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Deadly Companions: How Microbes Shaped Our History Reprint Edition

by Dorothy H. Crawford (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 85 ratings
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Combining tales of devastating epidemics with accessible science and fascinating history, Deadly Companions reveals how closely microbes have evolved with us over the millennia, shaping human civilization through infection, disease, and deadly pandemic. Beginning with a dramatic account of the SARS pandemic at the start of the 21st century, Dorothy Crawford takes us back in time to follow the interlinked history of microbes and humanity, offering an up-to-date look at ancient plagues and epidemics, and identifying key changes in the way humans have lived--such as our move from hunter-gatherer to farmer to city-dweller--which made us ever more vulnerable to microbe attack. Showing that how we live our lives today--with increased crowding and air travel--puts us once again at risk, Crawford asks whether we might ever conquer microbes completely. Among the possible answers, one thing becomes clear: that for generations to come, our deadly companions will continue to influence our lives.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0199561443
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199561445
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    February 15, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    0.7 x 5 x 7.6 inches
  8. Print length
    272 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

`Review from previous edition Lucid and authoritative... crisply written narrative.' Wendy Moore, Sunday Telegraph`Fascinating... Deadly Companions is authoritative, detailed and - despite its gruesome subject - never sensational.' PD Smith, The Guardian

Book Description

Combining tales of devastating epidemics with accessible science and fascinating history, Deadly Companions reveals how closely microbes have evolved with us over the millennia, shaping human civilization.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (February 15, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199561443
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199561445
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 5 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 85 ratings

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Dorothy H. Crawford

Dorothy H. Crawford

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
85 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative about microbes. They appreciate its mystery-style storytelling and learn about microbial events through historical context. Readers describe it as the best book they have read on microbes and viruses.

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ReadabilityKnowledge of microbes
12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They describe it as well-written and well-researched, making it accessible for lay readers.

"...may seem to be quite "academic," Dr. Crawford does an excellent job of formatting the material for the general audience while still remaining..." Read more

"Truly interesting book! Crawford uses a unique style of writing, somewhat of an informal and casual style. Makes the book very easy to read." Read more

"...a lot of non fiction, especially popular science and I found it well written, carefully researched, and with adequate level of detail..." Read more

"...I kept this book because it is a very good read and explains the mysteries of our Deadly Companions." Read more

5 customers mention "Knowledge of microbes"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a basic understanding of microbes and their interactions with humans and the wider world. They appreciate the engaging mystery-style story and timeline of microbial events. Readers enjoy the fascinating subject matter of viruses and consider it the best book on microbes and viruses they have read.

"...Basic understanding of microbes and their interactions with both humans and the wider span of organisms should be an educational goal for all of..." Read more

"...The author, Dorothy Crawford weaves an such an interesting mystery style story about microbes, you learn microbial event timeline as it equates to..." Read more

"Without doubt, the best book I have read on microbes and viruses...." Read more

"Very interesting history of plagues and other contagious microbes. Very readable for lay person." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Anonymous
    5.0 out of 5 stars Our Longstanding War Against Microbes
    Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    In Deadly Companions: How Microbes Shaped Our History, Dr. Dorothy Crawford tells the tale of how microbes have impacted human society throughout the ages. She begins with a basic description of the life cycle of bacteria and viruses and then proceeds to discuss the methods of transmission to the early hunter-gatherer societies. From there, she traces the evolution of microbes in conjunction with the growth of human civilization. Dr. Crawford's main purpose in this investigation is to evaluate mankind's future in relation to the microbes that have plagued us for centuries. While history has shown man fighting desperately to survive, modern technology has given us the tools to alter this war. However, even tools such as antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and vaccines have, on occasion, been rendered ineffective as microbes evolve and mutate far faster than we do. With that in mind, Dr. Crawford proposes that we find a solution in which we live in harmony with, rather than at odds to, the multitude of microbes.
    Structurally, Dr. Crawford progresses chronologically starting with the infection of hunter-gatherers by malaria and ending with the recent epidemics of SARS and H5N1 Avian Flu. During each era of history, certain microbes were more prevalent and Dr. Crawford highlights these microbes in their historical context.
    I would highly recommend Deadly Companions to all readers. While the subject matter may seem to be quite "academic," Dr. Crawford does an excellent job of formatting the material for the general audience while still remaining objective and factual and captivating the mind through the last page.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Makes the book very easy to read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Truly interesting book! Crawford uses a unique style of writing, somewhat of an informal and casual style. Makes the book very easy to read.
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  • Traci
    5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating read!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I really found this an interesting read. I read a lot of non fiction, especially popular science and I found it well written, carefully researched, and with adequate level of detail (I hate the really speculative stuff that is more opinion than fact or that gets the science wrong). Basic understanding of microbes and their interactions with both humans and the wider span of organisms should be an educational goal for all of society. This is a fascinating read that I would recommend to any educated adult or inquisitive teen.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • harleygirl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Who Knew Microbes were so interesting?
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This was a required course book for my Microbiology course, what intriqued me was the cover and I immediately thought, this is going to be fun! The author, Dorothy Crawford weaves an such an interesting mystery style story about microbes, you learn microbial event timeline as it equates to historic pandemics. The cover illustration is a factual depiction that you discover the meaning when you read the book. I kept this book because it is a very good read and explains the mysteries of our Deadly Companions.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • J. Phelps
    3.0 out of 5 stars More Zicam, Please!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    After reading Deadly Companions I feel like I should be bathing in that germ killing gel that everybody carries in their pocket or purse. And after I meet somebody new, or who has recently traveled, I have this sudden urge to wash my hands, face, and take more Zicam. Good job telling us how we developed alongside microbes; how they impacted our development in useful and detrimental ways. But she seems to have written hastily. This could have been fleshed out a bit better, reaching a wider audience, if only she had taken her time and added more history and storytelling to the too short chapters. Not a book I would recommend to my college students. Perhaps something high-schoolers should read as part of biology class. A much better book to read is Influenza! about the 1918 Spanish Flu.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Paul
    5.0 out of 5 stars the best book I have read on microbes and viruses
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Without doubt, the best book I have read on microbes and viruses. Dorothy H. Crawford is a great author and takes you on a historical tour of the influence that microbes have had on human development and history. The book is a fascinating read and as a result I have bought some of her other works - highly recommended!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    good book
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  • B. Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Readable and interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting history of plagues and other contagious microbes. Very readable for lay person.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Chelsea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this for a university course. Very interesting read.
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  • anonimo
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy to read good and for teaching biology students
    Reviewed in Germany on January 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The research done to write the book seems well done, but I have found some grammatical mistakes as the wrong use of words (based on definitions in the dictionary!) what can be confusing. Although the subjects are similar to the books of Jared Diamond and easier presented, if you want not only the information but as well have a "literature" experience, I will not recommend this
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  • Kirstine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly, interesting, well-written and alarming
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    The author is a professor of microbiology who has written an excellent book for the lay-person interested in the struggle between microbes and humans. It's partly a history of the ever-changing balance between the two from early man as a hunter/gatherer to modern urbane life. She makes it very clear how the development of agriculture and the gathering together of people into towns has increased our vulnerability to a greater range of organisms.

    At times it reads almost like a war as viruses, bacteria and fungi rapidly mutate and sometimes collaborate to defeat our immune systems. I have a biological background but learned a lot about the latest microbiological research which is revealing just how well these microbes are doing in infecting us to their benefit. After reading this book I feel more alarmed at just how vulnerable we are to new microbes evolving with lethal power, but it also made me think more about how to avoid helping them by,for example, taking unnecessary antibiotics or failing to complete a course of treatment.
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  • Laura O'Reilly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deadly or Not there here to Stay
    Reviewed in Canada on May 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The author goes into such good detail in explain the past history of microbes but she also explains how the are going to change/shape our future.
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  • D. Widlake
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great product
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