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Meet Your Bacteria
Meet Your Bacteria introduces you to all of your tiny tenants, and reveals the fascinating inner workings of your body, and the importance of these usually helpful (but sometimes harmful) microbes.Highly topical and accessible, this Explores the different bacteria that live on and in various parts of your body (not just in the gut)- Explains what they do, and why some are beneficial and some harmful- Offers practical advice for promoting the good and inhibiting the bad bacteria- Examines the latest thinking on good and bad dirt, and the links between bacteria and diseaseIncluding in-depth profiles on each of the most important families of bacteria living in the human body, and helpful advice on how you can look after your own health through greater knowledge of your microbial friends, this is a wide-ranging introduction to the secret world inside your own body.
- GenresScienceNonfictionHealth
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2018
16 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 7, 2018
There have been a good number of books on our microbiome - the bacteria and other tiny organisms living in our body - from The Wild Life of Our Bodies through I, Superorganism to I Contain Multitudes. Each of these is a traditional popular science book format, and all, to some degree, suffer from the same problem - in part, they have a tendency to present collections of facts, little more than bullet points of information strung together, rather than providing an effective narrative. As Meet Your Bacteria is in a significantly different format, there was a chance to imbue the subject with more dynamism and interest.'
When I first looked at the book, I assumed from its shape and cover that it would be in the style of highly illustrated, two-page spreads with large illustrations and the text little more than captions. In reality, Nicola Temple and Catherine Whitlock manage to subvert that format - it is, indeed, presented as a series of separate two-page spreads, but there is far more text on these than is normally found, and that text effectively flows through the page and from spread to spread - so it's far more like reading a real book. Many of the illustrations, also, are useful, rather than simply pictures for the sake of it.
So far, so good. What we've got, in case that isn't obvious, is an exploration of the vast numbers of microbes living inside a human body. There's a shorter first section that describes just what bacteria are and how they function (and the other bits and pieces of microbiota, such as viruses and fungi, though these get far less coverage, as the book's title suggests). We are told what they do for the human body in both positive and negative roles. There are plenty of facts here, and there is the benefit of the text flowing through, though occasionally it looks as if the authors have written text and it has then been split up and plugged into the different components of the page, assuming the reader will follow in a particular order. For example, there's one spread where the second page text begins 'Occasionally, however...' - that 'however' refers to a bit of text embedded in an illustration on the previous page, which the reader won't necessarily have just read.
Unfortunately, though, Meet Your Bacteria suffers from the same problem as its predecessors - even more so, in that they did at least have sections where there was narrative. Here, every page is a collection of facts with no real feeling of being told a story. The result is something that reads more like a reference book, or even a secondary school textbook, than it does a popular science title. This is particularly true of the larger second section, which goes through various parts of the body (skin, eyes, mouth, lungs etc. etc.) with spreads on the different bacteria than can occur there and their implications for our health, good or bad. Frankly, it was just dull to read.
Because of the 'collection of facts' approach, there were so many missed opportunities to build on a topic with some supporting context to form a narrative. There was nothing to speak of about the people involved in discovering the information provided. There was no context for the facts. To give a couple of small examples, there's an interesting story to be told in the old suggestion there are 10 times as many bacterial cells as human in our bodies - and the subsequent modification of this number to a smaller one. Here we are just told a range of numbers. Again, several times, we are told of the beneficial impact of antioxidants, but there's no discussion of the doubts about consumed (as opposed to produced by the body) antioxidants, or the evidence that some consumed antioxidants can increase cancer risk.
There were many other such opportunities. Good science writing is storytelling just as much as good novel writing - and that just isn't happening here. I don't think it's the authors' fault - with a book like this, the format tends to be prescribed by the publisher. However, if you do want a light reference book on the subject to dip into, rather than read end to end, Meet Your Bacteria has a lot going for it.
When I first looked at the book, I assumed from its shape and cover that it would be in the style of highly illustrated, two-page spreads with large illustrations and the text little more than captions. In reality, Nicola Temple and Catherine Whitlock manage to subvert that format - it is, indeed, presented as a series of separate two-page spreads, but there is far more text on these than is normally found, and that text effectively flows through the page and from spread to spread - so it's far more like reading a real book. Many of the illustrations, also, are useful, rather than simply pictures for the sake of it.
