Table of Content
That being said don't let my description scare you off - it isn't so scientific that lay people won't understand it, in fact that is the point of the book to be read by lay people to better understand their immediate home environments. This is a fascinating look into the micro and macroscopic flora and fauna of our own homes and how the many species we co-exist with have evolved to do so in some cases. The book spans many interesting facts regarding how we have potentially "over sterilized" our houses and in fact need to wild them up.
I loved watching Rob Dunn's mind work as I went through this book. The sheer amount and diversity of living things in our homes was breathtaking. Anyone who cooks will be fascinated to learn of the varying tastes the resident bacteria on our hands adds to the food we prepare. It may really be true that food really DOES taste better when someone else makes it.
Field Guides & Natural History
And throughout, Dunn emphasizes the good this has brought and the diseases it has eradicated. Needless to say, though he stresses it anyway, basic hygiene, sanitation, and vaccines are important. But the idea that a little dirt is good for you is more than just a folk tale. “We expected to find a few hundred species,” Dunn writes of his first foray into indoor microbe-hunting, which involved 1,000 homes from around the world.
Drywall is impregnated with fungi, just waiting for moisture to allow it to grow. Indeed, there is some indication that fungi hidden inside drywall might be connected to the causes of Parkinson’s. And that funny smell you notice when you turn on the air conditioning—those are fungi exhaling. Get building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox. This graph shows the proportion of species from different arthropod orders found in Raleigh homes. [Figure 7.5 from Never Home Alone]It's been said that in any home, you are never more than 3 feet away from some sort of spider.
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He keeps it all on a level that would seem to be easily understandable for the average reader. He's writing for the general public, not for his fellow scientists, after all, and his goal is to proselytize for the preservation of biodiversity, not only in our larger world but also in those smaller spaces where we live our daily lives. Chapter Seven now looks at some of the more visible inhabitants in our houses, the arthropods (insects, spiders, mites, etc.).
When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Natasha Lester’s central character is so strong that the rest of the narrative shapes itself to her like a well-tailored gown, making The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre a wonderfully human and utterly gripping work of historical fiction. Never Home Alone posits that if we look around us as Dunn does, we can begin to see the glorious biodiversity of our indoor worlds and wonder at its complexity and capacity.
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If each person reading Science Connected Magazine donated just $1 a year, all of our not-for-profit programs would be fully funded. Other social observations include holding the frustration-of-not-knowing accountable for persistence to continue with studies and, acknowledging the knowledge and time bridging capabilities Postdoctoral researchers bring to the table. With witticisms like “What the heck, I had tenure,” as a partial rationalisation for pursuing statistically unlikely theories, it’s hard not to be charmed by this self-proclaimed balding biologist. Never Home Alone is fact-filled, somewhat alarming, and sometimes revolting. A paean to biodiversity by a biologist who sees salvation in cultivating life's infinite variety.
I felt that the book lacked a coherent thesis, point, and/or direction. If you are a germophobe or are super icked out by bugs, this may not be the book for you. On the other hand, maybe it will give you a different perspective on those things? But somehow I feel it's more likely to be completely horrifying and keep you awake at night wondering what's crawling around on you, so, you know. 12 The Flavor of Biodiversity - When I was a kid, Mom often got 'starters' from various farm wives around. Some wouldn't give theirs up just like they took their recipes to the grave.
I didn't think that reading about bugs and germs could fill me with such wonder. The author is a big advocate of biodiversity, even in our home. He argues that we should employ natural predators , instead of pesticide, to control pests . For example, why the International Space Station smells like rotten apple and armpit?
I found myself highlighting so much to share with others. The fact that such research would be considered unusual reveals much about the tunnel vision of most biologists – and funding agencies – by overlooking the mundane wonders right under our noses. They manage to evade our assaults, and evolve their way out of just about every biocide we throw at them. We’re left to contend with the consequences of our own warfare, such as pesticide-resistant German cockroaches and bedbugs, and antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacteria. We have turned a relatively harmless indoor biome into something that can make us sick. News from the showerhead biome is just one part of this fact-filled, occasionally disgusting, slightly alarming book.
Both the study of mycobacteria in the showerheads and its association with the nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infections, and the study of the stachybotrys chartarum in the manufactured drywall are worth to know. The author says that the use of disinfectants increases the possibility of mycobacteria in shower heads. It's not a perfect book; I particularly was disappointed that Dunn spends a whole chapter on Toxoplasma gondii , since I think anyone with an interest in 'weird biology' is probably already very familiar with it.
Since my knowledge of this area is very limited I don't want to end up thinking that what I learn from this book might not be correct. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Read this book; you may never enjoy learning quite as much. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's dispatch time, origin postcode, destination postcode and time of acceptance, and will depend on the postage service selected and receipt of cleared payment. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's dispatch time, and will depend on postal service selected.
I’ll return often in this book to the question of just what happens when we try to get rid of all of the biodiversity in our houses. Be careful about trying to kill all the pests (be careful what you wish for!). Chlorinating water does kill the harmful bacteria, but what’s left are the microbes that are resistant to chlorine. His cautionary cockroach story is eye-opening — it’s amazing how quickly they evolve pesticide resistance. But he didn't look at the rates of these diseases in places of plenty of biodiversity.
The author points out many instances where health problems have gotten worse overtime since we have moved into cities and gone upwards vs. having exposure to yards/farms/woods and the many species therein. It explores pathogens and beneficial species alike, the influence of insects/pets etc. and many other interesting aspects of keeping bacteria/viruses/insects in a healthy balance to prevent disease both on our persons as well as our homes. Educational and fun if you like this kind of stuff like I do!!!!
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