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The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World: What the tiniest forms of life can tells us about existence and our place in the universe
The videographer behind the Journey to the Microcosmos YouTube channel (386K subscribers) James Weiss presents a beginner's guide to the extremely small and utterly strange life that surrounds us.
James Weiss was feeling lost in life when he first discovered his interest in the microscopic world. With his own microscope and a little homespun ingenuity, he began to capture thousands of hours of stunning footage of the creatures that he found around him: the local pond, at the beach, in a puddle. What he found astounded him, and it became his mission to reveal the beauty of the microcosmos to everyone.
In his fun and accessible style, interspersed with otherworldly photographs, James presents this beginner's guide to the invisible life that surrounds us. From the most simple single-celled life, to complex micro-animals, James reveals the secrets of a world that we rarely consider. Navigating the births, feasts, tragedies, idiosyncracies and deaths of a cast of tiny characters, learn how these lifeforms work and what lessons they can teach us about our own existence. Mixing scientific detail with thoughtful musings that betray the fascination at the heart of his topic, James has created a way of looking at microorganisms in an empathetic and engaging style.
You'll discover fascinating absurdities: that a cell can be both its own daughter and its own mother. That immortality really does exist, and it comes in the form of a teeny, tentacled medusa. And that seeing the wonder of nature from a new perspective can literally save your life.
James Weiss was feeling lost in life when he first discovered his interest in the microscopic world. With his own microscope and a little homespun ingenuity, he began to capture thousands of hours of stunning footage of the creatures that he found around him: the local pond, at the beach, in a puddle. What he found astounded him, and it became his mission to reveal the beauty of the microcosmos to everyone.
In his fun and accessible style, interspersed with otherworldly photographs, James presents this beginner's guide to the invisible life that surrounds us. From the most simple single-celled life, to complex micro-animals, James reveals the secrets of a world that we rarely consider. Navigating the births, feasts, tragedies, idiosyncracies and deaths of a cast of tiny characters, learn how these lifeforms work and what lessons they can teach us about our own existence. Mixing scientific detail with thoughtful musings that betray the fascination at the heart of his topic, James has created a way of looking at microorganisms in an empathetic and engaging style.
You'll discover fascinating absurdities: that a cell can be both its own daughter and its own mother. That immortality really does exist, and it comes in the form of a teeny, tentacled medusa. And that seeing the wonder of nature from a new perspective can literally save your life.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2021
36 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 4, 2021
The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World is a stunning book about the strange and beautiful world that surrounds us, hidden from sight. The videographer behind the Journey to the Microcosmos YouTube channel (386K subscribers) James Weiss presents a beginner’s guide to the extremely small and utterly strange life that surrounds us. An unbelievable abundance of life flourishes on every surface of our planet. In every drop of dew, on every leaf, and even inside each one of us, invisible yet ingenious life thrives. James Weiss, microbe enthusiast and videographer, has spent thousands of hours peeking into this world and has been astounded by the beauty he finds there.
With his captivating photographs and illustrations, James presents this beginner’s guide to microscopic life, from the most simple, single-celled organisms to complex micro-animals. Navigate the births, feasts, triumphs, tragedies and deaths of a cast of tiny characters, including the adorable water bear, the immortal Hydra and the dancing Desmid. Learn how these lifeforms work and what lessons they can teach us about our own existence, and discover how seeing the wonder of nature from a new perspective can change your life. Written in an accessible, conversational style and complemented by gorgeous, vivid, full-colour photographs and beautiful illustrations, this is a fascinating, informative read that will undoubtedly change your view of the world around you.
It is extensively researched and seems to be accurate in terms of the information, which is presented in easily digestible paragraphs. It is the type of book that you really need a physical copy of to get the most out of it, and I have ordered a few copies for the science enthusiasts in my family as well as myself. If you enjoy this then I highly recommend Weiss's YouTube channel; I didn't know about it but reading this has me interested in learning more and his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious, which is perfect. Highly recommended.