So far, so good. What we've got, in case that isn't obvious, is an exploration of the vast numbers of microbes living inside a human body. There's a shorter first section that describes just what bacteria are and how they function (and the other bits and pieces of microbiota, such as viruses and fungi, though these get far less coverage, as the book's title suggests). We are told what they do for the human body in both positive and negative roles. There are plenty of facts here, and there is the benefit of the text flowing through, though occasionally it looks as if the authors have written text and it has then been split up and plugged into the different components of the page, assuming the reader will follow in a particular order. For example, there's one spread where the second page text begins 'Occasionally, however...' - that 'however' refers to a bit of text embedded in an illustration on the previous page, which the reader won't necessarily have just read.
Unfortunately, though, Meet Your Bacteria suffers from the same problem as its predecessors - even more so, in that they did at least have sections where there was narrative. Here, every page is a collection of facts with no real feeling of being told a story. The result is something that reads more like a reference book, or even a secondary school textbook, than it does a popular science title. This is particularly true of the larger second section, which goes through various parts of the body (skin, eyes, mouth, lungs etc. etc.) with spreads on the different bacteria than can occur there and their implications for our health, good or bad. Frankly, it was just dull to read.
Because of the 'collection of facts' approach, there were so many missed opportunities to build on a topic with some supporting context to form a narrative. There was nothing to speak of about the people involved in discovering the information provided. There was no context for the facts. To give a couple of small examples, there's an interesting story to be told in the old suggestion there are 10 times as many bacterial cells as human in our bodies - and the subsequent modification of this number to a smaller one. Here we are just told a range of numbers. Again, several times, we are told of the beneficial impact of antioxidants, but there's no discussion of the doubts about consumed (as opposed to produced by the body) antioxidants, or the evidence that some consumed antioxidants can increase cancer risk.
There were many other such opportunities. Good science writing is storytelling just as much as good novel writing - and that just isn't happening here. I don't think it's the authors' fault - with a book like this, the format tends to be prescribed by the publisher. However, if you do want a light reference book on the subject to dip into, rather than read end to end, Meet Your Bacteria has a lot going for it.
November 1, 2024
Easily one of the most fascinating books I've read lately. It's insane to think how little we understand about the complexities of the human body and the world around us.
September 23, 2022
2/2.5 🤷🏻♀️
w ostatnim rozdziale zaczęło być ciekawie, wcześniej i tak średnio zrozumiałam i zapamiętałam cokolwiek z informacji mających zapewne wprowadzić w to jak i gdzie działają bakterie
chyba spodziewałam się trochę czegoś innego…
w ostatnim rozdziale zaczęło być ciekawie, wcześniej i tak średnio zrozumiałam i zapamiętałam cokolwiek z informacji mających zapewne wprowadzić w to jak i gdzie działają bakterie
chyba spodziewałam się trochę czegoś innego…
August 31, 2020
It is a really good book about human bacteria - very good conclusion as short as it can be.
I really enjoyed the last part of the book that showed us different researches that are being made and general ways to use and also the importace of bacteria.
However, I noticed that in some examples presented I have read about different results that have been found but this is only showing that science is always making progress and you need to keep your eye on newest updates. However, I believe this book is useful for every person to expand their knowledge and especially suitable for the first book learning about bacteria.
I really enjoyed the last part of the book that showed us different researches that are being made and general ways to use and also the importace of bacteria.
However, I noticed that in some examples presented I have read about different results that have been found but this is only showing that science is always making progress and you need to keep your eye on newest updates. However, I believe this book is useful for every person to expand their knowledge and especially suitable for the first book learning about bacteria.
October 6, 2021
Esmapilgul oli mul raskusi selle raamatu sihtrühma kindlaks määramisega, kuid tagantjärele võin öelda, et sobib ideaalselt nii koolilapsest kui ka täiskasvanud lugejale ning nii teemast esmase ülevaate saamiseks kui ka olemasolevate teadmiste täiendamiseks ja meeldetuletamiseks. Raamatu peategelased on bakterid - nii need, mis tõbesid tekitavad, kui ka need, mis koos meiega tõbede vastu võitlevad. Mõnusalt arusaadavas vormis antakse ülevaade nii bakterite olemusest ja ülesehitusest, erinevatest bakteritest inimkeha eri osadel (nahk, silm, kopsud, soolestik, suguelundid) kui ka bakteritest ajaloo ja tänapäeva maailma kontekstis. Päris palju oli tuttavat infot, aga sain ka mõndagi uut ja huvitavat teada ja üllatuseks on teinekord asjadel täitsa lihtsad teaduslikud põhjendused. Mina igal juhul kiidan seda ülevaatlikku raamatut ja julgen lugemises soovitada.
