"Explore the Astonishing World of Parasite Rex with Carl Zimmer: Uncover Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures"

CJ: This book will definitely open your mind to the world, both macroscopic and microscopic, around you. I highly recommend this book as well as his others

United States on Sep 13, 2023

Dave Kaverman: Carl Zimmer is easily one of the best science writer around. Second book of his that I have read & time well spent. The sheer number and impact of parasites on all life were two of the most important facts Mr. Zimmer expertly documented. A very engrossing read, If you enjoy science, don’t miss this, Only quibble, book was published over 20 years ago. An update on what more has been learned in that time would be week worth while.

United States on Mar 11, 2023

PeacefulWarrior: Very interesting book, I am past the half way point and I am enjoying it more and more. It can be a bit boring at times, but get past those bits and you will get a much better insight as to the why's and how's (to get rid of :-)) of this parasitic world living inside us. I have also bought Dr. Hulda Clark's book, The Cure for all Diseases, in my quest to rid my body of parasites and unwanted waste and toxins. She was one of the pioneers in this field and I highly recommend her. Stay happy, healthy and blessed.

United Kingdom on May 13, 2015

Andreas: I have to admit than during my time reading this book, I stopped eating raw foods altogether. The things that some parasites do to their victims (like the one that castrates crabs and then turns them into de-facto females) are beyond what most people's worst fears of other microbes might be. However, the book is much more than a "freak show":, The author shifts his focus in the second half of the book, discussing (albeit in a highly speculative manner) how parasites are indeed a part of a healthy ecosystem, even to the point that absence of certain parasites can be a quite reliable indicator of a much greater problem. Pretty insightful and almost philosophical. Definitely a book that no one (with strong nerves) will regret having read.

Germany on May 10, 2013

amaraya: my 12 year old son and i were listening to an episode on this american life when we heard zimmer discuss parasites. my son is a typical (?) 12 year old who loves yucky things and he was enthralled by the plight of the parasite. i ordered this book for christmas thinking we'd read it together as i assumed it would be a bit out of his league. in fact i started to read it before he did, i found it very interesting and well written and since he's gotten his hands on it, he can't and won't put it down. it's pretty cool to see him reading it and coming in to me every 10 minutes with another amazing parasite fact. he's very motivated to read it alone and it is definitely accessible for those kids who read well and understand. in hindsight, i should have bought two copies as i am waiting, not very patiently to continue reading it myself and he is nowhere near ready to hand it over. a really wonderful glimpse into parasites and what makes them more interesting than gross.

United Kingdom on Dec 31, 2012

I.C.U.: Parasite Rex von Carl Zimmer ist eine sehr gute Einführung in die geheimnisvolle Parallelwelt der Parasiten. Er versteht es hervorragend, den Leser zu fesseln mit einem Thema, von dem man am Liebsten nichts wissen möchte. Er gibt uns eine neue, fast sympatische Perspektive von Lebewesen, die schmarotzen, heimlich viel Schaden anrichten und freiwillig nie von uns lassen werden. Herr Zimmer vertritt dabei die Meinung vieler Wissenschaftler, dass Bewohner eines Lands mit Spültoiletten, Trinkwasseraufbereitung und Lebensmittelkontrollen keine Parasiten beherbergen können. Dies ist ein Irrtum. Es ist ebenfalls bedauerlich, dass Herr Zimmer anpreist, wie manche Ärzte meinen, chronische Darmerkrankungen mit Parasiteneiern behandeln zu können. Ich möchte ganz im Gegenteil behaupten: erst wenn dafür gesorgt wird, dass ein großer Teil der Parasiten aus den Betroffenen getilgt wird, können wir hoffen, einen Rückgang der autoimmun- und allergischen Erkrankungen zu erzielen.

Germany on Jun 28, 2012

Sir Barnabas: In Parasite Rex, Carl Zimmer introduces us to the wonderful world of the parasite. Long overlooked as "degenerate" organisms, the author shows how the life cycles of parasites are finely honed to the lives of their hosts and intermediate organisms, how these organisms avoid the attentions of their hosts immune systems and how they can even manipulate the behaviour of their hosts to their own ends.

The author resists the temptation to go for the "yuck factor" and writes about the subject matter in a thoughtful and considered manner. He introduces the reader to some of the parasitologists currently working in this particular discipline and shows how their work is revealing not only the complexity of the life cycles of many parasites but also how they may be vital for the well being of many ecosystems, how they have helped drive the evolution of their hosts and even how they may be, in some circumstances, beneficial to the immune systems of their hosts.

Overall, this is an excellent insight into this much overlooked area of biology that is really well written and very accessible. I studied parasitology briefly at university and had forgotten what a truly fascinating...

United Kingdom on May 28, 2010

The Spinozanator: In the beginning there were hydrothermal vents, and it was said, "let there be life." And life was formed and it was good. But life was lonely, so it was said, "let there be parasites." But the parasites smote much of the other life akin to a great flood sweeping across the land. After 40 days and 40 nights, life and the new parasitic life form began to play the arms race game of the Red Queen and that was good. And other life begat more other life through cloning of their DNA's, but reproduction through cloning once again allowed parasites to gain dominion over the land and the seas, so other life invented immunology and other life invented sex, in self defense. And so it went.

And it came to pass that there were many other life forms, but none existed without parasites, and no parasites existed without them, and the battle of the Red Queen escalated and flowed, lacking much ebb. As a parasite gained dominance over one species, other species proliferated, providing separation and new speciation. The peacock grew seemingly unnecessary featherages, the bower birds built elaborate seduction altars, and all the creatures created pecking orders and heirarchies. And so it...

United States on Feb 06, 2005

ealovitt: "Whence, thinkest thou, kings and parasites arose?" (Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Queen Mab").
"Parasite Rex" is an interesting look at the evolution and biology of parasites--but only for the strong of stomach.
In a sense it was comforting to read that we are not the most savage, efficient predators on Earth. Witness the parasite Sacculina that turns crabs into zombies--the slug-like female enters the crab through a convenient leg joint and gradually fills its whole body cavity, even wrapping roots around its host's eyestalks. The crab continues its shadow-crab life, sidling through the surf, eating mussels and clams. However, it stops moulting and growing as these activities would funnel energy away from Sacculina. If the parasite becomes pregnant, it doesn't matter whether the crab started out as male or female--it will brood and hatch the next generation of Sacculina as if the tiny larvae were its own children.
Sacculina's life-style is rather hard on the crab, but it is only one of the amazingly efficient (and bizarre) parasites described in this book. Other parasites have adopted Sacculina's method of eliminating their host's unnecessary functions such as reproduction...

United States on Sep 21, 2002