Hidden away within living tissues, parasites are all around us --and inside us. Yet, despite their unsavory characteristics, as we find in this compulsively readable book, parasites have played an enormous role in civilizations through time and around the globe. Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests puts amoebae, roundworms, tapeworms, mites, and others at the center of the action as human cultures have evolved and declined. It shows their role in exploration, war, and even terrorist plots , often through an unpredictable ripple effect. It reveals them as invisible threats in our food, water, and luggage ; as invaders that have shaped behaviors and taboos ; and as unexpected partners in such venues as crime scene investigations . Parasites also describes their evolution and life histories and considers their significant benefits . Deftly blending the sociological with the scientific, this natural and social history of parasites looks closely at a fascinating, often disgusting group of organisms and discovers that they are in fact an integral thread in the web of life . “Drisdelle is not only an experienced parasitologist and scientific author, but a creative genius. . . . Her writing style and narrative is so entertaining that one will want to keep turning this book’s pages to see what happens next.” -- P. M. Watt ― Choice Published On: 2011-04-01 “I highly recommend taking a deeper look into Drisdelle’s new book . . . You’ll be surprised by how much you learn and even more by how much you enjoy the read!” ― Bedbug.com Published On: 2010-05-05 “Drisdelle describes biological processes lovingly and beautifully . . . read Drisdelle for an education.” -- Anne Hardy ― Times Literary Supplement (TLS) Published On: 2010-07-02 “Hookworm, roundworm, bed bugs, lice, trichinosis, sleeping sickness, scabies: these are some of the parasites and diseases that Drisdelle ably describes with mirth, occasional poetry, and an infectious scientific fascination, where the human story is an essential element of the natural history.” ― Scitech Book News Published On: 2010-09-01 [”A] compulsively readable book.” ― Interaction / Bms Book News Published On: 2011-07-06 “A superb introduction to and overview of parasites in some of their many fascinating and historically significant forms.” ― Well-Read Naturalist Published On: 2010-10-26 “An interesting guide to what's eating you, literally! Not for the squeamish!” -- Ian Paulsen ― The Guardian (Uk) / The Birdbooker Report Published On: 2010-09-27 “Parasites is a wonderful popular introduction to one of biology’s most fascinating lifestyles.” -- Mark Greener ― Fortean Times: The Journal Of Strange Phenomena Published On: 2011-11-01 “Drisdelle has written one of those rare books that is fun to read but does not skimp on scholarly rigor.” -- Janice Moore ― Bioscience Published On: 2011-11-01 Between the lines of history books, we might expect to find many interesting things - anecdotes and facts that are very significant but never written down. We generally don't, however, expect to find a hidden menagerie of parasites . The great events of history, we believe, were orchestrated by humans, dictated by action and counteraction, turned by the decisions of world leaders. What could parasites have to do with history?     And yet we appreciate how many of our own experiences are created by a chain of seemingly small and insignificant events that make absolute sense only when viewed in retrospect. That's how it is with parasites. By examining the parasite in the context of the event , this book seeks the scientific pearls that pull it all together: science can reveal how exploring new territory could unleash deadly parasitic disease , how malaria could save the Los Angeles International Airport from a terrorist, how a simple change in human behavior can open the door for a parasite or foil it completely.     The book looks within us as well, at our beliefs and the urban legends and mythologies of parasites that inform them. Most of us shudder at the thought of having lice, or mites, intestinal worms , or-- ghastly thought--worms in the brain . Some of us are philosophical: lice happen. Some are obsessed. All living things are part of the web of live, but it's particularly difficult to give parasites their due . Who needs them?     Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests is not a book about how awful parasites are. It is a book about what parasites are up to , and what they have been up to for millions of years, both good and bad. Good, bad, beautiful, ugly, benign, deadly; they are all... fascinating. "A very good read! Lots of parasite stories told in a compelling way ."--Dickson Despommier, Emeritus Professor, Columbia University "In her newest book, Rosemary Drisdelle gives us a fresh and exciting spin on the past and current history of parasites ; a far too often disdained and ignored presence am