Fionnáin reviewed I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
The only good bug is a properly understood bug
3 stars
Ed Yong presents a popular science book about a microscopic subject. In I Contain Multitudes there are stories exploring bacteria that are crucial to human survival, and others that can be docile or dangerous depending on their populations. The book is ambitious, covering a lot of ground in a relatively young field that is becoming very popular. Between the atomic and the macro, we contain multitudes.
Although the breadth of research is impressive, there are shortcomings. The book lacks a reasonable critique, so keeps falling into traps of presenting only western viewpoints, for example, or using adjectives like "disgusting" when describing faeces (come on, it's just a little poo!). There is also a tendency to oversell new and unproven theories - a lot of the research written about is in its infancy, but is written as if it is guaranteed to succeed at some point in the future. Research is, …
Ed Yong presents a popular science book about a microscopic subject. In I Contain Multitudes there are stories exploring bacteria that are crucial to human survival, and others that can be docile or dangerous depending on their populations. The book is ambitious, covering a lot of ground in a relatively young field that is becoming very popular. Between the atomic and the macro, we contain multitudes.
Although the breadth of research is impressive, there are shortcomings. The book lacks a reasonable critique, so keeps falling into traps of presenting only western viewpoints, for example, or using adjectives like "disgusting" when describing faeces (come on, it's just a little poo!). There is also a tendency to oversell new and unproven theories - a lot of the research written about is in its infancy, but is written as if it is guaranteed to succeed at some point in the future. Research is, of course, not that simple.
Still, despite these issues, the writing is solid, approachable and very readable, and the science is excitingly new and dynamic. Yong has moved a lens over a microscopic world in an accessible and enjoyable book.