Friday, January 17, 2014

Book Recommendation: The Germ Code

     The Germ Code by Jason Tetro is a fascinating fast moving account of  germs and how as he says "we can pick our battles carefully and co-exist as best we can." On the book's front cover there is a blurb "How to stop worrying and love the microbes."

     I hadn't thought much about how germs attack our body. I just thought germs enter the body and because they're there they make us sick. Scientists know much more. It's what germs do and how they do it once they gain entry to our body. They take the DNA and find out which parts of the DNA do the damage and which parts of our DNA are attacked and why it works this way. 

     Tetro describes fights with diseases that have caused us more problems than if we'd left them alone. He also discusses the scary topic of antibiotics and how germs change themselves so that antibiotics are no longer effective. He also covers some pretty weird and gross treatments that actually work.

    We often hear of flues such as H1N1, which is around this winter, and their danger of becoming a pandemic. What is a pandemic? He tells us in his book. 

     There are thousands of germs but only a few that are any threat to us. 

    He also  explains  where certain diseases come from and how they originated.

     The science of fighting diseases is much more developed than I ever thought. However, there are simple things we can do to escape infections. Washing hands carefully when you go from place to place is very effective. 

    So if you have any interest whatsoever in disease and how it works, this is the book for you.

25 comments:

  1. It'd probably scare me to read it! LOL. I always try to wash my hands a lot.

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    1. It's not scary and written in everyday language.

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  2. I am a fanatic with washing my hands. I also never touch my eyes, nose, mouth with "dirty" hands. Working with animals, you get alotta crud on your hands, so I am always watch where I put my hands.
    I also don't follow the 5 second run! I eat food off the floor! ha ha ha :) well, I do wash it first! :)
    Have a great weekend

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    1. I am a terrible hand washer. Okay if the floor is clean I'm alright.

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  3. Sounds like a good read, I will keep an eye out. Just as soon as I can shake this bug. heehee

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    1. It's written in plain English so no complicated scientific stuff.

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  4. Gee, Red - sounds like quite a book and most interesting. At the moment I am playing a game and controlling an outbreak in a part of the world to learn about same thing, but in an app from Apple. Kinda neat to learn about germs and how we can avoid even a huge outbreak and really interesting when you are in charge and have to make decisions. Nice learning tool this app too - shall check out your book on my Kindle. Thanks a bunch.

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  5. I just went to my local library website and put a hold on it. I'm #3 in line, for one copy, so it'll be awhile. Thanks, Red!

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    1. It's a quick read so you shouldn't have long to wait.

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  6. with medical stuff, i prefer to 'not know' as much as i can get away with. :)

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    1. This stuff was really interesting and you learn some good stuff.

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  7. I've gotten sick a lot less since I learned how to do the "vampire cough" instead of coughing into my hand.

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    1. I'd never heard it called the vampire cough...not even in this guy's book!

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  8. Interesting. Stephen - what in God's name is a "vampire cough"? Actually sounds scary???

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  9. I heard the author being interviewed on CBC radio and have been meaning to get myself a copy. Must get on that!

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    1. I heard the interview and went to my computer and reserved the book at the library.

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  10. Vampire cough = coughing into the crook of your elbow?

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  11. Sounds like a very interesting read. Washing your hands certainly helps, but so does toughening up a little. Living too sterile a life doesn't build a strong immune system.

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  12. This sounds like the sort of book that one should read but which could end up making one rather depressed.

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    1. Dakotas were a little bigger version . There was certainly lots of wing flex. The DC4's and DC6's were worse.

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    2. As you see , I put the wrong comment here. This book will not depress or bore you.

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  13. I did not have the opportunity to visit your blog last week Red. I've been just too busy.

    I enjoyed reading and watching your posts though. You've posted again some beautiful work again!

    Hope you'll have a great week!
    http://dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com

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