This book lets us peer into the world of microbes -- not as germs to be eradicated, but as invaluable parts of our lives -- allowing us to see how ubiquitous and vital microbes are: they sculpt our organs, defend us from disease, break down our food, educate our immune systems, guide our behavior, bombard our genomes with their genes, and grant us incredible abilities. While much of the prevailing discussion around the microbiome has focused on its...

Photographs and drawings introduce twenty unusual microscopic organisms, including the red blood cell, influenza virus, head louse, and red spider mite.

Presents general information about different types of germs, as well as the diseases they cause, and how people work to prevent them from spreading.

Presents twelve stories of the men who pioneered the study of bacteriology.

"Describes insects and microbes commonly found in homes"--

Explores the hidden world of very small creatures that live around us and even inside us, including fleas, bedbugs, itch mites, and more.