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Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child's Developing Immune System
From two of the world's top scientists and one of the world's top science writers (all parents), Dirt Is Good is a q&a-based guide to everything you need to know about kids & germs.
"Is it OK for my child to eat dirt?"
That's just one of the many questions authors Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight are bombarded with every week from parents all over the world. They've heard everything from "My two-year-old gets constant ear infections. Should I give her antibiotics? Or probiotics?" to "I heard that my son's asthma was caused by a lack of microbial exposure. Is this true, and if so what can I do about it now?"
Google these questions, and you'll be overwhelmed with answers. The internet is rife with speculation and misinformation about the risks and benefits of what most parents think of as simply germs, but which scientists now call the microbiome: the combined activity of all the tiny organisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment that have an enormous impact on our health and well-being. Who better to turn to for answers than Drs. Gilbert and Knight, two of the top scientists leading the investigation into the microbiome--an investigation that is producing fascinating discoveries and bringing answers to parents who want to do the best for their young children. Dirt Is Good is a comprehensive, authoritative, accessible guide you've been searching for.
"Is it OK for my child to eat dirt?"
That's just one of the many questions authors Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight are bombarded with every week from parents all over the world. They've heard everything from "My two-year-old gets constant ear infections. Should I give her antibiotics? Or probiotics?" to "I heard that my son's asthma was caused by a lack of microbial exposure. Is this true, and if so what can I do about it now?"
Google these questions, and you'll be overwhelmed with answers. The internet is rife with speculation and misinformation about the risks and benefits of what most parents think of as simply germs, but which scientists now call the microbiome: the combined activity of all the tiny organisms inside our bodies and the surrounding environment that have an enormous impact on our health and well-being. Who better to turn to for answers than Drs. Gilbert and Knight, two of the top scientists leading the investigation into the microbiome--an investigation that is producing fascinating discoveries and bringing answers to parents who want to do the best for their young children. Dirt Is Good is a comprehensive, authoritative, accessible guide you've been searching for.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
34 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gilbert
28 books308 followersBorn and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.'s neighborhood of East Liberty, he attended Peabody High School then worked as a door-to-door salesman, an exterminator, and a steelworker. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where he and his classmate Gerald Stern developed a serious interest in poetry and writing.
His work is distinguished by simple lyricism and straightforward clarity of tone. Though his first book of poetry (Views of Jeopardy, 1962) was quickly recognized and Gilbert himself made into something of a media darling, he retreated from his earlier activity in the San Francisco poetry scene (where he participated in Jack Spicer's Poetry as Magic workshop) and moved to Europe, touring from country to country while living on a Guggenheim Fellowship. Nearly the whole of his career after the publication of his first book of poetry is marked by what he has described in interviews as a self-imposed isolation—which some have considered to be a spiritual quest to describe his alienation from mainstream American culture, and others have dismissed as little more than an extended period as a "professional houseguest" living off of wealthy American literary admirers. Subsequent books of poetry have been few and far between. He continued to write, however, and between books has occasionally contributed to The American Poetry Review, Genesis West, The Quarterly, Poetry, Ironwood, The Kenyon Review, and The New Yorker.
He was a close friend of the poet Linda Gregg who was once his student and to whom he was married for six years. He was also married to Michiko Nogami (a language instructor based in San Francisco, now deceased, about whom he has written many of his poems). He was also in a significant long term relationship with the Beat poet Laura Ulewicz during the fifties in San Francisco.
His work is distinguished by simple lyricism and straightforward clarity of tone. Though his first book of poetry (Views of Jeopardy, 1962) was quickly recognized and Gilbert himself made into something of a media darling, he retreated from his earlier activity in the San Francisco poetry scene (where he participated in Jack Spicer's Poetry as Magic workshop) and moved to Europe, touring from country to country while living on a Guggenheim Fellowship. Nearly the whole of his career after the publication of his first book of poetry is marked by what he has described in interviews as a self-imposed isolation—which some have considered to be a spiritual quest to describe his alienation from mainstream American culture, and others have dismissed as little more than an extended period as a "professional houseguest" living off of wealthy American literary admirers. Subsequent books of poetry have been few and far between. He continued to write, however, and between books has occasionally contributed to The American Poetry Review, Genesis West, The Quarterly, Poetry, Ironwood, The Kenyon Review, and The New Yorker.
He was a close friend of the poet Linda Gregg who was once his student and to whom he was married for six years. He was also married to Michiko Nogami (a language instructor based in San Francisco, now deceased, about whom he has written many of his poems). He was also in a significant long term relationship with the Beat poet Laura Ulewicz during the fifties in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 11, 2017
The book piqued my interested when I saw it on my library's new release shelf so I grabbed it, even though my children are way past the infant stage. I'll admit I was shocked by the advice on page 55, "Additionally, if your wet nurse has infected and inflamed nipples or mastitis, the bacteria causing that infection can hurt your baby". Now, I'm not sure if the authors are only recommending this for those who can hire a wet nurse, where as the families I know cannot afford that luxury, but I know I breastfed all three of mine with various levels of mastitis and mine were all fine. So while the authors may just be cautioning about the different germs available in another person's body, I would want to caution moms who breastfeed and develop mastitis it is fine and even good to continue breastfeeding, even though it can be very painful. Please consult your doctor, lactation consultant or educator, or both.
That said in regards to the use of the infant eye drops immediately after birth while the authors agree that parents should be able to chose whether or not to have them administered, they seem to be in favor of the drops. I'm very glad I don't live in New York as the authors say that hospitals there will call CPS if parents refuse the eye drops. While we did agree to our oldest getting the ointment, the hospital we used did not use drops, this was before we had studied anything and trusted the medical community implicitly. I would have liked to have the authors suggest using a few drops of colostrum from the mom instead, which is what I did with my two younger ones and the pediatrician agreed that doing so was just as good as the ointment.
"Babies and children should get their vaccines on the scheduled provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention". Yes, because we all know that the AAP and CDC has the best interests of all Americans at heart. The authors also seem to believe that no traces of mercury or thimerosal are in today's vaccines - please read the actual vaccine inserts for the entire ingredient list - I did. In regards to the chicken pox vaccine, one of the author's claims his daughter is now fully vaccinated and protected against chicken pox, although studies are showing that the efficacy of the vaccine wears off and a booster is needed for those who chose to have the vaccine administered.
With all that said there is some really good information to be had within this book's covers and the reason why I didn't give it a two like I wanted too. I'm all for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and so while I disagree with a lot of what is written, based on my own research (I'm not a doctor but I'm a mom and college student who does her own research) I will say quite a bit of the information is useful. While I disagree too with the authors that GMO foods are safe, they do say that in some regards there is still studies to be done and the verdict is out on some of the answers. I just request, as I do with any book, even my college texts, read it with an open mind, do your own research and talk with other 'experts' and people in the field before taking everything these authors say as the 100% truth.
That said in regards to the use of the infant eye drops immediately after birth while the authors agree that parents should be able to chose whether or not to have them administered, they seem to be in favor of the drops. I'm very glad I don't live in New York as the authors say that hospitals there will call CPS if parents refuse the eye drops. While we did agree to our oldest getting the ointment, the hospital we used did not use drops, this was before we had studied anything and trusted the medical community implicitly. I would have liked to have the authors suggest using a few drops of colostrum from the mom instead, which is what I did with my two younger ones and the pediatrician agreed that doing so was just as good as the ointment.
"Babies and children should get their vaccines on the scheduled provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention". Yes, because we all know that the AAP and CDC has the best interests of all Americans at heart. The authors also seem to believe that no traces of mercury or thimerosal are in today's vaccines - please read the actual vaccine inserts for the entire ingredient list - I did. In regards to the chicken pox vaccine, one of the author's claims his daughter is now fully vaccinated and protected against chicken pox, although studies are showing that the efficacy of the vaccine wears off and a booster is needed for those who chose to have the vaccine administered.
With all that said there is some really good information to be had within this book's covers and the reason why I didn't give it a two like I wanted too. I'm all for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and so while I disagree with a lot of what is written, based on my own research (I'm not a doctor but I'm a mom and college student who does her own research) I will say quite a bit of the information is useful. While I disagree too with the authors that GMO foods are safe, they do say that in some regards there is still studies to be done and the verdict is out on some of the answers. I just request, as I do with any book, even my college texts, read it with an open mind, do your own research and talk with other 'experts' and people in the field before taking everything these authors say as the 100% truth.
December 19, 2017
This is a good book, written in a Q&A format, so you can skim it and only read the answers to questions that are of interest to you. Or I can summarize it in one word for you: "probiotics". I'd suggest listening to the NPR interview by the author.
http://n.pr/2uedkYU
http://n.pr/2uedkYU
June 28, 2020
I had a lot more hope for this book, but it reaffirmed a lot of ideas I already knew and had. Hand sanitizing and obsessive washing=bad. (Though right now, it seems to be a necessary way, sigh.) Dirt=good.
July 23, 2024
3.5 stars
Good read that basically affirmed what we already know: your gut ecosystem affects a lot of long-term and day-to-day conditions. Was geared a little too much to pregnancy and early child rearing (though, this is when attention is most impactful --you'd prob get a lot from this book if you're looking for that). Cool takeaways: dogs almost always contribute to a healthier family biome, shoes off in your apartment actually contributes to an unhealthier home environment (lack of competition), and places like public restrooms and the subway are actually rather "clean" (you most often encounter already dead pathogens or characters that are already present & controlled in your own biome).
Good read that basically affirmed what we already know: your gut ecosystem affects a lot of long-term and day-to-day conditions. Was geared a little too much to pregnancy and early child rearing (though, this is when attention is most impactful --you'd prob get a lot from this book if you're looking for that). Cool takeaways: dogs almost always contribute to a healthier family biome, shoes off in your apartment actually contributes to an unhealthier home environment (lack of competition), and places like public restrooms and the subway are actually rather "clean" (you most often encounter already dead pathogens or characters that are already present & controlled in your own biome).
March 10, 2020
We all have symbionts like Jadzia 🖖🏼
I remember eating dirt as a kid. It was crunchy.
Written 2017
A lot of unknowns and active research
Science is not there yet. In its infancy. There’s a lot of hype and misinformation circulating.
Great charts explanations of different beneficial bacteria and preventable diseases and respective vaccines.
————————————————————-
The extermination of our micro biome has led to: Obesity, allergies, diabetes, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and many others
Autism linked to microbiome
Bacteria on earth nonillion 10 to 30th power
Masters of cooperation
Competition -microbial world is a stage for
endless war. Bacteria vs viruses
Bacteria-Single celled organisms lacking a nucleus. They are not primitive. They can move, eat, illuminate waste, defend against enemies, and reproduce with remarkable efficiency
Archaea, or single cell organisms that look very much like bacteria under a microscope but have unique ways of making a living. Extremophiles. Human gut and skin.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/...
Eukaryote: microbes of the fungi and Protista kingdoms. Single celled. Contain a nucleus. Yeast.
Viruses: incredibly efficient at replicating themselves by harvesting the cellular machinery of cells around them
Ideonella sakaiensis
Eats plastics
They even eat uranium fungi have been deployed to absorb radiation from tainted water at the Fukishima nuclear reactor Japan
Russians exposed microbes to space for a year outside of the Mir space station and some survived
Thermophiles
Extremophiles-found in washing machine bleach dispensers, hot tubs, dishwashers
Nearly every antibiotic is derived from microbes
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Toxoplasma gondii- paracite in cat litter. An find it’s way to placenta.
Toxoplasmosis
HMO
human milk oligosaccharides 200 identified
Indigestible but feed the gut bacteria acting as prebiotics
Bifidobacterium longum infantis B. Infantis
So particularly suited to digest HMO that it’s suggested human milk may have evolved to nourish one microbe.
-In HMO digestion it Releases SCFA-metabolites that feed T Regulatory cells (Tregs) regulationof immune system
-encourages gut cells to make adhesive proteins
-releases sialic acid-brain development and cognition
Test directly comparing Pasteurized breast milk to formula have not been done
Formula
Hydrolyzed cow milk
Bifidobacterium & lactobacillus
Enterobacter
Candida
Safety testing by FDA never takes microbiome into account
Lactobacillus Reuteri
Hematoma
Narrow and broad spectrum antibiotics
Dysbiosis
Gut microbes look together harmoniously. They check each other’s growth, produce food, vitamins, amino acids, and other beneficial compounds for your child’s body to use. They both stimulate and control your child’s immune system and hormonal balance, and even their neurons.
Microbes ferment the fiber in our food and doing so produce molecules or metabolites that help control inflammation in her gut
L rhamnosus GG
A commercial probiotic could be affective a reversing peanut allergies. Got a small daily dose of peanut protein together with increasing doses of probiotic L. Rhamnosus GG which is equivalent to eating 44 pounds of yogurt every day
Food allergies. A food allergy occurs when your babies immune system strong strongly reacts to a substance usually a protein and a particular food shortly after this consumed. The body misinterprets the protein is being foreign or dangerous so it induces inflammation and releases antibodies to destroy or neutralize it the result may be a rash, hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pain, swollen tongue, or swollen airways.
Fecal transplant therapy
FMT has been used experimentally to treat other gastrointestinal diseases, including colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's.[5][6] In the United States, human feces has been regulated as an experimental drug since 2013. In the United Kingdom, FMT regulation is under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.[7]
Two mice with the same genes but colonized with different microbes have very different responses to the same food, and the same may be true and humans
After a diet it takes nine months for the micro biome signature of obesity to start decay
BPA Mimics estrogen and even causes sex reversal and some species of fish and frogs
Viruses coat the gut lining and then lies in wait just daring a nasty bacterium to try to infect your body. The virus attacks the attacker and uses it to make more viruses, until the bacterium eventually parishes.
Children growing up more rural environments tend to have more diverse microbiomes and
lower rates of allergies and asthma.
Christensenella
Twins study- one thin has it and obese doesn’t
Your gut produces key molecules used in your brain and nervous system.
Serotonin
GABA
5-HTP HYDROXYTRYPTOPHAN - intermediate molecule between the amino acid tryptophan and the neurotransmitter serotonin
-produced by candida, streptococcus, escherichia & enterococcus
Bacillus and serration- produce neurotransmitter dopamine
escherichia, bacillus, saccharomyces - Make noraadrenaline
Lactobacillus- produce acetylcholine
GABA- The neurotransmitter that slows things down. Produced by lactobacillus and bifidobacterium
-also made in the brain- plays role in anxiolytics, hypnotics, general anesthetics, anticonvulsants, and sedatives
( epilepsy, MS, depression and anxiety)
serotonin-made in brain & gut
Gut serotonin - can cross into brain, where it affects mood, appetite, and feelings of well-being
The vague nerve
Risk behaviors of mice with or without a microbiome
Children in low socioeconomic homes-generally have high saturated fat & high sugar diets. Urban environment & less access to animals & nature
Vaccines
Incredibly safe vs havoc of viral infections
Dichotomy of Embracing microbial diversity while protecting from exposure to pathogen’s
Humans have evolved hypervigilant immune system’s prepared to do battle with any and all pathogens
When we remove pathogens from our world with vaccines, better sanitation, we encounter unintended consequences are immune systems begin to overreact to things that are not so dangerous such as pollen or other allergens
Where is the microbial exposure that the child’s immune system is expecting? Absent. When a child is brought home to a sterile environment, sealed windows and constantly conditioned air with the filtration system. Instead of the infinite is exposed to a constant stream of skin associated bacteria from the parents. The immune system may not get the interactions it it’s expecting to function the way it did in the past.
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA when your child’s defenses are down this bug can lead to life-threatening infection so do not respond to standard antibiotics
15 years ago it was one in 10,000 with autism and now it is one and 68 children in the United States
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2022
A line from page 160 sums this book up well, "Live sensibly, apply common sense. Don't live like a germaphobe and you will be fine."
This book is written in a Q&A formst. My main critique is almost every question is answered with a "we don't know.." or "Not sure." Etc. I appreciate the authors deliberate attempt to avoid dramatizing the subject but don't advertise a bunch of questions on the back cover and then "answer" them all with an "I don't know."
I am fascinated with the topic of the microbiome and would not list this book as one to study if you also enjoy the subject. It is too vague, general and lacking in any new information.
This book is written in a Q&A formst. My main critique is almost every question is answered with a "we don't know.." or "Not sure." Etc. I appreciate the authors deliberate attempt to avoid dramatizing the subject but don't advertise a bunch of questions on the back cover and then "answer" them all with an "I don't know."
I am fascinated with the topic of the microbiome and would not list this book as one to study if you also enjoy the subject. It is too vague, general and lacking in any new information.
May 22, 2019
The first chapters seemed to be explaining what the microbiome is. This was too scientific for me (and I'm not going to be researching the veracity of all of their studies), but I can see how they need to establish the science ahead of time. The middle of the book has the some great advice. Then the end of the book seems to get a bit too much into detail in terms of scientific detail (whether and how to conduct a fecal matter transplant, etc.). In fact, the conclusion seems to target scientists themselves, when it asks them not to get "drunk with power" in terms of their findings and wishing to help people, thereby giving unreliable information.
I really liked the advice that was given, although I feel like it could have gone into more detail as to what average parents should be doing (and trust us to be mature enough to understand everything is based on probabilities, so nothing is 100%). For example, the book says that newborns should be kept clear of strangers' microbes, while older children should be exposed to them. When should this transition occur? Should it occur all at once? Are there stages? Also, what about other settings? Are there studies regarding feeding store-bought food, just buying fruits or veggies, restaurant leftovers, organic stuff (apparently freshly killed chickens are fine)? Any differences there? Does it even matter? What about sunshine? rain? etc.
I'm not saying all of these things worry me, but I just think the useful information seemed to be crowded out by the more rare scientific questions.
Conversely I liked how readily they admit that we don't have enough data available. This should be standard practice (and would be great answers to my questions above as well). I'll also be interested in seeing what results from probiotics, which seem to hold promise but don't have enough studies quite yet.
Some of the notes I took:
- Dogs are slightly better than cats, but any pet or animal helps (in terms of asthma, hay fever, etc.)
- Going to farms is great
- Playing with all types of dirt is good
Only sterilize after hospital visits, using raw meat, etc.
Sanitizer can get rid of all microbes (including good ones, which are needed for protection)
- First month or so: keep baby separate from other people
I really liked the advice that was given, although I feel like it could have gone into more detail as to what average parents should be doing (and trust us to be mature enough to understand everything is based on probabilities, so nothing is 100%). For example, the book says that newborns should be kept clear of strangers' microbes, while older children should be exposed to them. When should this transition occur? Should it occur all at once? Are there stages? Also, what about other settings? Are there studies regarding feeding store-bought food, just buying fruits or veggies, restaurant leftovers, organic stuff (apparently freshly killed chickens are fine)? Any differences there? Does it even matter? What about sunshine? rain? etc.
I'm not saying all of these things worry me, but I just think the useful information seemed to be crowded out by the more rare scientific questions.
Conversely I liked how readily they admit that we don't have enough data available. This should be standard practice (and would be great answers to my questions above as well). I'll also be interested in seeing what results from probiotics, which seem to hold promise but don't have enough studies quite yet.
Some of the notes I took:
- Dogs are slightly better than cats, but any pet or animal helps (in terms of asthma, hay fever, etc.)
- Going to farms is great
- Playing with all types of dirt is good
Only sterilize after hospital visits, using raw meat, etc.
Sanitizer can get rid of all microbes (including good ones, which are needed for protection)
- First month or so: keep baby separate from other people
February 23, 2018
My friend Kat had this book on her to read list, and when I went to the library this week I saw it so grabbed it. I will say I did not read the book in entirely, as I do not have kids myself, but there were some chapters I was really interested in. The book is well written, and is a bit heavy on the biology terms, but that's good as it is not only a challenging read but informative too! I found the following to be interesting:
"Each person sheds 38 million microbes an hour, so every time you interact with people you are picking up some of their germs."
You bring home microbes every day from work and from any other place you go. "But whether these germs are bad is another question." It is important to wash your hands frequently to get rid of germs!
The chapter on how clean bathrooms, what is better hand washing dishes vs. dishwasher, and how often your kids should bathe were all very interesting.
If you are a parent, especially of a young child or plan to become a parents, I would take a look at this book!
"Each person sheds 38 million microbes an hour, so every time you interact with people you are picking up some of their germs."
You bring home microbes every day from work and from any other place you go. "But whether these germs are bad is another question." It is important to wash your hands frequently to get rid of germs!
The chapter on how clean bathrooms, what is better hand washing dishes vs. dishwasher, and how often your kids should bathe were all very interesting.
If you are a parent, especially of a young child or plan to become a parents, I would take a look at this book!
April 6, 2024
Trước có câu nói nhảm “Ăn bẩn sống lâu, người Tàu bảo thế” hoá ra không nhảm lắm 😂 Nói chung là một quyển sách khoa học hay về vai trò của vi trùng trong việc hoàn thiện hệ thống miễn dịch tốt cho con trẻ. Những nghiên cứu vẫn còn khá thô sơ, cơ bản, chủ yếu là nghiên cứu và thí nghiệm trên chuột nhưng cũng mở ra một hướng mới trong điều trị, chữa bệnh, phòng bệnh.
Tóm lại là cây trong lồng kính thì yếu, trẻ sống trong môi trường quá sạch sẽ sẽ dễ phản ứng với tác nhân bên ngoài, có thể gây ra dị ứng, hen suyễn, tiêu chảy và nhiều bệnh khác. Bố mẹ nên để trẻ tiếp xúc với môi trường bên ngoài càng sớm càng tốt. Như nông trại, thú nuôi, đất, cây cỏ. Những vi khuẩn vô hại sẽ giúp trẻ tạo ra hệ miễn dịch tốt hơn.
Tóm lại là cây trong lồng kính thì yếu, trẻ sống trong môi trường quá sạch sẽ sẽ dễ phản ứng với tác nhân bên ngoài, có thể gây ra dị ứng, hen suyễn, tiêu chảy và nhiều bệnh khác. Bố mẹ nên để trẻ tiếp xúc với môi trường bên ngoài càng sớm càng tốt. Như nông trại, thú nuôi, đất, cây cỏ. Những vi khuẩn vô hại sẽ giúp trẻ tạo ra hệ miễn dịch tốt hơn.
November 14, 2017
I am so thoroughly delighted with the number of times Knight and Gilbert say “great question, no data” in this book! The concluding chapter “A few words on hype” is probably my favourite because it cautions scientists, media and readers against spreading extrapolative, misinformed, and, ultimately, incorrect news about microbiome therapies. Always a delight to hear these honest and critical words from scientists, especially during the exponential growth phase of a research field. Anyway, if you are curious about the microbiome and its relationship with your health, I highly recommend this book to bring you up to speed with current microbiome research.
November 12, 2018
A quick aside: If one compared sessions at conferences to performances at music festivals, Dr. Gilbert would be The Rolling Stones (or whichever iconic band speaks to you). I'm telling you, if you ever find the opportunity to hear Dr. Gilbert speak, attend the thing!
Health & wellness information is easy to find, but the validity of claims can vary widely. Essentially, there is a TON of pseudoscience out there. This book is a wonderful and easily-digestible (gastro-pun!) resource for anyone interested in microbial diversity, pediatric (and adult) health, and/or acquiring fun facts like:
"Each person sheds 38 million microbes an hour"
Health & wellness information is easy to find, but the validity of claims can vary widely. Essentially, there is a TON of pseudoscience out there. This book is a wonderful and easily-digestible (gastro-pun!) resource for anyone interested in microbial diversity, pediatric (and adult) health, and/or acquiring fun facts like:
"Each person sheds 38 million microbes an hour"
November 13, 2017
Honestly, this book went right over my head. Maybe I was reading too quickly or am just scientifically dense, but this book is fairly technical and sometimes not well explained in laymen's terms, at least in my opinion, as someone who still isn't quite sure what "microbiome" is, let alone ever knew enough to ask any of the "common" questions that (along with the authors' answers) comprise the bulk of this book. Still, I appreciate the premise (never mind it's "a sign of the times") and don't dismiss its potential benefit for other readers.
April 15, 2021
An interesting topic but I found it really hard to read - and not because of the scientific subject matter. The entire book is written in a FAQ format which was fine at first but got old really quickly. The information shared was either too detailed or too generic, and in the end I’m not sure I retained anything I couldn’t have gotten out of a quick Google search. A missed opportunity to write an interesting story about the microbiome and childhood.
April 29, 2023
This book raises interesting questions. I took away a few points that may help me as a parent however nearly the entire book is hypothesis. Almost every question is followed up with the answer “we don’t know”. I suppose they are trying to garner more attention to the world of the microbiome and hope for scientific advancement but in the meantime this book doesn’t answer 90% of the questions posed in it.
October 5, 2017
The books shows that (contrary to what we were taught) exposure to dirt is good for the immune system. The author states that the best thing you can do for a young child is to get them out into nature, expose them to pets, and let them play in the sand. Written by a scientist, it is easy-to-read and informative.
October 12, 2017
Bagirsak florasi ile ilgili konular ve microbiomelar cok ilginc ve tip dunyasi icin cok buyuk yenilikler getirecege benziyor. Daha cok diyetler konusuluyor ama mesela depresyonun bile bagirsak florasi ile iliskili olmasi cok mumkun gozukuyor. Ne kadar cocuklarin sagligi icin yazilmis gibi gozuksede bu kitap 2 bilim adaminin bu konu uzerine calismlarini kapsiyor. Cok begendim.
January 13, 2023
This book sat on my shelf for a long time before I finally got past the first few pages. It’s written in a question/answer type format by topic. There’s a lot of interesting data in the book but there is still a TON of unknown regarding your microbiome.
Overall, wash your hands, wash your food, don’t touch poop, eat dirt, don’t be a germaphobe.
Overall, wash your hands, wash your food, don’t touch poop, eat dirt, don’t be a germaphobe.
April 29, 2018
Read it slowly, little bit at a time, as I often do nonfiction. But very well-written primer on the available evidence about the microbiome. Written by lead scientists in the field but in a very conversational style.
November 18, 2019
Fantastic arguments about the many many many things we don't really know about dirt and its relationship to our immune systems. Enjoyed it very much. A bit technical, but their explanations are clear and laymen.
May 27, 2020
Some interesting discussions, although the first half is all about pregnancy and babies which is no longer relevant, and might just make people anxious about things they shouldn’t be if they read it during that time. They raise interesting ideas but often say, “We don’t know the answer yet.”
December 26, 2017
Great information presented in a super practical tone. The tile is a very accurate summary of the book.
January 19, 2018
Cutting edge about how bacteria influence our health and well-being.
March 8, 2018
Solid read. Would recommend to new / first time parents. I found I already knew most of the information , but finished nonetheless.
March 16, 2018
I can really get behind this premise (it's good not to keep your house too clean!) but this book was poorly written and ultimately underwhelming.
June 18, 2018
I want to finish this- very enlightening connections among microbes and human body systems. It got requested before I could finish.
December 11, 2018
I found the title only related to a small part of the book. I found some parts helpful or interesting but most of the book wasn’t.
June 13, 2019
Not a lot of new information.
July 20, 2021
Great walkthrough of the beginning of life
February 26, 2022
This was interesting- just not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more about the benefit of the outdoors for children. Not a huge fan of Q&A style either but still had a lot of good info.
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