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metawish's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
This book was not what I expected it to be. Most science related nonfiction books are heavy on the science and low on the personal stories. This book, however, weaves the author's journey reentering college for a biology class through the science of microbia. She goes to various fairs, conferences, and people to learn more as her class goes up the chain - from our origins in the worls to our modern obsession with antibiotics. I didn't love the first chapter or so, finding very little merit in what I read, but slowly the book picked up in facts and perhaps even an interest in her personal story. Overall, a good book!
bibliophilelinda's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed her science discussions and found her descriptions flowing and beautiful. However, her tortured inner turmoil about being the oldest student in the class quickly became tiresome. It would have made the book much better if she deleted the whole memoir portion and stuck with the science.
megan_mitchell's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
mpeteuil's review
4.0
Could have done with a little less of the back-to-school stuff, but I enjoyed the weaving in and out of microbiology and its day-to-day life connections. Overall a great high-level introduction and a book that generates more interest in microbiology as a result of reading it.
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