Never Home Alone

From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live

By: Rob Dunn

Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

A natural history of the wilderness in our homes, from the microbes in our showers to the crickets in our basements Even when the floors are sparkling clean and the house seems silent, our domestic domain is wild beyond imagination.

In Never Home Alone, biologist Rob Dunn introduces us to the nearly 200,000 species living with us in our own homes, from the Egyptian meal moths in our cupboards and camel crickets in our basements to the lactobacillus lounging on our kitchen counters. You are not alone. Yet, as we obsess over sterilizing our homes and separating our spaces from nature, we are unwittingly cultivating an entirely new playground for evolution.

These changes are reshaping the organisms that live with us - prompting some to become more dangerous, while undermining those species that benefit our bodies or help us keep more threatening organisms at bay. No one who reads this engrossing, revelatory book will look at their homes in the same way again.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Rob Dunn (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[An] intriguing and captivating scientific detective story...Dunn eloquently observes that many species we find in our homes have value to us." (BookPage)

"Delightfully entertaining and scientifically enlightening... [Dunn] makes a compelling case for the value of biodiversity, while also conveying the excitement of scientific investigation, demonstrating that important discoveries can be made very close to home." (Publishers Weekly)

"Scintillating...In a time of clear-eyed assessment of the environment, Dunn is a voice of reason who should be heartily welcomed." (Booklist, starred review)

Wonders of this planet right under our noses

I loved it! This is well researched and fascinating. It is also well written, keeping the science fun.

ecology microenvironment put in context

well presented and interesting and this so in a field with a huge lack of information.....bravo

My new favorite author.

This book will blown your mind. There's still so much left to discover! Super interesting subject matter, told by a very entertaining narrator.

Great

Super interesting. I recommend. Good microbes. Learned a lot, and good book to fall asleep to, too.

Delightful!

I loved this book so much. I was surprised, enlightened, and overall delighted. I also eye my shower head with suspicion now, but I did not change it. At least not yet!

Great work

This book offers a great perspective! It is one that we should all learn about. I definitely recommend this book if you want to learn more about microbes and insects and humans relationships with them .

I see the world with a different awareness.

I absolutely loved this! There's so much to discover right under our noses (and even inside our noses).

I'm left with awe of the organisms that inhabit our world and sadness as we, humans, disrupt the balance which could help us thrive and be well.

“Hot water heater”

The use of “hot water heater” over and over, again and again in Chapter 2 ‘bout near killed me. That is all.

Nothing better than a scientist that truly loves their work

As someone who has not pursued a formal education, but does have a large personal interest in local ecology I found this book to be enlightening.
An issue I frequently have with specifically science based non-fiction is that it either over-explains middle/high school level concepts to the point that it’s condescending, or on the opposite end completely lacks humanity and has the appeal of reading the ingredients on a shampoo bottle.
I believe Dunn does a great job at keeping the balance so that most adult readers can learn and be inspired by the life around us.
As I alluded to in the title, you can tell how passionate the author is about his work through his descriptions. (Once or twice I showed a friend a bookmark and realized things like the idea of inhaling thousands of species by the breath was more terrifying than amazing, so keep in mind- I also just really like bugs.)
My only critique is of the audiobook itself- it doesn’t always tell you when there is an image in the accompanying pdf, so I found myself once or twice looking at a chart and realizing I missed a few images a chapter or so back.

Artful wisdom embedded in an exquisite Ode to biodiversity

Artful wisdom embedded in an exquisite Ode to biodiversity which undoubtedly will illicit a perpetual hunger for more.