alter their brains in service to themselves and their progeny.
Some examples include a wasp that injects a specific region of a cockroach brain, directing the roach to its doom. The wasp lays its egg in the abdomen of the roach. Then there are ants invaded by fungi which takeover their muscles and behavior. Apparently there are many different varieties of fungi affecting multiple kinds of insects.
These interrelationships are very common and are being studied in some detail. Most involve manipulati0on of hormones by the predators, which change the behavior of the infected.
Many parasites have complex life cycles and require more than one host. In fact, the author states that "scientists estimate that over half of animal species on the planet are parasites!!"
That is a shock for sure! And this is despite the many and various defenses developed to counter them.
I found the most interesting sections to be those related to humans. Rabies is a curse that not only usually kills (without early treatment) but robs the infected of personality and free will with its effects on the brain and consciousness.
Another is Toxoplasmosis, caused by a single celled parasite (Toxoplasma Gondii). It is transmitted from rodents to cats and thence to humans. And although it is estimated (according to the author) that up to a third of humans are infected, less than 1% ever experience symptoms. But, that said, the organism has been linked to schizophrenia, aggression and even suicide risk. It is possible that those with certain genes may interact with toxo in unique ways resulting in mental breakdown.
This is a fascinating and well researched book by a good science writer. I recommend it!
April 5, 2019
This one was fascinating, snarky, and more than a little unpleasant.
Unpleasant because, well, look at the source material. It's one bit of organic-mess narstiness after another. It's a picked booger of a book, as that guy...you remember that guy from the middle school lunch table...insists on showing you the latest bit of glop he's extracted from his sinuses. "Ooh, look, a bit of green. I must have an INFECTION." Oddly enough, you're still friends with that guy, although after his back went out he can't light his farts any more.
Fascinating, because the evolved mechanisms by which these cognitive/parasitic systems developed is simply remarkable. The examples Simon selects are intriguing, and you'll learn something. It's profoundly thought provoking.
Snarky, because that's the tone. It's arch and cynical, often to witty effect.
And sometimes, well, not. After about seven or eight comment-section-troll LIFE HAS NO MEANING THERE IS NO GOD WE'RE JUST MEAT MACHINES asides, you get the point. I mean, it's his book, but still. Dude. Absurdity is meant to make us laugh. When you're showing the fascinating excreta of being, grim, bludgeoning didacticism subverts the delight of the discovery. Always look on the bright side of life, eh?
A three point three.
Unpleasant because, well, look at the source material. It's one bit of organic-mess narstiness after another. It's a picked booger of a book, as that guy...you remember that guy from the middle school lunch table...insists on showing you the latest bit of glop he's extracted from his sinuses. "Ooh, look, a bit of green. I must have an INFECTION." Oddly enough, you're still friends with that guy, although after his back went out he can't light his farts any more.
Fascinating, because the evolved mechanisms by which these cognitive/parasitic systems developed is simply remarkable. The examples Simon selects are intriguing, and you'll learn something. It's profoundly thought provoking.
Snarky, because that's the tone. It's arch and cynical, often to witty effect.
And sometimes, well, not. After about seven or eight comment-section-troll LIFE HAS NO MEANING THERE IS NO GOD WE'RE JUST MEAT MACHINES asides, you get the point. I mean, it's his book, but still. Dude. Absurdity is meant to make us laugh. When you're showing the fascinating excreta of being, grim, bludgeoning didacticism subverts the delight of the discovery. Always look on the bright side of life, eh?
A three point three.
June 13, 2019
(Audiobook) Proof that nature is stranger than fiction, this book explores the concept of “zombies” in the natural world. While it alludes to the human zombies of horror films and pop culture, the idea of zombie animals is not that far fetched. From small fungi and near microscopic animals to insects and rabies, this work offers very interesting (and some cases things that are almost too true to believe) studies about organisms can be manipulated to act against their natural states. From being willing hosts to insect larvae (see what some types of wasps can do) to changing the sexual characteristics of animals (some simple animals can latch on to crabs, turning them into nurturing mothers for their “eggs”...even impacting male crabs and all but turning them into females)....it is really fascinating to see what is out there for nature...and it is all real.