PS! Pärast raamatu lugemist tegin kohe ära hommikul ununenud hambapesu, aga koristamise asemel jätkan südamerahus lugemisega - las head bakterid toimetavad halbadega isekeskis :)
PS! Pärast raamatu lugemist tegin kohe ära hommikul ununenud hambapesu, aga koristamise asemel jätkan südamerahus lugemisega - las head bakterid toimetavad halbadega isekeskis :)
June 13, 2019
This was a treasure of a book!
I expected it to be lighter on the depth of science (based on its outward appearance and a quick flip through) but it reads like a real book, dense with information among really engaging graphic design. It’s rare to find scientific material that is so aesthetically fun! The illustrations were often as functional as they were beautiful.
The science is very current reflecting the major breakthroughs of recent years surrounding the microbiome. The content recognizes the fundamental shift brewing in our medical realms of thinking about bacteria as an entire community (both good and bad) rather than just bad bugs to seek and destroy at any cost. I really appreciated how balanced the authors approach was in respect to both functional therapies and conventional medicine alike.
This is a great read made more approachable (by all ages) by its interesting aesthetic.
I expected it to be lighter on the depth of science (based on its outward appearance and a quick flip through) but it reads like a real book, dense with information among really engaging graphic design. It’s rare to find scientific material that is so aesthetically fun! The illustrations were often as functional as they were beautiful.
The science is very current reflecting the major breakthroughs of recent years surrounding the microbiome. The content recognizes the fundamental shift brewing in our medical realms of thinking about bacteria as an entire community (both good and bad) rather than just bad bugs to seek and destroy at any cost. I really appreciated how balanced the authors approach was in respect to both functional therapies and conventional medicine alike.
This is a great read made more approachable (by all ages) by its interesting aesthetic.
March 26, 2020
A very interesting read, and a must for anyone interested in knowing more about the different bacterial colonies that live on every single part of your body. I already knew that each "zone" on us has its own microbiome (e.g. eyes, mouth, gut, etc), dominated by different bacterial flora, but this book lists specifically what those bacteria types are (at least, those that are known to us), and what they do.
Interestingly enough, in many cases, bacteria that is essential/beneficial (or harmless) to us under normal circumstances, could actually turn against us when presented with the right conditions. Most are opportunistic, in other words, and are only helpful to us (or not causing us harm) because other controls are in place preventing them from taking over/overwhelming our bodies. This highlights the importance of maintaining equilibrium in the human body - when we are in a healthy state, we have just the right amounts of "good/bad" bacteria in us, with every organism working together to achieve harmony and balance.
Interestingly enough, in many cases, bacteria that is essential/beneficial (or harmless) to us under normal circumstances, could actually turn against us when presented with the right conditions. Most are opportunistic, in other words, and are only helpful to us (or not causing us harm) because other controls are in place preventing them from taking over/overwhelming our bodies. This highlights the importance of maintaining equilibrium in the human body - when we are in a healthy state, we have just the right amounts of "good/bad" bacteria in us, with every organism working together to achieve harmony and balance.
July 6, 2021
Ciekawy temat, choć przydałaby się pewnie większa wiedza z biologi (nie byłem asem w tym temacie).
Jak dla mnie książka raczej do wypożyczenia z biblioteki (jak tak zrobiłem) niż do kupienia.
Kilka ciekawostek z tej książki może się jednak przydać.
Jak dla mnie książka raczej do wypożyczenia z biblioteki (jak tak zrobiłem) niż do kupienia.
Kilka ciekawostek z tej książki może się jednak przydać.
February 3, 2024
This book is a good first look into the world of bacteria that populates the human microbiome. I would say that it becomes repetitive and clunky at times with its fact. It also may be hard to parse if you do not know common vocabulary surrounding bacteria.
October 13, 2018
A must-read for people who care about their basic health.
April 22, 2019
The reviewer before me already reviewed the book pretty well! I mostly agreed. Appealing format- not as dumbed down as you’d imagine. A little dull in the middle. Overall, an enjoyable read though!
July 18, 2019
This book makes learning about bacteria fascinating. Colorful pictures, interesting anecdotes, with lots of good information!
March 11, 2020
Wonderfully informative for kids and adults alike!
April 8, 2024
12/10 will be buying. The illustrations and page set up is so ADHD/neurodivergent friendly. Easy easy read even with heavy information.
October 21, 2024
Interesting book that shows the latest scientific view on the bacteria 🦠
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews