Microbiology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

I’ve read several of these VSI books in the life sciences in an effort to fill in some gaps in my education. The challenge inherent in the VSI series is that the authors are asked to summarize scientifically complex and rapidly evolving fields in 100-150 pages without trivializing them or overwhelming the reader. “Microbiology VSI” exemplifies how difficult this is to pull off.Chapter 1 provides a general overview of microbiology. The primary characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms are described. The reader gets an appreciation for the diversity of microbial life.Chapter 2 describes how microbes derive sustaining energy from their environment and how they reproduce. The author assumes the reader has some familiarity with biochemistry - readers that don’t will find some of the mechanistic explanations hard to follow.Chapter 3 is devoted to molecular genetics. The utility of gene sequencing in classification of microorganisms is clearly explained. The author next explains the processes of DNA transcription to RNA and protein synthesis. This material would have benefited from figures to reinforce the concepts described in the text.Chapter 4 is devoted to viruses, which is a large topic in its own right. The reader will learn what makes viruses different from self-sustaining microbes and how viruses interact with their microbial hosts.Chapter 5 discusses the role of microbes in human health and disease. The reader will learn about the microbiome and the factors that can alter the microbiome with deleterious health consequences. The author provides a good survey of infectious diseases and the effects of antimicrobial agents. This material is clearly and concisely explained.Chapter 6 is devoted to ecology and the environment. This chapter explains how microbes interact with the environment and their ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions. This material is relevant to climate change and the search for life on other worlds.Chapter 7 provides a short but effective overview of the role of microorganisms in biotechnology with emphasis on food, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation.The book achieves the objective of providing a general introduction to microbiology. Most of the book can be understood by readers with little or no prior knowledge. Chapters 2 and 3 are not easy reads and would have benefited from additional figures to illustrate the concepts.This book is recommended for scientifically inclined high school and college students who are considering a research or industrial career in microbiology.

A really interesting sketch over an important and deeply absorbing topic. This subject has lots of crossover with other fields of chemistry and biology and is well worth a read whatever your discipline

Good book but of variety where it helps if you already have a Ph. D in another science. Brian Cox why can't you write something like this. Still it's all in there but not a bed time read.

Not very accessible even for medical students. Didn't think it was worth it really

Great series

Thanks