With his captivating photographs and illustrations, James presents this beginner’s guide to microscopic life, from the most simple, single-celled organisms to complex micro-animals. Navigate the births, feasts, triumphs, tragedies and deaths of a cast of tiny characters, including the adorable water bear, the immortal Hydra and the dancing Desmid. Learn how these lifeforms work and what lessons they can teach us about our own existence, and discover how seeing the wonder of nature from a new perspective can change your life. Written in an accessible, conversational style and complemented by gorgeous, vivid, full-colour photographs and beautiful illustrations, this is a fascinating, informative read that will undoubtedly change your view of the world around you.
It is extensively researched and seems to be accurate in terms of the information, which is presented in easily digestible paragraphs. It is the type of book that you really need a physical copy of to get the most out of it, and I have ordered a few copies for the science enthusiasts in my family as well as myself. If you enjoy this then I highly recommend Weiss's YouTube channel; I didn't know about it but reading this has me interested in learning more and his enthusiasm for the subject is infectious, which is perfect. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2021
3.5
There's just something about a crisp clear photo of a gorgeous microalgae/organism specimen that gives me a huge boost of dopamine, and this book is filled with them. Photo quality and choices are 10/10, I am really impressed and will need to own a physical copy of this book just to stare at the photos.
James Weiss is a microbiologist and runs a youtube channel about it called Journey to the Microcosmos. I didn't know about this channel or James prior to picking up this book but the videos look amazing and I will certainly be watching some in the future.
I appreciated the facts and knowledge James shared in between the photos - they were manageable chunks and easy to digest. I think all the information was accurate and of good quality and I appreciate that he disseminated it in this fashion. It seems by reading this book that James dominantly focuses on freshwater species with the occasional dabble into marine/salt water organisms.
There are A LOT of personal anecdotes and not to sound rude but... this book is about the magic and beauty of microalgae - I just do not care to spend a whole page reading about how you felt when your girlfriend broke up with you or a description of a chain of emails with youtubers and/or professors that doesn't really share any new information to the reader.
I did have to skip the Nematode photos because I have an irrational fear of them. BUT I forgot how cute Daphnia was and he has some fabulous photos of them, so I loved that.
Non-fiction, science, microbiology, reference
* I received an arc in exchange for an honest review*.
July 18, 2021
This might be one of my favourite Microbiology books of all time. Not just that, but it tops the charts of my favourite popular science read! I really enjoyed it and James enthusiasm for this field is so so infectious and you can tell how much he loves this subject. It rubs off onto the readers and it was just a joy to read.
Not only is it informative and you learn an awful lot about the brilliant little creatures most of us don’t even think about, but it’s entertaining and effortless to read. It’s perfect for any non scientist, and James does a fantastic job at filling you in on all the basics and making sure no non science reader gets left behind.
He really brings to life these cute little microbes (they are cute!) and sheds a light into the microscopic world that mostly goes unnoticed. There is some absolute stunning pictures and microbe captures within the pages too, which overall makes for a great reading and learning experience.
I seriously could not recommend this book enough!
Not only is it informative and you learn an awful lot about the brilliant little creatures most of us don’t even think about, but it’s entertaining and effortless to read. It’s perfect for any non scientist, and James does a fantastic job at filling you in on all the basics and making sure no non science reader gets left behind.
He really brings to life these cute little microbes (they are cute!) and sheds a light into the microscopic world that mostly goes unnoticed. There is some absolute stunning pictures and microbe captures within the pages too, which overall makes for a great reading and learning experience.
I seriously could not recommend this book enough!
September 9, 2021
Introducing the Small and Beautiful
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.
Although this book, with its copious, beautiful photographs, could be a wonderful "coffee table" book, it is hard to imagine that anyone could pick it up and ever put it down again like a piece of decor. The book is part memoir and 100% about introducing those of us who live without a microscope, to a magnificent world that is literally...right under (and of course, IN...) our noses.
An obvious choice for the budding scientist, no matter what their age is.
However, you don't need to be into science to appreciate the reverence this author has given to the microscopic world that escapes the attention of most of us.
I found it hard to put (the ARC ebook) down...which means I'm starting at phone, inches away from my face.
It will be much better enjoyed as a physical book.
Love this book!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.
Although this book, with its copious, beautiful photographs, could be a wonderful "coffee table" book, it is hard to imagine that anyone could pick it up and ever put it down again like a piece of decor. The book is part memoir and 100% about introducing those of us who live without a microscope, to a magnificent world that is literally...right under (and of course, IN...) our noses.
