Microbe Hunters

Rating:
Summary: Transition in Time
Review: "The Microbe Hunters" charts the amazing shift in medical knowledge from both the historical and philisophical viewpoints. Dr. de Kruif's genius lies in the fact that he can transform the highly technical jargon of medicine into a compelling story of men versus nature. It is very readable!
He maps the course that men such as Pasture and Koch blazed into the realm of scientific methodology that is still revered today. You will feel the heat of the battle as the individuals depicted herein challenged the conventional wisdom of their day and transformed medicine from superstition to a healing art.
I was first introduced to the book in a class on microbiology, but obtained a true education in how curiosity, dedication and perserverance on the part of a few pioneers changed our view of nature forever. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to undrstand numan nature or the strange and wonderful word of pathogens. As a college professor I recomend this book to anyone who wants to find the inspiration for education in one book.

Rating:
Summary: Transition in Time
Review: "The Microbe Hunters" charts the amazing shift in medical knowledge from both the historical and philisophical viewpoints. Dr. de Kruif's genius lies in the fact that he can transform the highly technical jargon of medicine into a compelling story of men versus nature. It is very readable!
He maps the course that men such as Pasture and Koch blazed into the realm of scientific methodology that is still revered today. You will feel the heat of the battle as the individuals depicted herein challenged the conventional wisdom of their day and transformed medicine from superstition to a healing art.
I was first introduced to the book in a class on microbiology, but obtained a true education in how curiosity, dedication and perserverance on the part of a few pioneers changed our view of nature forever. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to undrstand numan nature or the strange and wonderful word of pathogens. As a college professor I recomend this book to anyone who wants to find the inspiration for education in one book.

Rating:
Summary: An oldie but a goodie
Review: Fascinating account of the sometimes strange, oftentimes fanatical people who first hunted down the microbes rampaging through humanity. It starts with Leeuwenhoek, a janitor of all things, who essentially invented the microscope (and even though he had hundreds, would not share them--who knows how far behind he put discoveries!) Then there was Pasteur, a chemist, who with the help of his assistants created a successful cure for diptheria--never mind the fact they realized it was a poison from diptheria bacteria, a poison they never found. Next came their cure for rabies--and again they never found the cause (a virus, much too small to see in those days). Koch, Walter Reed, Paul Erlich and many others are profiled; most of them are all too human, fighting with each other (almost to the point of blows), insulting each other, egotistical, paranoid that others would steal their discoveries, yet, in the long-run, saving thousands of lives. Exceptionally interesting, and can be read with pleasure by both children and adults.

Rating:
Summary: Microbe Hunters
Review: I first read this book when I was in grammar school (K-6 level)and found it absolutely fascinating. I couldn't put it down. As a graduate of UC-Berkeley (BA, MS in biology), I highly recommend it not only to aspiring scientists, but to all who enjoy 'mysteries' - true life mysteries! When I was a med student at Albany Medical College, we took physiology and pharmacology in the "T-Smith" building. Theobald Smith was a grad of AMC. You will find his story here in "Ticks and Texas Fever". My copy is falling apart, but I consider it an old friend. It is one book that should be in everyone's library. I disagree (as one reviewer said) that it is "racist". I also disagree that it is not for youngsters. Get this book and treasure it!

Rating:
Summary: Microbe Hunters
Review: I first read this book when I was in grammar school (K-6 level)and found it absolutely fascinating. I couldn't put it down. As a graduate of UC-Berkeley (BA, MS in biology), I highly recommend it not only to aspiring scientists, but to all who enjoy 'mysteries' - true life mysteries! When I was a med student at Albany Medical College, we took physiology and pharmacology in the "T-Smith" building. Theobald Smith was a grad of AMC. You will find his story here in "Ticks and Texas Fever". My copy is falling apart, but I consider it an old friend. It is one book that should be in everyone's library. I disagree (as one reviewer said) that it is "racist". I also disagree that it is not for youngsters. Get this book and treasure it!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best accounts...
Review: I read it when I was a teenager. I still find it perhaps the best account on the early microbe discoverers. Chapters on Van Leeuwenhoek (first thing I did when I arrived in Holland was to look for his house, in Delft...), Spallanzani and Pasteur are masterpieces in itself. Hard to put down.

Rating:
Summary: Be Aware of the Racism
Review: I will never forget the excitement and inspiration this great book gave me as a young reader, and I am buying it for my 9 year old son, so he too can treasure it forever...

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: My father read this book when he was younger, and it inspired him to go onto a career in science. He eventually became a virologist with the National Institutes of Health. He always held a special place in his heart for this "inspiring" book. As someone else said, I would also recommend it for children.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining account of the founders of microbiology.
Review: This book should put all other science stories to shame! First published in 1926, de Kruif elegantly and creatively describes the life and times of microbe hunters, from the very first man to peer into a lense and see the "wretched beasties." The stories are humerous, includes the family influences and accidental occurances with each discovery. A great addition for any science or medical buff! Also enjoyable but a little more tough to read "The Hot Zone" and "The Andromeda Strain" and "The Comming Plauge". I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!! :

Rating:
Summary: Microbe Hunters
Review: Well written history of the earliest researchers and explorers of the microscopic world. The author provides histories that reveial the human side of these early explorers; the science is non technical so the lay person can easily follow in the foot steps of these pioners. DeKruif writes with passion and humor making this an enjoyable and informative read. Although the book was first published more than 50 years ago, it is an excellent and relevant history. I strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the history of science.