11 Audiobooks About Microbes

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This blog post was originally published on August 15, 2019 and updated to include a newly-recorded podcast episode on May 5, 2021.

Finding time to sit down and read a book can be difficult. But Audible (or any other audiobook service) provides the perfect solution to this dilemma, allowing you to read books and learn on the go. 

Personally, I love that I can read books while I do the boring stuff like get ready in the morning, do the dishes, clean the house, or drive somewhere. So many options. With an audiobook playing, I feel like I’m using my time wisely. 

I’ve explored many of the microbiology-related audiobooks on Audible (get a free trial here). And so, below is a list of my favorites. They have made it so that I actually look forward to the boring activities in my life, and I hope you can find some books on this list that will do the same for you.

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1. Microbe Hunters – Paul de Kruif

A classic book, and one of my favorites is Microbe Hunters. Each chapter is about a particular person who impacted the field of microbiology, including Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and Lazzaro Spallanzani. It was written in 1926, so it has some parts that are a bit dated but is still well worth the read if at the very least for you to be inspired. It seriously will make you want to be a microbe hunter or reinvigorate you if you already are one.

2. I Contain Multitudes – Ed Yong

Ed Yong’s I Contain Multitudes takes the reader on a journey through the microbial world—all of the microbes in, on, and around us. He interviewed microbiologists to gather a broad view of what is currently known. This book will fill you with wonder, awe, and excitement while also giving you a new respect for these tiny beasts.

3. Never Home Alone – Rob Dunn

This book reveals a hidden world of tiny creatures that live in our homes. The normal everyday microbes and bugs sharing our space can play roles we could never have imagined. Dunn also explains why it may be better to minimize our efforts to sanitize every surface and remove every pest from our homes.

4. Whole-Body Microbiome – B. Brett Finlay PhD, Jessica M. Finlay PhD

I love this in-depth introduction to the microbiome because it does not solely focus on the gut microbiome. It touches on all different sites of the body (skin, mouth, gut, stomach, and more). And because one of the authors is an aging specialist, they also discuss how our microbes change and affect the aging process. One part I loved about the book is that they give practical lifestyle tips they call “quick tips” on how to live well with our microbes.

5. Missing Microbes – Martin J. Blaser

In Missing Microbes, Martin Blazer first provides an introduction to the microbes all around us and in us. Then, he describes why our microbiomes matter and why the overuse of antimicrobials could be causing health issues that we did not initially anticipate.

6. Dirt Is Good – Jack Gilbert PhD, Rob Knight PhD, Sandra Blakeslee

This book is geared toward parents but is interesting for anyone who ever wondered about how microbes affect our lives from a young age. The authors answer common questions that two microbiome scientists Jack Gilbert PhD and Rob Knight PhD have encountered over the years.

7. The Art of Fermentation – Sandor Ellix Katz

Sandor Katz guides you through the vast world of fermented foods. He introduces what they are, discusses the potential health benefits, and then describes how to make nearly every type of fermented food. He takes a relatively balanced approach to the potential health benefits, but I don’t agree with everything he says in that section, so take it with a grain of salt. Otherwise, I completely recommend it as a comprehensive introduction to making your own fermented foods.

8. Get Well Soon – Jennifer Wright

You probably wouldn’t expect to laugh while reading about frightening infectious diseases, but this book brings you there. Jennifer Wright takes you through the history of the world’s worst plagues in a surprisingly lighthearted way by inserting humor throughout to lighten the heaviness of this sometimes unsettling topic.

9. Pale Rider – Laura Spinney

Pale Rider chronicles the events of the horrendous 1918 influenza pandemic, including how and why it spread and how it was managed.

10. Miracle Cure – William Rosen

This book tells the story of how antibiotics were discovered, what difficulties were involved in producing them, and provides a glimpse into the beginnings of the pharmaceutical industry.

11. The Perfect Predator – Steffanie Strathdee, Thomas Patterson

I’m ending with this one because it is one of my new favorite books. This is a true story written by a married couple who are both scientists. The husband, Thomas Patterson, contracts a multidrug-resistant superbug infection, and the wife, Steffanie Strathdee, finds a fascinating way to cure him (phage therapy – using phages, a type of virus that infects bacteria, to kill the bacteria). I’m telling you, I didn’t want to stop reading this book (which is rare for me). You really feel like you are on the journey with them. Also, the actors on the audiobook are perfectly cast. So, pick this one up for sure. You will learn a ton, laugh, cry, and feel inspired.

Go listen to one of these great audiobooks about microbes

Okay, that’s it! And guess what! You can find more audiobooks on Audible (get a free trial here) about microbes, microbiology, the microbiome, and related topics. Go check out these books, and enjoy listening while you accomplish your daily tasks. It’s incredibly satisfying.

At-home microbiology activity

The at-home microbiology activity for this episode is to read one of these wonderful books.

If you’d like to do something more hands-on, check out my previous article about how to create a Winogradsky column, a colorful microbial ecosystem. Click here to learn more. If you’d like to do this activity in the classroom and need teaching resources, you may be interested in getting the Joyful Winogradsky Column Guide.

Links & Resources

• Children’s book about microbes
• Interview with Dr. Mike Manefield, author of microbiology books for kids
• 55 Books About Infectious Diseases
• Best microbiology books
• A couple of physical books about microbes I recommend
• How to create a Winogradsky column
• Complete Guide to Winogradsky columns and teaching resources: Joyful Winogradsky Column Guide