Tony Hart (2)

I read Microterrors. It's essentially a reference book, but that didn't stop me. I love microterrors, the microscopic critters themselves and the book about them! I wouldn't recommend most people reading straight through it like I did, but it's certainly a worthwhile book.

Microterrors is a comprehensive list of nearly 200 different viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Each page is dedicated to a different organism, except for the more noteworthy ones that get an extra page, and each organism gets a big colorful image to represent the little bugger. The pictures are dazzling, very bright and colorful, and definitely eye-catching. I found myself skimming through the book regularly when I was supposed to be reading other books, because it's just so fun to flip through. Fun, that is, if you enjoy flipping through books about hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases...

The colors can work against it to some extent though. It can be kind of odd to be reading about Ebola and then look to see a bright pink and purple image. Not very intimidating. Is the virus going cause severe fever and make me bleed from every orifice or drive me mad with loud techno music? However, it also makes the book a perfect "coffee table" book. Not that I think books should be used as decoration, but simply because it's so darn fun to constantly pick up and browse through. Again, assuming you like books about hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases sitting on your coffee table...

The information in the book isn't the most in-depth. You get a quick few paragraphs giving a basic overview of the microbe, not a whole lot of information, but, for the most part, all the important information is there. If you are a fan of microbiology and are looking for a nice, quick little reference book on the topic, I think Microterrors is a must buy. Highly recommended...for fans of hemorrhagic fever and diarrheal diseases!… (meer)