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The Invisible Kingdom: From the Tips of Our Fingers to the Tops of Our Trash, Inside the Curious World of Microbes
With the wit of Bill Bryson and the spirit of Natalie Angier, Idan Ben- Barak takes us on a fantastic voyage into the infinitesimal world of microbiology. In The Invisible Kingdom, he introduces us to the amazing lives and workings of genes, proteins, bacteria, and viruses, and the ways in which they interact to shape life on Earth. Exploring everything from radioactive waste and insect sex-change operations to the inner workings of antibiotics, Ben-Barak reveals how important these tiny critters are to all of us. He brings this largely unseen world to life with refreshing analogies and metaphors: cells “pop like bubbles” and bacteria “dream of rain.” On the journey, we learn about the teamwork required to rot human teeth, the origins of diseases, what really goes on inside cow stomachs, and the ways in which microbes benefit human life. An infectious and informative scientific exploration, The Invisible Kingdom will change the way we see the world around us.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
17 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Idan Ben-Barak
10 books42 followersI write science books, usually for children; they've been translated into about twenty languages and won some awards.
I live in Melbourne, Australia with my family. Sometimes, after they go to bed, I play my guitar a little.
I have degrees in microbiology and in the history and philosophy of science, a diploma in library studies, and a day job that has very little to do with any of the above.
You can also find me on Facebook (too often for my own good), my blog (occasionally) and Twitter (rarely).
I live in Melbourne, Australia with my family. Sometimes, after they go to bed, I play my guitar a little.
I have degrees in microbiology and in the history and philosophy of science, a diploma in library studies, and a day job that has very little to do with any of the above.
You can also find me on Facebook (too often for my own good), my blog (occasionally) and Twitter (rarely).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 22, 2012
When I first started this book--admittedly at a Holiday Inn Express in Texas at 2am because I couldn't sleep--I was deeply concerned that the author (hereafter IB) was just a tad too "aren't I funny" for the book's own good. However after reading more (and getting out of Texas--which let's face it couldn't have helped my opinion of the book), I realized that although IB is a bit too "LOOK HOW FUNNY I AM!!!" The information is exceptional and well told.
Since nearly failing Biology in high school, my appreciation for science has grown leaps and bounds. I love reading about science, and this book was no exception. It covers the world of the microbe, the archaea, the eukarya, and the bacteria. Seriously..this is some cool stuff.
This book, at best, is a starter book. But it's a good starter book.
The purpose of a starter book is to make you interested in a subject, so that you'll read more, discover more, and seek out more information.
Before I even ended the book, I was looking up more info on water bears (tiny microscopic pieces of awesome) and viruses, and how bacteria moves around. The book contains a glossary and a great bibliography on where to learn more. Skip the notes though...those reek of "I AM SO FRACKING FUNNNNY OMIGOD."
Since nearly failing Biology in high school, my appreciation for science has grown leaps and bounds. I love reading about science, and this book was no exception. It covers the world of the microbe, the archaea, the eukarya, and the bacteria. Seriously..this is some cool stuff.
This book, at best, is a starter book. But it's a good starter book.
The purpose of a starter book is to make you interested in a subject, so that you'll read more, discover more, and seek out more information.
Before I even ended the book, I was looking up more info on water bears (tiny microscopic pieces of awesome) and viruses, and how bacteria moves around. The book contains a glossary and a great bibliography on where to learn more. Skip the notes though...those reek of "I AM SO FRACKING FUNNNNY OMIGOD."
January 3, 2010
I often find that when scientists try to make their chosen field accessible to the masses, they dumb things down to the point of oblivion, and then try too hard to be witty and cute with lame jokes (do all scientists really want to do stand-up?) Such is the case with this book. The goofy jokes and extremely brief description of a the subject matter just didn't add up to anything very memorable.
June 12, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! I'm a bio major and I'm taking a microbiology class next semester, this book had a lot of really interesting (beginner) facts and went in depth enough to give a solid amount of background information, but didn't overwhelm with a bunch of terms and scientific info. I loved that it was just enough information to make me want to go out and read more and do a bit more research, all the while feeling comfortable reading the entire book and not feeling lost. It had a ton of cool facts and phenomenon mentioned to have a lot of interesting (and to some people gross) trivia! I loved this book, I'm definitely going to look into a lot of the things that this book mentioned later on, but I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who is slightly interested in microbes, genetics, medical history, and witty comments!
May 15, 2012
Fun! In contrast to the hard-core microbiology of my everyday working world.
October 5, 2017
Livro de divulgação científica que mais me fez rir.
November 24, 2021
The Invisible Kingdom by Idan Ben-Barak (http://www.idanbb.com/) is a one-book series focused on micro/macro biological topics ranging from fungi water cannons to undead water bears.
The Invisible Kingdom covers a variety of topics ranging on how specific microbes function, and their individual adaptations for surviving, to how these microbes affect our everyday lives. Although, Idan Ben-Barak conveys these passages in an overly funny and prospective manner, so it makes the book a lot more lively and easier to read, even when talking about flat biological research. The Invisible Kingdom also does a great job at getting the readers to think about some of the applications of biological studies and topics. So, for example, Idan Ben-Barak would be writing about Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus (Bdell), and the section would end with an idea on how this bacteria might be able to kill other bacteria in order to clean things; as opposed to using chemical disinfectants. This provokes curiosity and thinking, because some of the proposals that Idan Ben-Barak makes about what microbes do can change how we interact with the environment around us.
Overall, The Invisible Kingdom is a great book to read for quirky, interesting, biology-related material, and it certainly gives a more detailed view on how microscopic organisms affect our everyday lives. I believe that the book has reached its intent, which is to inform readers about microbes and how they affect our everyday lives. After reading the book, however, I do believe that it could have had slightly more information, since the book is leaning towards the shorter end of things. Additionally, sometimes things are not fully discussed in the book, for example, sometimes a paragraph would be talking about a microbe and its functions, but then in the end it would stop explaining because the information was going into more advanced biology concepts. I would love it if the book perhaps included a bonus set of information for those not fully explained topics. To note, something that made the book a little difficult to read was that sometimes, the topics hopped around, changing very quickly, so it is a little hard to digest it all at once.
I would rate this book 4.5 stars, and would highly recommend high school students with interests in science and/or interests in informational texts to read this book. It is a really nice bonus if readers already have a general background in biology so that the topics in this book aren’t too vague or far-fetched, although it isn’t needed in order to read.
The Invisible Kingdom covers a variety of topics ranging on how specific microbes function, and their individual adaptations for surviving, to how these microbes affect our everyday lives. Although, Idan Ben-Barak conveys these passages in an overly funny and prospective manner, so it makes the book a lot more lively and easier to read, even when talking about flat biological research. The Invisible Kingdom also does a great job at getting the readers to think about some of the applications of biological studies and topics. So, for example, Idan Ben-Barak would be writing about Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus (Bdell), and the section would end with an idea on how this bacteria might be able to kill other bacteria in order to clean things; as opposed to using chemical disinfectants. This provokes curiosity and thinking, because some of the proposals that Idan Ben-Barak makes about what microbes do can change how we interact with the environment around us.
Overall, The Invisible Kingdom is a great book to read for quirky, interesting, biology-related material, and it certainly gives a more detailed view on how microscopic organisms affect our everyday lives. I believe that the book has reached its intent, which is to inform readers about microbes and how they affect our everyday lives. After reading the book, however, I do believe that it could have had slightly more information, since the book is leaning towards the shorter end of things. Additionally, sometimes things are not fully discussed in the book, for example, sometimes a paragraph would be talking about a microbe and its functions, but then in the end it would stop explaining because the information was going into more advanced biology concepts. I would love it if the book perhaps included a bonus set of information for those not fully explained topics. To note, something that made the book a little difficult to read was that sometimes, the topics hopped around, changing very quickly, so it is a little hard to digest it all at once.
I would rate this book 4.5 stars, and would highly recommend high school students with interests in science and/or interests in informational texts to read this book. It is a really nice bonus if readers already have a general background in biology so that the topics in this book aren’t too vague or far-fetched, although it isn’t needed in order to read.
September 15, 2018
Technically, 3.5. But I rounded up because the guy seriously works on making this thing readable. I can't imagine the amount of science he had to skip over or dumb down to make a person like me say "Oh, okay, yeah I think I understand what you mean."
That being said, it is a little bit odd. I'm not sure precisely how to describe it. It's basically loosely connected fun facts or stories that are then collected into the eight different sections. And they are interesting. But it is runs a little thin after awhile. That may also just be the risk of proving a book to people, again, like me, who picked it up solely and completely because it's an unknown subject.
I think it's fair to say I enjoyed it. And it's fair to say that if I were someone with a greater or more exercised knowledge of sciences, I would have enjoyed it more. Of course, then, perhaps it would've been too light. I really don't know how these guys find any kind of balance in writing complex science for lay people. You have to give them all the credit possible just for that.
If anything, the best part for me was the occasional teasing out of ideas, the "what if" portions where Ben-Barak takes the facts and oddities that exist in and of themselves in nature and saying, "and you know this would also safely neutralize toxic waste..."
You're not gonna be a genius after this, and sometimes I think when I read books like this it gives me just enough information to prove my ignorance, but it's a brief, informative, quick, fun little read. A nice distraction from work and things for an hour or two in the evening.
That being said, it is a little bit odd. I'm not sure precisely how to describe it. It's basically loosely connected fun facts or stories that are then collected into the eight different sections. And they are interesting. But it is runs a little thin after awhile. That may also just be the risk of proving a book to people, again, like me, who picked it up solely and completely because it's an unknown subject.
I think it's fair to say I enjoyed it. And it's fair to say that if I were someone with a greater or more exercised knowledge of sciences, I would have enjoyed it more. Of course, then, perhaps it would've been too light. I really don't know how these guys find any kind of balance in writing complex science for lay people. You have to give them all the credit possible just for that.
If anything, the best part for me was the occasional teasing out of ideas, the "what if" portions where Ben-Barak takes the facts and oddities that exist in and of themselves in nature and saying, "and you know this would also safely neutralize toxic waste..."
You're not gonna be a genius after this, and sometimes I think when I read books like this it gives me just enough information to prove my ignorance, but it's a brief, informative, quick, fun little read. A nice distraction from work and things for an hour or two in the evening.
April 22, 2021
This rather small book surprised the heck out of me. I picked it up because the scientist in me was interested in the genetics side of things, but I honestly learned so much from this book! Granted, it was very surface level and didn't explain much in science terms, but in that way it's perfect for the layman reader whose just curious about the general subject or looking for somewhere to dip their toe in before getting deeper. Ironically it actually gave me more scifi writing ideas than anything else. I really had no idea just how many microbes there are in the world or what they're capable of. Not to mention this book is almost 10 years old already so the amount we've probably learned since then could fill a whole new book of its own I'm sure.
May 22, 2017
"It is the dance of life, and its beauty is wondrous to behold, once you understand what you are looking at". Idn Ben-Barak could be referring to the cosmic universe. But in fact he writes about the microbial universe, & with his infectious (!) humour makes all that gross gloop totally entrancing. And I never thought I'd say that about E. coli!
January 18, 2018
I had not thought much about microbes before I read this book. I think I know a little more about them now. What can I say about the book? I wish I could write better reviews. It was an easy read. The author was funny so I laughed a lot reading the book. It was not filled with to much technical jargon.
July 29, 2023
É um livro de divulgação científica, então embora seja bem introdutório ainda assim é "específico" mas muito didático pois consegue apresentar conceitos complexos de uma forma simplificada, engraçada e instigante nos deixando curiosos em busca de informações mais detalhadas sobre algum procedimento por exemplo.
Se gosta de biologia recomendo demais.
Se gosta de biologia recomendo demais.
October 11, 2020
Book is laid out in a creative way, much of the scientific context is stripped, there are plenty of facts. For example, it takes about 50000 E. Coli microbes to circle a little finger. The author tells a story from bacteria to protists point of view.
Read
January 22, 2022Uma escrita bem humorada sobre assuntos tão complexos, como a microbiologia ou a genética. Uma boa leitura de divulgação científica, para entender este nosso mundo, com pandemias, incertezas e tanto para descobrir sobre seres tão pequenos como os micróbios: fungos, vírus, bactérias entre outros.
January 2, 2023
Un bel saggio divulgativo che spiega in maniera davvero chiara e brillanta i concetti base della microbiologia attraverso moltissimi esempi. Usare la pratica per spiegare, indirettamente, la teoria. Funziona. Un po' troppo sintetico in alcuni punti, assenza di riferimenti.
May 17, 2018
Amazing!
August 24, 2025
Great introduction to the subject. Humorous and very approachable
March 16, 2017
Very similar to other microbiology related books I've read in the past. It reminded me a lot of my microbial physiology course in the first half of the book with information on interesting organisms like tardigrades and the radiodurans bacteria and how other organisms tolerate harsh conditions. Interesting read, but nothing too new for me within its pages. Most of the time I found the author amusing, but sometimes his jokes were a bit too much. I thought the way the material was presented was simplified enough that a basic biology major could understand it, but there was some information that might be too much if there was no understanding of genetics.
March 12, 2013
O que são micróbios? O que eles fazem? Como eles influenciam nossa vida? São essas perguntas e outras tantas mais que Ben-Barak propõe responder em seu livro Pequenas Maravilhas. Apaixonado pelos seres microscópicos resolveu extravasar esse amor ao mundo e deixar registrado no papel o quão importante esses organismos são para o funcionamento da natureza e a manutenção da vida.
“Quero lhe contar algumas histórias sobre micróbios. Mas estou com um problema: se eu entrar em explicações detalhadas e rigorosas sobre ideias e termos biológicos, gastaria muito tempo e muito papel, este livro se tornaria um livro acadêmico e eu acabaria perdendo o leitor. Por outro lado, se eu simplesmente começar a tagarelar sobre fatores sigma e RNAsi, você talvez decida me mandar passear.
Não quero transformar você em um microbiologista. Ser microbiologista é uma coisa para a qual os microbiologistas é que foram mandados à Terra.”
Como bem evidenciado pelo autor no trecho acima, ele não quer formar microbiólogos e sim trazer informações sobre esses seres microscópicos, de forma que um leigo possa entender. Por isso, seu texto é simples, e apesar de citar processos complexos, ele o faz de forma clara e objetiva, mas faz questão de frisar que o processo é complexo e indica para os leitores mais curiosos, leituras complementares. Ah, e sim, como grande parte dos livros de divulgação científica, o livro é repleto de notas de rodapé, mas em sua maioria, além de complementares elas são bastante divertidas. Em algumas partes o texto beira à poesia, por mais que você neste momento esteja achando que é impossível fazer poesia envolvendo micróbios e que eu tenha que confessar que enxergar poesia na natureza é algo inerente à natureza do biólogo, culpada.
Micróbios estão envolvidos na fabricação do vinho, da cerveja e de mais um tanto de outros alimentos, alguns vivem nos ambientes mais inóspitos da Terra e outros tantos (milhões e milhões) vivem mais próximos de nós do que imaginamos. Você sabia que a razão entre células microbianas e células humanas em nosso corpo é de dez para uma? Um a dois quilos de nosso peso são puros micróbios, isso pode no mínimo até parecer nojento, mas tem lá seu motivo. Controle cerebral? Doenças e condições mentais que parecem estar associadas a micróbios? Isso sim é assustador, controverso, curioso, preocupante e de por caraminholas (isso se já não tiver outras coisas por lá) em sua cabeça. Mas as doenças são só uma ínfima parte de todas as informações que o autor traz.
Continue lendo em: http://blablablaaleatorio.com/2013/03...
“Quero lhe contar algumas histórias sobre micróbios. Mas estou com um problema: se eu entrar em explicações detalhadas e rigorosas sobre ideias e termos biológicos, gastaria muito tempo e muito papel, este livro se tornaria um livro acadêmico e eu acabaria perdendo o leitor. Por outro lado, se eu simplesmente começar a tagarelar sobre fatores sigma e RNAsi, você talvez decida me mandar passear.
Não quero transformar você em um microbiologista. Ser microbiologista é uma coisa para a qual os microbiologistas é que foram mandados à Terra.”
Como bem evidenciado pelo autor no trecho acima, ele não quer formar microbiólogos e sim trazer informações sobre esses seres microscópicos, de forma que um leigo possa entender. Por isso, seu texto é simples, e apesar de citar processos complexos, ele o faz de forma clara e objetiva, mas faz questão de frisar que o processo é complexo e indica para os leitores mais curiosos, leituras complementares. Ah, e sim, como grande parte dos livros de divulgação científica, o livro é repleto de notas de rodapé, mas em sua maioria, além de complementares elas são bastante divertidas. Em algumas partes o texto beira à poesia, por mais que você neste momento esteja achando que é impossível fazer poesia envolvendo micróbios e que eu tenha que confessar que enxergar poesia na natureza é algo inerente à natureza do biólogo, culpada.
Micróbios estão envolvidos na fabricação do vinho, da cerveja e de mais um tanto de outros alimentos, alguns vivem nos ambientes mais inóspitos da Terra e outros tantos (milhões e milhões) vivem mais próximos de nós do que imaginamos. Você sabia que a razão entre células microbianas e células humanas em nosso corpo é de dez para uma? Um a dois quilos de nosso peso são puros micróbios, isso pode no mínimo até parecer nojento, mas tem lá seu motivo. Controle cerebral? Doenças e condições mentais que parecem estar associadas a micróbios? Isso sim é assustador, controverso, curioso, preocupante e de por caraminholas (isso se já não tiver outras coisas por lá) em sua cabeça. Mas as doenças são só uma ínfima parte de todas as informações que o autor traz.
Continue lendo em: http://blablablaaleatorio.com/2013/03...
February 20, 2016
Very enjoyable book about our relationship with our microbial colleagues. They can be both friend and foe, and Ben-Barak explains this well, and with humor.
He doesn't get too technical here, which makes this a good book for the layperson who wants to understand a bit about the complex and fascinating microbial world. However, he provides enough detail to keep those of us who DO know more about it interested. In fact, one of his best points was that when discussing such topics with those not in the profession, it is important to not constantly use technospeak. It's easy to do, because you're used to those terms, but it doesn't help your audience understand the subject.
I liked what he wrote about PCR (polymerase chain reaction): "[PCR is] just about the most useful tool in biological research since the invention of the wheel." I was fortunate to see the onset of the use of PCR in the clinical laboratory, and even years later, I'm STILL amazed at the technology.
He also gives an excellent explanation of the influenza virus, about how and why it can mutate so easily and quickly, and why it continues to be a threat to humanity.
Probably my favorite thought of his was about the interaction of living things and the numerous and varied molecules, atoms, and processes. He writes, "It is the dance of life, and its beauty is wondrous to behold, once you understand what you're looking at." This explains my love of science perfectly. The more I understand and learn, the more amazed I am at the complex and elegant processes involved.
A fun read for anyone who wants to learn a little more about our relationship with microorganisms. Like them or not, we can't survive without them.
He doesn't get too technical here, which makes this a good book for the layperson who wants to understand a bit about the complex and fascinating microbial world. However, he provides enough detail to keep those of us who DO know more about it interested. In fact, one of his best points was that when discussing such topics with those not in the profession, it is important to not constantly use technospeak. It's easy to do, because you're used to those terms, but it doesn't help your audience understand the subject.
I liked what he wrote about PCR (polymerase chain reaction): "[PCR is] just about the most useful tool in biological research since the invention of the wheel." I was fortunate to see the onset of the use of PCR in the clinical laboratory, and even years later, I'm STILL amazed at the technology.
He also gives an excellent explanation of the influenza virus, about how and why it can mutate so easily and quickly, and why it continues to be a threat to humanity.
Probably my favorite thought of his was about the interaction of living things and the numerous and varied molecules, atoms, and processes. He writes, "It is the dance of life, and its beauty is wondrous to behold, once you understand what you're looking at." This explains my love of science perfectly. The more I understand and learn, the more amazed I am at the complex and elegant processes involved.
A fun read for anyone who wants to learn a little more about our relationship with microorganisms. Like them or not, we can't survive without them.
Want to read
August 22, 2009Off this review: The Invisible Kingdom: From the Tips of Our Fingers to the Tops of Our Trash, Inside the Curious World of Microbes
By Idan Ben-Barak (Basic Books)
Microbiologist turned science writer Ben-Barak’s debut book is dotted with pub-worthy facts (two to four pounds of human body weight is made up of microbes) and playful footnotes that make for an accessible and amusing look at the hidden world of ubiquitous microscopic creatures like bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses. Woven into the humor is a bona fide crash course in parasitology, microbiology, and gene transfer, as well as a compelling case for the vital role microbes play in the continuation of all of life on Earth.
By Idan Ben-Barak (Basic Books)
Microbiologist turned science writer Ben-Barak’s debut book is dotted with pub-worthy facts (two to four pounds of human body weight is made up of microbes) and playful footnotes that make for an accessible and amusing look at the hidden world of ubiquitous microscopic creatures like bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses. Woven into the humor is a bona fide crash course in parasitology, microbiology, and gene transfer, as well as a compelling case for the vital role microbes play in the continuation of all of life on Earth.
June 16, 2012
Despite holding much information that will not just educate the layman but also refresh microbiologists, this book tends toward being verbose. There are enough sections that could have been more concisely written, and some analogies seem unnecessary. I find myself skimming through paragraphs of "witty humor" while searching for the essence of the knowledge that the author wishes to impart to the reader.
I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a comprehensive view of microbes that live and adapt to a variety of environments, but caution that there may be frustrating moments with the garrulity.
I would recommend this to someone who is looking for a comprehensive view of microbes that live and adapt to a variety of environments, but caution that there may be frustrating moments with the garrulity.
December 11, 2013
Genre:Informational/nonfiction
Copyright: 2009
CHAPTER BOOK
Author Ben-Barak’s amusing narration of the world of microbes entertains while informs the reader about the unseen world that is all around us. This book introduces the reader to the how genes and protein, bacteria and viruses, and the innumerable ways that they interact with life on Earth. This resource is well researched and exceptionally written. It introduces students to the world of microbiology. Creating a vivid picture of a part of science that is often difficult to imagine.
Copyright: 2009
CHAPTER BOOK
Author Ben-Barak’s amusing narration of the world of microbes entertains while informs the reader about the unseen world that is all around us. This book introduces the reader to the how genes and protein, bacteria and viruses, and the innumerable ways that they interact with life on Earth. This resource is well researched and exceptionally written. It introduces students to the world of microbiology. Creating a vivid picture of a part of science that is often difficult to imagine.
September 26, 2009
Sometimes I found my mind wandering while reading this (never a good sign), but other times I was completely captivated. While I can't wholly say this book has a cohesive narrative thread running through it, the author more than makes up for that with his witty writing style and humorous footnotes.
If you're the least bit interested in science or microbes, I'd say give it a shot, for sure.
If you're the least bit interested in science or microbes, I'd say give it a shot, for sure.
November 18, 2012
This is a great little book to help you find interest in what you probably had no interest before: microbes. I would say that the author also has a good grasp of science, in general, and presenting it to the reader. It lacks a strong central path of direction when it comes to the topics presented, but the anecdotes are fascinating enough to hold the reader.
October 12, 2008
Quite interesting. Not too heavy on the biological details so if you're not into that kind of thing, this book would be quite suitable. Some interesting theories pertaining to microbes that I'd like to read a little more on, and the author has provided a bibliography for me to do so.
February 11, 2012
If I wrote a book on bacteria - it would be much like this. Plenty of interesting biology and a light sense of humor to go along with it. I'm shocked that this is rated so low - which might mean I shouldn't write a book.
August 30, 2014
I am not sure why people get annoyed with his trying to be funny or accessible. If he wasn't then it would just be a microbiology text book. His next book is even better. Love this writer. Fascinating topic.
January 10, 2010
Recommended reading when you are sick...
May 27, 2010
This book compiled my knowledge of microbes very well, however it would be very difficult to follow for someone without prior knowledge of microbes
September 8, 2014
Very informative in a hilarious presentation. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews