Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues by Martin J. Blaser

[gilda_elise]

Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues
by Martin J. Blaser


Tracing one scientist’s journey toward understanding the crucial importance of the microbiome, this revolutionary book will take readers to the forefront of trail-blazing research while revealing the damage that overuse of antibiotics is doing to our health: contributing to the rise of obesity, asthma, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. In Missing Microbes, Dr. Martin Blaser invites us into the wilds of the human microbiome where for hundreds of thousands of years bacterial and human cells have existed in a peaceful symbiosis that is responsible for the health and equilibrium of our body. Now, this invisible eden is being irrevocably damaged by some of our most revered medical advances—antibiotics—threatening the extinction of our irreplaceable microbes with terrible health consequences.

There have been warning about the overuse of antibiotics for years, and, other than his own unproved thesis, there's really very little new here. And of what there was, I wasn't sure what, exactly, was the author's point. How is it "bad" for H pylori to be absent from more people's systems if its presence is related to stomach cancer and ulcers? Yes, it might be more beneficial in regards to GERD and asthma, but which illnesses would most people opt for, given the choice? Stomach cancer or asthma? Ulcers or GERD? Ultimately, it seemed that the book was more about the author's war on H pylori than just about anything else.

Even when other problems are sited concerning antibiotics' overuse, much of the "proof" is circumstantial. Any certain problem may very well be caused by the overuse of antibiotics. But, then, it may not.

The book is written simply, perhaps too simply, and it could have done with better editing. And the ones (1) all being capital i's (I) was a distraction.

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Interesting... I wouldn't want to dismiss the overuse (and misuse) of antibiotics based on one book, but you make me want to read it just to see what papers etc they're referencing! Thanks!

Also - non-fiction. Just saying. *vbg*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

No, I don't dismiss its overuse—actually the reverse. It's just that this book, in particular, didn't raise a good enough argument, in my opinion, to further a discussion about that overuse. Basically, I was hoping for more. I'd say it's probably a better fit for someone who's beginning to research the subject.

And my next book is fiction...honestly! *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Interesting, thanks.

What is GERD, I wonder? I presume not as serious as ulcers :)

I actually expected from the subtitle of the book that it would be about the growth of antibiotic resistance, which I understand is a serious and increasing problem. But it sounds like that is just used as supporting 'and another thing...' evidence, then?

But your final sentence - eek. I remember the first time I saw a book printed with what looked like OCR errors, and wondering 'at what stage do they have to scan anything in the production of a book?' I am still not sure...

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

What is GERD, I wonder? I presume not as serious as ulcers :)

It's the medical term for acid reflux which, I'm pretty sure, can lead to ulcers if left untreated.

I actually expected from the subtitle of the book that it would be about the growth of antibiotic resistance, which I understand is a serious and increasing problem. But it sounds like that is just used as supporting 'and another thing...' evidence, then?

The author did get into antibiotic resistance, but not as much as I was expected. He seemed more concerned with the idea that, by using antibiotics and killing off even good germs, we were doing ourselves more of a disservice. A bigger concern of his was that the antibiotics kill our own defensive "microbial world," the missing microbes of the title, leaving us open to even more disease.

He presents some good arguments, but few can be substantiated.

But your final sentence - eek. I remember the first time I saw a book printed with what looked like OCR errors, and wondering 'at what stage do they have to scan anything in the production of a book?' I am still not sure...

I've heard that good editing is a dying art. This book is certainly a good indication of that. While not terrible, it did have some somewhat glaring examples.