The boom does end with discussion about human zombies (a mix of the impact of rabies and literature help inspire the modern zombie), but it is the animal studies that offer the greatest insight. The author is a journalist by trade and offers some humorous commentary to help set up the scientific discussions. You will certainly learn a lot reading this work...more than you ever thought you wanted to know. A quick read, but not a mere science book. Audio or hard copy, you won’t go wrong.
The boom does end with discussion about human zombies (a mix of the impact of rabies and literature help inspire the modern zombie), but it is the animal studies that offer the greatest insight. The author is a journalist by trade and offers some humorous commentary to help set up the scientific discussions. You will certainly learn a lot reading this work...more than you ever thought you wanted to know. A quick read, but not a mere science book. Audio or hard copy, you won’t go wrong.
May 2, 2019
The writer's voice is quite casual, and while it's amusing sometimes, other times you'd wish he'd just get straight to the point.
I can see the link between the first part of the book, on parasites, to the final chapter that talks about how human beings don't have free will - although it IS quite a stretch and made me wonder if he ran out of material. What further added to this wonder was that he talked about illusionists and hypnotists in the nature, which is (I think) different from the main idea of a parasite taking over your body for the purpose of its own propagation. These illusionists and hypnotists do not take over the body, but are entirely external things that just happen to evolve in such a way that makes those they dupe, help in their reproduction.
Also one more gripe is his inconsistent phrasing. He makes some effort to explain that none of these parasitisms or illusions are wilfully done by these organisms - they happen to have evolved that way through natural selection. He really makes this effort, almost laboriously at the start. But he undoes some of this effort when he slips into writing as though these parasites etc have agency.
A lot of complaints but still overall a book informative enough to be worth reading for me.
I can see the link between the first part of the book, on parasites, to the final chapter that talks about how human beings don't have free will - although it IS quite a stretch and made me wonder if he ran out of material. What further added to this wonder was that he talked about illusionists and hypnotists in the nature, which is (I think) different from the main idea of a parasite taking over your body for the purpose of its own propagation. These illusionists and hypnotists do not take over the body, but are entirely external things that just happen to evolve in such a way that makes those they dupe, help in their reproduction.
Also one more gripe is his inconsistent phrasing. He makes some effort to explain that none of these parasitisms or illusions are wilfully done by these organisms - they happen to have evolved that way through natural selection. He really makes this effort, almost laboriously at the start. But he undoes some of this effort when he slips into writing as though these parasites etc have agency.
A lot of complaints but still overall a book informative enough to be worth reading for me.
June 11, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. I found it to be fascinating and comprehensive, but best of all it was funny --the author has a great sense of humor and his dry wit is woven throughout the book. I bought the book because I've read about the fungus that hijacks ants and grows out of their heads and I mean, who doesn't want to learn more about that?! The fact that there are even more examples of zombification in the animal kingdom really piqued my curiosity. I've been a total know-it-all since reading this and have talked people's ears off about the jeweled wasp and the barnacles and cordyceps and rabies.
Speaking of rabies.....spoiler alert--the fact that genuine zombification happens to homo sapiens stunned me. For some reason I had never put two and two together between the "must eat brains" aggressive hunger of Hollywood zombies and the symptoms and method of transmission for real life rabies. (doh!)
Read this book. You will learn and be entertained.
In the meantime I plan on reading all of Matt Simon's published work. I found his to be some of the most enjoyable science writing I've ever come across.
Speaking of rabies.....spoiler alert--the fact that genuine zombification happens to homo sapiens stunned me. For some reason I had never put two and two together between the "must eat brains" aggressive hunger of Hollywood zombies and the symptoms and method of transmission for real life rabies. (doh!)
Read this book. You will learn and be entertained.
