•Within days of being born, we are infected with billions of E. coli. They will inhabit each and every one of us until we die. ...
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Jan 03, 2009
Philip
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I just got this book for Christmas and polished it off in a couple of days. I'm not sure that I'm really the typical reader in this case, as I work in the biological sciences and have done some work with E. coli (it's hard to do molecular work these days without it). So comparatively few of the actual facts were new to me. What were new, and what really kept me enthralled, were the experiments that established those facts, the fundamentals of not only microbiology, but genetics, and evolution.
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Jan 14, 2012
John
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With the trained eyes of a scientist and the soul of poet, eminent science writer Carl Zimmer takes us on an all too brief, yet fascinating, trek into contemporary biology, as seen from the perspective of the bacterium Escherichia coli, in his latest book, "Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life". More than a mere recounting of decades of elegant scientific research from the likes of Joshua Lederberg and Salvador Luria, among others, "Microcosm" is truly a book about
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Mar 02, 2009
Laura
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I'm a big fan of Carl Zimmer. His blog, The Loom ( http://www.scienceblogs.com/loom ) is always great for keeping up with scientific developments in words that a layperson can understand, and his other books (I've read Parasite Rex, At the Water's Edge, and Soul Made Flesh) have been quite good. His newest book, on the bacterium E. coli, was also an enjoyable and educational read.
I find I get the most out of science writing when it's on a subject outside my expertise. I loved Parasi More...
I find I get the most out of science writing when it's on a subject outside my expertise. I loved Parasi More...
Nov 18, 2008
tomlinton
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Aug 16, 2011
Jason
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An outstanding book, highly recommended. I loved his Parasite Rex years ago and this is much better than that book -- or at least than my memory of that book. It is an intensive look at E. coli, everything from the details of how we have learned about it, how it functions, how it has evolved, what we understand about it genetics, the role it plays in normal human functioning and human disease, how it is being used to produce new proteins and provide the basis for synthetic life.
All along the way More...
All along the way More...
Aug 26, 2008
Melody
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Could finish before it was due back. First half is really good.
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Aug 04, 2008
Harry
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The bacteria Escherichia coli is best known for occasionally causing food poisoning outbreaks, but most strains of it are harmless and indeed a normal part of our gut flora. It's also one of the most-studied life forms on earth because, like fruit flies and white mice, they are used as a standard laboratory research subject. So Zimmer has been able to use E. coli as a way of looking at a whole range of related topics: evolution, cell biology, genetic engineering and so forth.
As I wou More...
As I wou More...
Jul 20, 2008
Oliver
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My review for the Sunday Times is now up on their site. Here's how it begins
"If you are interested in how living things work down at the cellular level, then this is a good time to be alive. It is not, however, an equally good time to be reading popular-science books. While evolution gets a lot of ink devoted to it, in part because it is fascinating and in part because some people, absurdly, continue to see it as problematic, the molecular processes that evolution shapes go comp More...
"If you are interested in how living things work down at the cellular level, then this is a good time to be alive. It is not, however, an equally good time to be reading popular-science books. While evolution gets a lot of ink devoted to it, in part because it is fascinating and in part because some people, absurdly, continue to see it as problematic, the molecular processes that evolution shapes go comp More...
Aug 14, 2008
Junx
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My introduction to this book was via the Scienceblogs book club. They talked about it at length and I found the discussion incredibly interesting. Particularly the discussion on Richard Lenski's publishing of his research whereby he observed E. coli evolve the ability to consume the citrate medium they found themselves in.
The fact that E. coli lives within us, and almost no one takes notice is an amazing fact in and of itself. Though it can be (and is) argued that we would not be More...
The fact that E. coli lives within us, and almost no one takes notice is an amazing fact in and of itself. Though it can be (and is) argued that we would not be More...
Nov 03, 2008
Jessie
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It is easy, when reading a book that's about your particular field of intense interest, to close the last page with mixed feelings. Sometimes the books are so in depth that you feel sorry for any poor soul who happened to meander into them. Other times, you can't help but quibble about what was put into (or perhaps left out). So I think I can say it was with rare pleasure that I closed this book with a big goofy grin on my face.
I'm a microbiologist-in-training, and to start out wi More...
I'm a microbiologist-in-training, and to start out wi More...
Jul 25, 2008
Mark
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Carl Zimmer is one of my favorite science writers, precisely because I know how difficult it is to walk the fine line between explaining the intricacies of science and not overwhelming readers with abstruse detail. In general, Zimmer does a fine job of this in Microcosm, in which he explores just how important the humble, ubiquitous bacterium E. Coli has been in everything from understanding how evolution works to how diverse life is to how to produce valuable drugs through genetic enginee More...
Dec 08, 2010
Raphael
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My favorite part of this book was its structure. I loved how Carl Zimmer used E. coli as a lens to examine many aspects of life. I thought that, in general, this was a good way to create a science narrative: focus on one organism, and then use that organism to explore larger issues.
My least favorite part of this book was the consistently short sentence lengths. I would have appreciated more variety.
Otherwise, it's a good read.
Jun 11, 2011
Punk
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The life and times of E. coli. If you want a genetic breakdown and history of E. coli, one of the most closely studied organisms on the planet, this will provide that, but it's about as much fun as reading a textbook.
Almost made it to chapter four before I gave up due to complete boredom.
Fun fact: Thomas Escherich, a German pediatrician, discovered E. coli in 1885, but named it Bacterium coli communis. In 1918, it was renamed in his honor: Escherichia coli.
Almost made it to chapter four before I gave up due to complete boredom.
Fun fact: Thomas Escherich, a German pediatrician, discovered E. coli in 1885, but named it Bacterium coli communis. In 1918, it was renamed in his honor: Escherichia coli.
Jul 17, 2011
Generally I prefer science writers who are scientists rather than writers, and Zimmer is a writer, not a scientist. On the other hand, Zimmer has focused on a topic that allows him to present a summary history of molecular biology that is accessible to a lay reader such as myself. So far, so good....
Dec 22, 2008
Honna
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Initial impressions a few hours after finishing the book:
Poetic. Enthusiastic, but easily drawn into hyperbole.
First three or four chapters is a rehash of graduate level biology course work undertaken.
I found the chapter on viral evolution very interesting.
Poetic. Enthusiastic, but easily drawn into hyperbole.
First three or four chapters is a rehash of graduate level biology course work undertaken.
I found the chapter on viral evolution very interesting.
Jun 12, 2008
Mazola1
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A look at life, evolution and death from the point of view of the common gut bateria, e. coli. The natural history of this surprisingly complicated little survivor is sketched, from its beginnings billions of years ago to its central role in today's brave new world of biotechnology. Along the way, Zimmer treats the reader to lessons on how living things adapt to survive and compete with each other, how much all forms of life have in common, the fuzzy line between living and non-living, and some
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Oct 15, 2008
Arlene
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This book can be read on two levels. It is almost a primer on cellular and molecular biology; and if you wade through all the details you will come away with a lot of knowledge on the subject. For those not so scientifically minded there is still a great deal to be learned from this book. The interrelatedness of all life on earth, being the main point here. The author also fleshes out a great argument to use against those who would still deny evolution and embrace creationism.
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Jul 23, 2011
Jesse
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Six of five stars. Carl Zimmer is the best science writer out there, and his subject here is something I spent twelve years working on. This book is so good it makes me want to go back into academic research.
Jul 05, 2010
Converse
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E. coli is amazingly variable (Shigella is just some nasty forms of E. coli) & the history of science associated with it is most interesting. Also, we are starting to engineer it like a set of electronic components.
Jul 24, 2010
Myxini
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more 'Tiny creatures are fascinating' and a good overview of the history of microbiology, since e. coli was pretty much the workhorse of the development of the field.
Feb 03, 2012
Chanpheng
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Learned more than I could ever imagine about E. coli. Fascinating book and Zimmer provides a good overview. His explanations are just write and very clear.
Aug 04, 2009
Jennifer
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Brilliant!
I found out about Carl Zimmer from his collection of Science Tattoos. I began following his blog, The Loom, and found his writing to be interesting and very readable. A colleague of mine and I started talking about him (she had recently gotten a science tattoo!) and she highly recommended Microcosm.
A short summary would be either how E. coli changed the world, or it could be how the world changed E. coli. Science, research, disease, ethics, possibilities, c More...
I found out about Carl Zimmer from his collection of Science Tattoos. I began following his blog, The Loom, and found his writing to be interesting and very readable. A colleague of mine and I started talking about him (she had recently gotten a science tattoo!) and she highly recommended Microcosm.
A short summary would be either how E. coli changed the world, or it could be how the world changed E. coli. Science, research, disease, ethics, possibilities, c More...
Feb 03, 2012
Steve
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Good...not great. But for as interesting as I find the topics that Zimmer writes about - I just can't seem to really get into his writing.
Sep 12, 2009
Raina
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What introduced me first to science. While on reflection, I decided science wasn't my thing. But this book was still wonderful.
Sep 08, 2011
Xin
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You wouldn't expect so many interesting aspects of E. coli, from its survival strategy to evolution. A great book!
Feb 17, 2009
Referenced in an article by Zimmer in BBC Knowledge magazine about Richard's Lenski's work with E.coli bacteria. He set up 12 identical lines in separate flasks 21 years ago and then watched them evolve. Some really interesting stuff happened including one line's ability to use citrate for sustenance something E. coli could not do. His work is giving the creationists fits because it's living proof of the mechanism of evolution and natural selection.
Full article in Mar/Apr 2009 iss More...
Full article in Mar/Apr 2009 iss More...
Nov 24, 2010
Heather
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Fascinating for someone who doesn't know anything about biology. Probably even more so for someone who does.
Feb 18, 2010
Debmeinke
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Everything we need to know about the colonies of bacteria that hold us together. Fascinating and humbling.
Jun 25, 2009
Amy
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A breezy and entertaining look at the history and importance of one of the most famous bacteria of all time. The interesting asides, metaphors, and cross-species connections drawn by Microcosm kept the book charming and light, while the brief stops for "serious" science made it about as educational as my genetics textbook. The cultural sections were new to me and I loved reading about the furor over E. coli sex, genetic engineering, and chimeras. Unfortunately, the sections on E. co
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May 31, 2010
Greg
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This book is proof that science non-fiction can be as good or better than science fiction. There was a few times I got lost trying to follow some of the procedural explanations, but most of the time I was spell bound.