An obvious choice for the budding scientist, no matter what their age is.
However, you don't need to be into science to appreciate the reverence this author has given to the microscopic world that escapes the attention of most of us.
I found it hard to put (the ARC ebook) down...which means I'm starting at phone, inches away from my face.
It will be much better enjoyed as a physical book.
Love this book!
April 30, 2021
I loved this book. James Weiss writes in a conversational and friendly tone. So friendly, in fact, that he is the type of writer I would love to sit down with over coffee or a beer. Weiss weaves the story of the microscopic world around his own story, and he does this in a touching way and where appropriate, with a great sense of humor. Another part of the book I love is Weiss’s contagious enthusiasm. Adding to my enjoyment are the wonderful photographs. Overall this is an amazing book which would also make a great coffee-table book. Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for the advance reader copy.
July 1, 2021
The quality of the microscopy is astonishing, an absolute delight to read.
It is a very specialised field that takes a huge amount of study to just know what you're seeing. James’ prose is wonderful and very relatable.
It is brilliant!
It is a very specialised field that takes a huge amount of study to just know what you're seeing. James’ prose is wonderful and very relatable.
It is brilliant!
June 16, 2021
The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World: What the Tiniest Forms of Life can Tell us about Existence and our Place in the Universe by James Weiss is a nonfiction book. James Weiss was feeling lost in life when he first discovered his interest in the microscopic world. With his own microscope and a little homespun ingenuity, he began to capture thousands of hours of stunning footage of the creatures that he found around him: the local pond, at the beach, in a puddle. What he found astounded him, and it became his mission to reveal the beauty of the microcosmos to everyone. James presents this beginner's guide to the invisible life that surrounds us. From the most simple single-celled life, to complex micro-animals, James reveals the secrets of a world that we rarely consider. Navigating the births, feasts, tragedies, idiosyncracies and deaths of a cast of tiny characters, learn how these lifeforms work and what lessons they can teach us about our own existence. You'll discover fascinating absurdities: that a cell can be both its own daughter and its own mother. That immortality really does exist, and it comes in the form of a teeny, tentacled medusa. And that seeing the wonder of nature from a new perspective can literally save your life.
The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World is an accessible and engaging introduction and explanation of the microscopic world. I thought the balance of personal narrative, scientific explanations, and photographs to be well done. I thought the technical and scientific explanations were understandable and interesting to read. In fact, it made me a little sad that I did not pursue my interests in this kind of science when I was in school, although my struggles with math holds no small part in that. I appreciated the inclusion of references, resources, and an index in the endpages. Too often on or more of these are skipped for one reason or another. I think young adult and adult readers alike could really enjoy, and get a great deal out of this read. I know that I will be revisiting my galley of this book many times.
The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World is an accessible and engaging introduction and explanation of the microscopic world. I thought the balance of personal narrative, scientific explanations, and photographs to be well done. I thought the technical and scientific explanations were understandable and interesting to read. In fact, it made me a little sad that I did not pursue my interests in this kind of science when I was in school, although my struggles with math holds no small part in that. I appreciated the inclusion of references, resources, and an index in the endpages. Too often on or more of these are skipped for one reason or another. I think young adult and adult readers alike could really enjoy, and get a great deal out of this read. I know that I will be revisiting my galley of this book many times.
August 31, 2021
Such incredible photos of microorganisms - a group of creatures that are largely unknown due to their invisibility. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of photos and the information Weiss shared, because microorganisms are commonly overlooked due to not only being 'invisible' to the naked eye but also being visually inaccessible to the public. This needs to change. Microorganisms are critical in our ecosystem and play essential roles in the health of all of us and our planet. They need to be considered in decision-making regarding global public health concerns such as climate change and antibiotic resistance. Capturing and sharing microorganisms in the gorgeous way that James Weiss does is essential in this task to start those critical conversation about microorganisms. If you read this, thank you, James!!