In the meantime I plan on reading all of Matt Simon's published work. I found his to be some of the most enjoyable science writing I've ever come across.
August 4, 2023
A terrifying story how parasites have taken over the world. The only zombies in this book describes how the Jewel Wasp can implant an egg inside a cockroach, and then uses her venomous dopamine receptors to lead the roach back to her hive without any resistance where the egg will hatch and devour the roach from the inside. Another describes how the orphiocordyceps fungus (which stars in the Girl with All the Gifts and the Boy on the Bridge, in addition to HBO's The Last of Us TV series/videogame), envelops and grows from an ant's head before guiding its victim to the top of the tree before its head explodes and sprinkles its spores to infect the other ants below it.
This book also describes how Toxoplasmosis affects cats who eat infected rodents that in rare cases can cause its human owners to develop schizophrenia.
This book also describes how Toxoplasmosis affects cats who eat infected rodents that in rare cases can cause its human owners to develop schizophrenia.
January 27, 2019
A very fun, interesting book on specific parasites of the world who, as the title suggest, specialize in some variation of mind control. For those without a naturalist background, you might be shocked at how incredibly cruel nature truly is, but in that cruelty is intriguing survival strategies that would not otherwise exist (and are far more creative than Hollywood has come up with). And yes, if you didn't already guess it, as humans who are part of the tree of life, we're no exception to these mind controllers.
Overall, a well written book by an author who does have a sense of humor. My only nitpick is the chapter that was far more philosophy than science, and to me, felt slightly out of place. Was it related to the book? Yes, but it felt heavy-handed in its execution, and to me, took away from the otherwise fascinating science.
Overall, a well written book by an author who does have a sense of humor. My only nitpick is the chapter that was far more philosophy than science, and to me, felt slightly out of place. Was it related to the book? Yes, but it felt heavy-handed in its execution, and to me, took away from the otherwise fascinating science.
December 7, 2019
This was ok. It was a little too technical for me to follow in audiobook. Hopefully the print has photos and such, which might help the reader a bit. I would have liked more examples, but overall pretty interesting.
The reader did a good job of capturing the author's tone, which is light-hearted and irreverent in places. He did that annoying pausing thing, though-- not as bad as the reader for When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon but still noticeable. Is this a thing audiobook directors tell people to do? Have I just stumbled on a weird spate of them? I never noticed this issue in audiobooks before this year; is it a newer thing?
The reader did a good job of capturing the author's tone, which is light-hearted and irreverent in places. He did that annoying pausing thing, though-- not as bad as the reader for When Death Becomes Life: Notes from a Transplant Surgeon but still noticeable. Is this a thing audiobook directors tell people to do? Have I just stumbled on a weird spate of them? I never noticed this issue in audiobooks before this year; is it a newer thing?
May 26, 2020
A very fun, readable book about a subject I may not be all that into (my wife is the "bug person" in the family, this was actually a gift to her from a friend). I got just a little lost at times among all the species names (he's a science writer and doesn't shy away from Latin), and just when I really got into the "philosophical implications" of his studies he sort of lost me by declaring that we "have no free will". Granted, he brings up some great points and food for thought, but sort of made a sudden declaration of this, as if he had summed up the basic question mankind has has had for millennia in a couple hundred pages. Still, his asides and footnotes are hilarious and by themselves worth the read. I learned a lot, and I'm still kind of squirming from all the worm and fungus discussion.
February 2, 2023
I had so much fun reading this book-not just because Matt Simon continuously referred to "eyes" as "peepers"- but because he included fun headers like: " Attack of the Zombie Unicorn Caterpillar and the Flying Salt Shaker of Death" or "Disco Snails and the Ants that Would Be Berries", and maybe my favorite being "That Time Crustaceans Clamped onto a Guys Leg Hairs and Began a Scientific Movement". I only deducted a star in my rating because I went into it wanting to read more about the fungi (and he was super adamant about people not having souls, which seemed like an insertion of opinion more than a state of fact; We don't know that it's not scientifically measurable, leave it out of your science book.) But - where some scientific books are full of overly decorated language, this was a fun easy read that put definitions where they were needed while still being highly informative.
