I Contain Multitudes The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life

New York Times Bestseller

New York Times Notable Book of 2016 • NPR Great Read of 2016 • Named a Best Book of 2016 by The Economist, Smithsonian, NPR's Science Friday, MPR, Minnesota Star Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian, Times (London)

From Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong, 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. In this work of popular science, 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 these bacteria 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 gut 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. This exploration of natural history will change both our view of nature and our sense of where we belong in it.

In this captivating book, Yong takes us on a grand tour of our microbial partners, revealing a new dimension of the natural world and introducing readers to:

• A Revolution in Biology: Discover the microbiome—the trillions of microorganisms that live on and inside you—and learn how this groundbreaking area of science is radically reconceiving the story of life on earth.


• The Animal Kingdom’s Hidden Alliances: Journey from the deep oceans to the treetops to see how bacteria provide squid with invisibility cloaks, help beetles bring down forests, and allow mysterious creatures to survive without mouths or guts.


• A New Look at Health: Understand how the bacteria in our bodies build our organs, educate our immune systems, protect our health, and shape our very identities in this cornerstone of popular science writing.


• Accessible and Entertaining Science: Explore complex concepts through the witty, erudite, and endlessly curious lens of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ed Yong, who makes the invisible world of microbes wonderfully visible.