I Contain Multitudes
Joining the ranks of popular science classics like The Botany of Desire and The Selfish Gene, 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. Every animal, whether human, squid, or wasp, is home to millions of bacteria and other microbes. 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. The microbes in our bodies are part of our immune systems and protect us from disease. In the deep oceans, mysterious creatures without mouths or guts depend on microbes for all their energy. Bacteria provide squid with invisibility cloaks, help beetles to bring down forests, and allow worms to cause diseases that afflict millions of people. 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. 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. It will change both our view of nature and our sense of where we belong in it.
Stats for nerds
10recommend
18mentions
15people
2016–2025years
67% recommend33% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Related good read[0] - “I contain Multitudes”
[0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27213168-i-contain-multi...
- I Contain Multitudes, by Ed Yong
- Read Ed Yong's book "I Contain Multitudes". This area has been more/less blocked for many decades and with recent innovations and pipelines we may be able to start finding causal patterns.
- Read “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong. A very approachable book for anyone.
- > Dr Pittenger says it is now clear that covid-19 infections can trigger psychosis, fatigue and other neuro-psychiatric symptoms. A misbehaving immune system is thought to be the culprit. The idea that schizophrenia may, at least sometimes, likewise be an auto-immune disorder is also under investigation.
Until I got long covid(generally recovered now after 2 years), I couldn't comprehend this idea. I felt like I was actually going crazy. But then that lead me down a rabbit hole of reading about things like the microbiome and immune system which is a whole new domain yet to be formally explored. I highly recommend people read Ed Yong's book "I Contain Multitudes".
Post acute infection syndromes are a real thing and it is fascinating that we get to see science take on this topic in the spotlight right now. Especially Jeff Gordon and his work on the microbiome and Akiko Iwasaki and her work on long covid.
It makes you honestly question the idea of freewill. Good thing that Robert Sapolsky's new book is coming out next month on the topic!
- I read a book about all this recently called I Contain Multitudes. The thesis was that the gut biome controlled a lot, and given the evidence presented I thought it was compelling (as a layman) though not actionable. Based on that one piece of information I am not surprised by the OP.