October 29, 2019
"A brain-bending exploration of real-life zombies and mind controllers, and what they reveal to us about nature--and ourselves"
What an amazing, and concise way of articulating the last week I spent with this book. Many times I had to put it down due to needing to wrap my head around the idea of actual zombies, and remind myself that the majority of the zombifiers explored in the book cannot manipulate me, so I am mostly safe.
Matt Simon has done a fantastic job of bringing the science of zombies to life in a way that I was able to understand well enough to be fascinated and horrified by, while also having plenty of wonderful sciency stuff that I was learning about for the first time.
Thank you for taking me on a journey into the umwelt of other species.
What an amazing, and concise way of articulating the last week I spent with this book. Many times I had to put it down due to needing to wrap my head around the idea of actual zombies, and remind myself that the majority of the zombifiers explored in the book cannot manipulate me, so I am mostly safe.
Matt Simon has done a fantastic job of bringing the science of zombies to life in a way that I was able to understand well enough to be fascinated and horrified by, while also having plenty of wonderful sciency stuff that I was learning about for the first time.
Thank you for taking me on a journey into the umwelt of other species.
August 30, 2024
Omg this book was fantastic! I loved reading all about the different parasites of the world; they really do come in all shapes and sizes. I also appreciated the humor in the writing, it made the book 100% less dry and all the more entertaining.
I liked the insect parasites and hosts best because I'm biased, although it was also fun to learn about the body-snatching worms and fungi, (and other microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and protozoans). It was fascinating to consider the different types of parasitism, like how some bees and caterpillars parasitize the superorganism of a beehive instead of hacking individual brains.
This could quite possibly be the most enchanting piece of nonfiction I've read so far, I had such a fun time!
I liked the insect parasites and hosts best because I'm biased, although it was also fun to learn about the body-snatching worms and fungi, (and other microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and protozoans). It was fascinating to consider the different types of parasitism, like how some bees and caterpillars parasitize the superorganism of a beehive instead of hacking individual brains.
This could quite possibly be the most enchanting piece of nonfiction I've read so far, I had such a fun time!
January 25, 2021
This one is tough to review! Matt Simon has a very funny perspective and manner of writing which I appreciate. This quote from the book is my favorite: "Repeat after me: We are meat. We're not inadequate because we think and act weird sometimes. We are meat. You have no soul-you have only meat."
I learned a lot about the intersection of philosophy, neurobiology, and parasitism, which was welcome because it was new for me. Honestly, though, the writing was hard to follow sometimes (even as someone who probably knows more about this subject than a layperson) and I think Darwin's theories weren't explained well.
I learned a lot about the intersection of philosophy, neurobiology, and parasitism, which was welcome because it was new for me. Honestly, though, the writing was hard to follow sometimes (even as someone who probably knows more about this subject than a layperson) and I think Darwin's theories weren't explained well.
December 8, 2021
An entertaining summary
There is a lot of interesting info in this book and it seems well researched. The concept of the unwelt is excellent. The author does a good job explaining it. I found the author's reductionist attitude towards humans to be dangerous, narrow minded and insulting. Especially when talking about free will. I acknowledge we need to be humble in accepting our evolutionary origin and also accepting that we are not perfect. Our bodies and minds may be able to be twisted by parasites and other diseases, but unlike the rest of the animals, we can make a conscious decision to do something about it. Isn't that free will?
There is a lot of interesting info in this book and it seems well researched. The concept of the unwelt is excellent. The author does a good job explaining it. I found the author's reductionist attitude towards humans to be dangerous, narrow minded and insulting. Especially when talking about free will. I acknowledge we need to be humble in accepting our evolutionary origin and also accepting that we are not perfect. Our bodies and minds may be able to be twisted by parasites and other diseases, but unlike the rest of the animals, we can make a conscious decision to do something about it. Isn't that free will?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews