I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us An... (2025)

Yong broadens the scope beyond human health to show how these partnerships define the natural world:

The central thesis of Yong's work is that "individuals" do not exist in isolation. Every animal, from the Hawaiian bobtail squid to humans, is an "ecosystem on legs". We are teeming with trillions of microbes that outnumber or at least rival our own human cells, functioning as an interconnected, interdependent whole. This perspective shifts our identity from a single organism to a thriving, complex colony of life. Microbes as Biological Architects I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us an...

Bacteria help us digest food, break down toxins, and even influence our behavior and moods by interacting with our nervous system. A Grander View of Life Yong broadens the scope beyond human health to

Rather than acting as a brute defense against intruders, the immune system is described as an instrument for managing microbial co-existence. Resident microbes "educate" the immune system, helping it distinguish between friend and foe. This perspective shifts our identity from a single

Some deep-sea creatures without mouths or guts rely entirely on microbes for energy.