I Contain Multitudes

The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

By: Ed Yong

Narrated by: Charlie Anson

New York Times Bestseller

New York Times Notable Book of 2016

NPR Great Read of 2016

Economist Best Books of 2016

Brain Pickings Best Science Books of 2016

Smithsonian Best Books about Science of 2016

Science Friday Best Science Book of 2016

A Mother Jones Notable Read of 2016

A Bill Gates “Gates Notes” Pick

MPR Best Books of 2016

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books of 2016

Minnesota Star-Tribune Best of the Year

A Kirkus Best Book of the Year

A PW Best Book of the Year

Guardian Best of the Year

Times (London) Best of the Year

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. Pulitzer Prize-winning author 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.

If you're the least bit curious about microbes...

This book wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I thought it would focus on the human microbiome, but instead, it's about microbes in a wide variety of environments. You will learn more than you ever needed to know about microbes on pangolins, in insects, on plants, etc. It was interesting to learn that there are microbes in clouds that seed them for rain and snow, and how microbes have evolved along with life, and how they were discovered by scientists who sometimes guarded their secrets and often were ridiculed. I have a vastly greater appreciation for our microbial companions now than I ever did. However, if you're interested in learning about human gut flora specifically, this may not be the book for you. The narrator did a great job with some potentially dry material. Overall, I'm glad I listened to I Contain Multitudes.

great insight into the world in us and around us.

This is an incredibly well written, easy to follow audio book. I feel like a curtain was lifted and I see the world in a different light

Good story, bad editing

Though I enjoyed the story, and learned quite a bit from this book, the number of edits or re-takes spliced into the recording was so high as to be distracting. The narrator's performance was fine. The relatively low rating is due to the recording.

Symbiosis, microbe and Man

Wonderful and fascinating journey into the world of microbes and their symbiosis with other loving creatures.
Well worth the listen.

Thought this book would officially tip me into mysophobia, but thankfully not!

If anything, this book made me appreciate and like bacteria more. I read about how we all have “germ clouds” back in 2016, and I was not thrilled about it, so when Covid made its appearance, I was definitely more prepared than most. But certain bacteria can be our friends and a we wouldn’t survive in a completely sterile world as exampled by the octopus study outlined in this book.

Ed Yong is the most readable contemporary science writer and this is one of my most favorite science books. I can only describe it as a children’s science book for adults. Also as an American, I happen to just adore British narrators.

It covers the evolution of bacteria since the beginning of time all the way to how the future of medicine might be envisioned based on targeted probiotics containing specific strains depending on the individual.

It is widely accepted these days in the medical community that a significant part of our immunity is based in our guts, so a healthy and balanced microbiome is fundamentally important for our health. I am one of those people that needs to experience things myself before I believe in them and in my experience the right probiotic does indeed work. Better if you have a proper diet with the correct prebiotics too.

Fantastic book and something I am planning on listening to again as I am sure I did not catch everything the first go around.