• Microbe Hunters

  • The Classic Book on the Major Discoveries of the Microscopic World
  • By: Paul de Kruif
  • Narrated by: Michael Quinlan
  • Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (82 ratings)

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Microbe Hunters  By  cover art

Microbe Hunters

By: Paul de Kruif
Narrated by: Michael Quinlan
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Publisher's summary

This science classic by Paul de Kruif chronicles the pioneering bacteriological work of the first scientists to see and learn from the microscopic world.

Paul de Kruif's Microbe Hunters is a timeless dramatization of the scientists, bacteriologists, doctors, and medical technicians who discovered microbes and invented the vaccines to counter them. De Kruif reveals the now seemingly simple but really fundamental discoveries of science - for instance, how a microbe was first viewed in a clear drop of rain water, and when, for the first time ever, