I Contain Multitudes
by Ed Yong · first published 2016
67% recommend33% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A well-researched, accessible tour of the microbes living in and on animals, including humans, and how they shape health and behavior. Well written and a good fit for general readers curious about the microbiome.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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. 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 t
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For those interested in the topic of microbes living in/on our bodies, I highly recommend Ed Yong's book I Contain Multitudes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27213168-i-contain-multi... He is a fantastic writer, and I really enjoyed the book. You might also be familiar with his COVID articles for The Atlantic, which…
on “Over 140k virus species in the human gut, half of which are new to science” ↗1. Sapiens - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23692271-sapiens 2. The Gene: An Intimate History - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27276428-the-gene 3. I Contain Multitudes - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29083367-i-contain-multi... 4. Stuff Matters - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19553030-stuff-matters 5. Rework - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6732019-rework
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite non-fiction books of all time?” ↗…then that lead me down a rabbit hole of reading about things like the microbiome and immune system which is a whole new domain yet to be formally explored. I highly recommend people read Ed Yong's book "I Contain Multitudes". Post acute infection syndromes are a real thing and it is fascinating that we get to see science take on this topic in the spotlight right now. Especially Jeff Gordon and his work on the microbiome…
on “Common infections can spark psychiatric illnesses in children” ↗…read. Finally, got around to finishing it this year. Usually, I'm real bad at reading & finishing non-software non-fiction; but managed ~10 of those this year. Enjoyed reading Shoe Dog by Phil Knight & I contain multitudes by Ed Yong. I keep going back to Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman quite a bit. Need to read more in 2017.
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗Ed Yong's book, "I Contain Multitudes" is also a good read about the microbiome. I believe he is in the process of writing another book, this one on the animal senses [1] [1] https://twitter.com/edyong209/status/1096410078033465351
on “A New Discovery Upends What We Know About Viruses” ↗I Contain Multitudes. By Ed Yong. Everyone should know more about bacteria. Especially considering we are carrying trillions of them in our body and further gazillions surround us. And yes, we are related, more than you'd…
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best books you have read in 2022?” ↗Read Ed Yong's book "I Contain Multitudes". This area has been more/less blocked for many decades and with recent innovations and pipelines we may be able to start finding causal patterns.
on “Nanoparticle-remodeled gut microbiota slows neurodegeneration via gut–brain axis” ↗Related good read[0] - “I contain Multitudes” [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27213168-i-contain-multi...
on “The chemical secrets that help keep honey fresh for so long” ↗Read “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong. A very approachable book for anyone.
on “Human microbiome myths and misconceptions” ↗I Contain Multitudes, by Ed Yong https://edyong.me/i-contain-multitudes
on “Researchers find a new organelle evolving” ↗This exact technique (putting wolbachia in mosquitoes to combat dengue fever) was also covered in the excellent book “I Contain Multitudes.” Highly recommended — super well written, deeply researched and interesting.
on “'Miraculous' mosquito hack cuts dengue by 77%” ↗I read a book about all this recently called I Contain Multitudes. The thesis was that the gut biome controlled a lot, and given the evidence presented I thought it was compelling (as a layman) though not actionable. Based on that one piece of information I am not surprised…
on “Gut bacteria are controlling your brain” ↗…Michael Kerrisk Tomie: No Use Escaping by Junji Ito L’homme aux cercles by Fred Vargas Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson Lab Girl by Hope Jahren Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces by Arpaci-Dusseau I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong. The Weird by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer The Federalist Papers, ed. by Kesler The Anti-Federalist Papers, ed. by Ketcham Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann, new translation by John Woods Searching…
on “Ask HN: What Are You Reading?” ↗> For the first time, researchers have found that Alzheimer’s symptoms can be transferred to a healthy young organism via the gut microbiota, confirming its role in the disease. I just read “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong where this topic was unsure as there’s only a handful confirmed links to things like depression, obesity, etc. Now it is confirmed for Alzheimer’s. This is extraordinary.
on “Scientists discover links between Alzheimer's disease and gut microbiota” ↗I started I Contain Multitudes and ended up reading 10% Human instead. It’s more human-centric. Fascinating either way. I suspect we are starting to see the first glimmers of a vast space of microbiome interactions.
on “Gut bacteria are controlling your brain” ↗