A bit why I am interested in this field - amateur microscopy is a hobby I took up during the pandemic, and it was something that really got me through the isolation and got me excited for what I would find in a single drop of water from my local park. James Weiss' Jam and Germs instagram is one that was significant in my starting my microscopic adventures, and I really look up to him - he started microscopy for a lot of the same reasons I did. My instagram is @microwild by the way if you would like to connect! (There is a wonderful instagram community that is so supportive)
A bit why I am interested in this field - amateur microscopy is a hobby I took up during the pandemic, and it was something that really got me through the isolation and got me excited for what I would find in a single drop of water from my local park. James Weiss' Jam and Germs instagram is one that was significant in my starting my microscopic adventures, and I really look up to him - he started microscopy for a lot of the same reasons I did. My instagram is @microwild by the way if you would like to connect! (There is a wonderful instagram community that is so supportive)
July 4, 2021
Hi. My name is Tracy and I am a science nerd. I used to work in a Microbiology Laboratory. So, it was probably a given that this book would immediately pique my interest -- but you don’t have to be scientifically minded to enjoy this introduction to the unseen world around you. The pictures are wonderful, the author’s voice is conversational, and both keep what could become a dry text interesting and easily understandable. This is a great book for the classroom bookshelf, or anyone who has even a passing interest in the microscopic world.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World.
May 12, 2021
The Hidden Beauty of the Microscopic World is a gem of a book about the author's journey into discovering microscopic life. It is broken down into brief paragraphs about different life forms. Easy to read by the layperson. Makes science fun! Great photography of what Weiss has found under the microscope. This book would be great for anyone interested in science. Any reader will probably learn something new.
December 25, 2021
I randomly picked this up from the library to take home and look at the pictures because I thought the cover was cool. I got a microscope for my birthday this year and am fascinated by the amazing creatures that live in pond water. Well, I started reading and finished it in two days. Great stories and writing. Not only very informative, but I love his outlook on what life really is. I loved this book!
October 20, 2022
FREAKING AMAZING. does that suffice???
The pictures in this book were absolutely beautiful!! Reading is easier than watching videos for me and I liked how this book gave nice summaries of every microscopic cretin in a systematic way. Suited my brain perfectly.
The Tartigrade chapter at the end was worth it!
The pictures in this book were absolutely beautiful!! Reading is easier than watching videos for me and I liked how this book gave nice summaries of every microscopic cretin in a systematic way. Suited my brain perfectly.
The Tartigrade chapter at the end was worth it!
February 12, 2023
James passion and dedication in this book is fascinating, it takes the reader deep in this microscopic world. It is amazing to realize that live exist in such small world. I love the book with all the pictures of the tiny little things, indeed a beautiful microcosmos. I bought this book at the same time I bought a microscope. Simply amazing.
May 8, 2023
I loved it! The microscopic world is so beautiful and mesmerizing, I am envious of the author's dedication and experience with this world and I loved the personality of the author. He witnessed some super cool events under that microscope and he was excited to see it, and dang it, he should be. I am happy to learn of his YouTube channel, so the peek into the microscopic world can continue.
August 7, 2021
I haven't seen the YouTube videos, so I probably came at this book from a different perspective than most. I thought the author seemed nice and earnest. The writing was simple, sometimes too informal for my taste. I got some good microscope ideas from the book.
January 15, 2022
The book is a bit amateurish (eg lots of exclamation points) but you gotta admire James Weiss's obvious enthusiasm for microscopy. He's an extreme hobbyist and he has hundreds of thousands of followers. Some of his photographs of microscopic life would be great inspiration for jewelry.
June 27, 2023
Informative and easy to read. Reads like a long enthusiastic text stream from a nerdy friend. Felt like I could do without the more personal sad boi anecdotes interwoven in the chapters. But overall I felt more motivated to continue with my microscopic explorations 🦠
May 12, 2025
as a biologist ive spent surprisingly little time learning about microorganisms, but this was a great way to dip my toes into the microcosmos! i also really enjoyed the personal touch james added with his own journey to where he is now. it was both relatable and inspiring.
February 12, 2022
Am I even smart enough to understand all of the things in this book? No.
Did I still absolutely enjoy this book? Yes.
Did I still absolutely enjoy this book? Yes.
August 1, 2022
Microscopy is stunning, but Weiss has a habit of anthropomorphizing his microbes in the descriptions.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews