It will change both our view of nature and our sense of where we belong in it.

In this astonishing book, Ed Yong takes us on a grand tour through our microbial partners, and introduces us to the scientists on the front lines of discovery. Many people think of microbes as germs to be eradicated, but those that live with us-the microbiome-build our bodies, protect our health, shape our identities, and grant us incredible abilities. Bacteria provide squid with invisibility cloaks, help beetles to bring down forests, and allow worms to cause diseases that afflict millions of people. In the deep oceans, mysterious creatures without mouths or guts depend on microbes for all their energy.

The microbes in our bodies are part of our immune systems and protect us from disease. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ed Yong, whose humor is as evident as his erudition, prompts us to look at ourselves and our animal companions in a new light-less as individuals and more as the interconnected, interdependent multitudes we assuredly are.

Named a Best Book of 2016 by The Economist, Smithsonian, NPR's Science Friday, MPR, Minnesota Star Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian, Times (London)įrom Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong, a groundbreaking, wondrously informative, and vastly entertaining examination of the most significant revolution in biology since Darwin-a “microbe’s-eye view” of the world that reveals a marvelous, radically reconceived picture of life on earth.Įvery animal, whether human, squid, or wasp, is home to millions of bacteria and other microbes.

I contain multitudes book