Customer Reviews

A Field Guide to Bacteria (Comstock books)

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Betsey Dexter Dyer has written a book in "A Field Guide to Bacteria" that, once it is opened, you wonder why no one has written before. The premise is so obvious that it seems to have been totally overlooked! Location, visual appearance, activity, smell and other characteristics that do not always require a high-powered microscope can be used to identify bacterial colonies! Fortunately the "wait" for such a book (which, until now, we probably did not even know we needed) has been worth it because Dyer has done an excellent job of writing it! In this book she introduces the reader to the teaming microflora of bacteria of earth in a way that cannot help but increase the number of people who appreciate these invisible true owners of the planet.

The huge bacterial flora is well covered and the author's grasp of the multitudinous habitats where bacteria live and thrive, sometimes under the most extreme conditions, is impressive. Everything from sulfur bacteria, halophytes and causes of desert varnish to internal symbionts and more are covered in fascinating detail. Dyer has opened up a whole new way of looking at the world that give us a more accurate view of the pervasiveness of the tiny. Not all bacteria are out to get us by any means and this book provides a much needed balance to the "killer bacteria" usually featured in popular literature.

A necessary book for amateur and even professional microbiologists, it will also, I think, provide a good read for anyone interested in the natural world as it really is.

While this book is intended for the general public, and is certainly accessible to those without microbiological training, don't pass it up even if you have microbiological training -- in many ways it is a condensed version of Balows' _The Prokaryotes_, and likewise quite useful for reminding oneself what obscure groups of bacteria do "for a living".

Of course, Dyer's book is a lighter, more amusing read than Balows', and chock full of the sort of anecdote that is fun to slip into a lecture -- such as the explanation of Charles Dickens' cryptic reference to a "bad lobster in a dark cellar" in _The Christmas Carol_, and the fact that the oddly named cyanobacterium _Nostoc_ was named by the alchemist Paracelsus!

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised that despite identifying herself on the very first page as a former student of Lynn Margulis, Dyer doesn't try to defend her mentor's continued rejection of the discoveries of molecular phylogeny, but even goes so far as to praise Woese and Sogin by name! It is refreshing to finally see a work of popular science that acknowledges how the pioneers of molecular phylogeny have changed microbiology over the last couple decades.

This fun and informative book starts with the brilliant idea of identifying bacteria by their MACROscopic field marks (colors, smells, effects) rather than by microscope. You would never believe how many bacteria one can identify by "field marks" alone, and readers will be surprised at how much fun the identification and discussion of bacteria can be. The author's execution of the guide -- her excellent and enthusiastic writing style and her choices of which bacteria to discuss -- makes this the rare field guide that one can read from cover to cover. The book discusses everything from bacteria in hot springs to those that make cheese or pickles, to those in animal intestines. There are beautiful (yes, beautiful) color plates, great suggested experiments, and guides to finding different kinds of bacteria. The author makes the subject interesting, funny and captivating -- and she uses exclamation points without irony! All in all an excellent book -- don't be scared off by the title; any nature- or science-lover you know will thoroughly enjoy it.

This is a good book for those who want more information regarding deadly infections. My Mother got MRSA in the hospital, and it ate her flesh and her arms turned black where they had IVs. My Mother died, and I felt terrible that I was not more knowledgeable regarding medications, infections, and natural remedies. For the past 5 years, since my Mother died, I study infections, because my Father also got colonized with MRSA in his nose from a hospital. My Father is a miracle, because he almost died from sepsis. It has taken two years, and he is now trying to exercise everyday. I am into research, prevention, and ways to build the immune system, because of what has happened within my family. I will do everything within my power to try to help my family and others. There is so much we need to learn about bacteria, viruses, and fungus, if we want to protect our families. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of germs, so they can protect those they love.

This can be useful at almost any age. But judge for yourself whether someone is interested in a book as specialiazed as bacteria, or as so comprehensive in coverage. This book should follow more basic books which are also more broad in coverage. Even if someone is interested in bacteria, he/she does not need a book until he/she develops a high level of interest. This book is a highly specialized classic which can be used by all levels of interest for years.

Where else can you learn why dead fish glow in the dark! Wonderful. Good attention given to my favorite bacteria and the great-grand parent of us all, cyanobacteria. I've seen some of those huge Canadian stromatolites. I also enjoyed the discussion on how bacteria played an important role in the formation of the great iron ore deposits in Michigan and Canada, and why, now that they are largely gone, they will not be easily replaced. And there is so much more...

Very helpful with regard to bacteria study in the field. I Like how there is a section describing the most important environments to look at and also on microscopy. This book has filled in much of the unwritten knowledge about field bacteriology. I highly recommend this book to any one with an interest in this field.