The Secret Life of Germs : Observations and Lessons from a Microbe Hunter

New York: Pocket Books, 2001. INSCRIBED / SIGNED by the AUTHOR. Fine condition in a Near Fine dust jacket. NOT price clipped ($25.00). NO chips. NO tears. Bright, shiny, clean, and tight. Sharp corners. Previous owner's name marked out. NOT a remainder. Pages are clean and crisp. NO underlining. NO highlighting. NO margin notes. Index. First printing with complete number row (10 987654321) on the copyright page. Bound in the original pale yellow boards with a green spine stamped in gold. From the Dust Jacket: "They're everywhere. Silent and invisible to the naked eye, they're on everything we touch, eat, breathe -- on every single inch of our skin. And despite the remarkable advances of science, germs are challenging medicine in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago. Due to an explosion of infections never before reported in modern history and a new germ horror story surfacing every week, it's no small wonder that the world is up in arms -- and that antibacterial soaps are a billion-dollar business. Now, renowned microbiologist Philip Tierno cuts through the media hype with the compulsively readable SECRET LIFE OF GERMS, revealing exactly where the greatest threats may be hiding. THE SECRET LIFE OF GERMS provides an inside view of this fascinating and elegantly ordered microscopic world -- from the common cold, E. coli, and Lyme disease to encephalitis, mad cow disease, and flesh-eating bacteria. It takes readers on a historical survey of the culprits of disease and explores the effect that they -- and the scientists who study them -- have had on our world. Rising above the common scare-tactic techniques used by many authors, Dr. Tierno's message is an optimistic one. Recognizing that humans are more often than not the main spreaders of disease, he offers numerous protective response strategies -- health and hygiene tips for inside and outside the home, advice on food safety, and pointers on human contact -- to stop the transmittal. Filled with practical and enlightening information, THE SECRET LIFE OF GERMS is an engaging book that will keep readers mesmerized while helping them stay healthy.". INSCRIBED / SIGNED by the AUTHOR. First Printing of the First Edition. Hardcover. Fine condition/Near Fine jacket. 8vo. xiv, 290pp.