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Riddled with Life: Friendly Worms, Ladybug Sex, and the Parasites That Make Us Who We Are Hardcover – April 2, 2007

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

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We think of disease as our enemy, something we try to eradicate; germs and infections are things we battle. But in this witty, engaging book, evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk reveals that, in fact, disease is our partner, not our foe, and is responsible for everything from how we look to how we have sex.

Since the earliest days of life on earth, disease has evolved alongside us. Drawing on the latest research and studies, Zuk explains the role of disease in answering a fascinating range of questions such as: Why do men die younger than women? Why does the average male bird not have a penis? Why do we―and lots of other animals―get STDs? How is our obsession with cleanliness making us sicker? And how can parasites sometimes make us well?

Using her own work on sexual selection as well as a sampling of stories from the natural world, Zuk makes us reconsider the fearsome parasite.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR SEXUAL SELECTIONS

"Fascinating and persuasive. Zuk is not an idealogue, just an unusually clear-eyed scholar."―THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"Zuk is a truly intelligent writer who is out to make a serious point: Humans often try to legitimize their own behavior by citing similar behavior in the animal kingdom . . . Not only rare but relevant."―THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

"[Zuk] understands that invasive creatures are, like thunderstorms, earthquakes, and gravity, irreducible parts of the human environment. Living the good life, to Zuk, means reaching a kind of detente with the creatures that live around and in us... Her insight into disease is that, though some invasive microorganisms should be controlled, others can be endured, and still others may actually be helpful." (
Natural History)

"Parasites, Marlene Zuk informs us, have made us who we are. That may sound like science fiction, but Zuk, an eminent biologist and expert on parasites, makes a compelling case that it is true. Riddled with Life offers an entertaining but authoritative look at how parasites shape evolution, including our own." (
Carl Zimmer, author of Parasite Rex)

"In this fascinating book, Marlene Zuk - who happens to be one of the most talented scientists writing for the general public today - illuminates our long and surprisingly intimate relationship with the pathogens that live around us and inside us. I loved
Riddled with Life right down to its funny last line." (Deborah Blum, author of Ghost Hunters)

"RIDDLED WITH LIFE is a book full of astonishing stories. We are only beginning to appreciate the bizarre natural history of parasites and diseases, and their unexpected and subtle effects. Marlene Zuk has a majestic command of her diverse material, and an eloquent story-telling style. If she does not change your mind about cooling fevers, eating sushi and keeping cats, I'll eat my hat (the bacteria in it will keep hay fever at bay)." (
Matt Ridley, author of Genome)

"What's eating you? Or to put it more politely, "sharing your space," which happens to be your body? The answers are oddly consoling in evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk's witty "disease appreciation" course... [B]eguiling." (
O Magazine)

"Zuk's book makes disease scintillating, wryly amusing and even sexy. Her enthusiasm and a hundred examples propel the reader to a deeper understanding of Darwinian medicine and the nature of life." (
Randolph M. Nesse, author of Why We Get Sick)

About the Author

MARLENE ZUK is a professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside, where she studies behavior in a variety of animals. She has written articles for numerous publications including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; First Edition (April 2, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0151012253
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0151012251
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
31 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate its detailed approach and helpful information about parasites. Readers describe the writing style as readable and entertaining.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They describe it as a great read with thought-provoking insights into diseases. The book provides up-to-date information that is important for everyone.

"Marlene Zuk has put together a fascinating and helpful book about our relationships with the biology that exists in our environment and how it can..." Read more

"...I don't have much bad to say about this fine book - but I did feel that some topics were missing. One was cultural evolution...." Read more

"Great read!! I grew up in tropical regions of Latin America where parasites were always considered an enemy to be avoided...." Read more

"...Overall, this was a really fun and interesting read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in parasites, human health/biology, etc." Read more

5 customers mention "Information quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the detailed approach to the subject and the helpful examples provided. Readers feel they have a better understanding of the complexity of parasites and their ways of invading humans.

"Marlene Zuk has put together a fascinating and helpful book about our relationships with the biology that exists in our environment and how it can..." Read more

"...It's readable and informative. It has scientific depth without being too bogged down in mathematics or technicalities...." Read more

"...This book is suitably researched and scientific to satisfy any skeptic. It is WONDERFULLY humorous throughout. It is informative as can be...." Read more

"...reading this book, I feel like I have a much better understanding of the complexity of parasites and the multitude of ways they interact with and..." Read more

4 customers mention "Readable"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They mention it's written in an easy-to-understand style.

"Marlene Zuk's book about parasites is great. It's readable and informative...." Read more

"...This book is written in a way that is really easy to read, and it will make you think about parasites in completely new ways...." Read more

"...Marlene Zuk, after The Sex Lives of Insects got me interested in her readable and entertaining writing style...." Read more

"...It's packed with interest and is a great read. Highly readable and doesn't run out of steam all the way through...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2012
    Marlene Zuk has put together a fascinating and helpful book about our relationships with the biology that exists in our environment and how it can help us or hurt us. As a physician, I appreciate the detailed approach to the subject that some people may be shocked by. The relationship between our immune system and the biologic organisms in our environment is a fascinating and very timely subject. It is important to adapt to our environment including bacteria, bugs, and dirt. Our immune system needs to develop in a context of real life. Fortunately we can do that without catching too many diseases. One should not eat dirt ("Pica"), but some lightly cleaned fresh vegetables and some lactobacillous could be helpful. These suggestions are in-tune with part of this book. There are also excellent discussions about emerging threats in our environment, that are up-to-date, and important for us all. A great book!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2015
    Marlene Zuk's book about parasites is great. It's readable and informative. It has scientific depth without being too bogged down in mathematics or technicalities. Zuk studied with Bill Hamilton and his obsession with parasitism rubbed off on her. The book apparently starts out arguing that parasites are good for you - which is a rather dubious thesis, since parasites are bad for their hosts by definition. However, this theme is fairly quickly abandoned, and the book turns into a joyous romp through the world of parasites.

    I don't have much bad to say about this fine book - but I did feel that some topics were missing. One was cultural evolution. Any proper study of parasitism needs to include both the organic and cultural realms. Self-encrypting computer viruses just don't exist in the organic realm - and this is the tip of an iceberg of interesting differences. As an example, the book discusses the hypothesis that the obesity epidemic is caused by parasitic bacteria. However it is hard to evaluate this hypothesis without comparing it to the competing hypothesis that manipulation by memetically engineered parasitic advertising memes is responsible for the obesity epidemic. In both cases obesity can be expected to spread from one human to another - and result in a plague of obesity (as we observe). However these hypotheses involve different vectors - and it should be possible to tease them apart experimentally. However, step one is to have them both on hand. Marlene systematically fails to consider any hypotheses involving cultural evolution.

    Another thing I felt was missing was the future of parasites. For example, humans are trying to wipe out many parasites - and in a few cases they have actually succeeded. This epic battle between parasites, and science, technology, hospitals and medicine is interesting - but it gets little coverage in this book. Will we wipe out the bacteria that cause tooth decay? Will the HIV virus evolve to become similar to the similar viruses in chimpanzees? Issues like these don't get much coverage in this book.

    Probably my favourite bit of the book was the last chapter - about parasitic mind control. I've looked into this topic myself a little and Marlene's coverage was great - again, except for the total failure to mention cultural evolution. For humans the number one parasitic mind control agents are memetic - not genetic. Ignoring marketing, advertising, patriotism, propaganda and indoctrination in favour of toxoplasmosis seems like a failure to prioritize to me. Also, memetic mind control agents are much more interesting to study - since they have direct access to the mind's software. Organic parasitic mind control typically works at the level of messing with neurotransmitter levels. Cultural parasitic mind control is a much more subtle and interesting subject. It was an opportunity missed.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2007
    Great read!! I grew up in tropical regions of Latin America where parasites were always considered an enemy to be avoided. It wasn't until I read this book that I realized that not only could I NOT avoid them but in fact I NEEDED them for my very existence! This book is suitably researched and scientific to satisfy any skeptic. It is WONDERFULLY humorous throughout. It is informative as can be. Any layman, even without scientific training, will find this book highly informative, fun, and well worth the read. OK, there are a few passages that bog down a bit, but they are few and far between. The rest is just great. I'm giving this one to several people this Christmas.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2014
    I bought this book for a college class about parasites, and it was super interesting. This book is written in a way that is really easy to read, and it will make you think about parasites in completely new ways. After reading this book, I feel like I have a much better understanding of the complexity of parasites and the multitude of ways they interact with and affect their hosts. This book also helped me understand why several things about humans are the way they are (and the reasons can be very surprising). Overall, this was a really fun and interesting read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in parasites, human health/biology, etc.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2012
    Riddled with Life is the second book I have read by Marlene Zuk, after The Sex Lives of Insects got me interested in her readable and entertaining writing style. I have ordered her first book Sexual Selections, but have not received it yet. Riddled with Life tells the story of how parasites and various deseases are responsible for our evolution into who we are today. She tells the story so the average non-scientific reader can understand and enjoy it. If you like evolution and biology, I think you'll enjoy this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2011
    I thoroughly recommend this book. It's packed with interest and is a great read.
    Highly readable and doesn't run out of steam all the way through.
    Interesting and thought provoking with insights into the causes of diseases that appear to be genetic.
    I have bought copies for my son and friends.
    I promise you, you won't be disappointed.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2014
    Enjoying all the examples she cites.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2014
    Required reading for an evolutionary genetics course. Really fascinating, but it was my major.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary F
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2014
    I love reading stuff like this: enjoyed it and plan on rereading it.
  • Peter Richardson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent content, sharply and wittily written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2015
    Excellent content, sharply and wittily written. I don't laugh out loud at many books and almost never at science books. Riddled with Life is an exception.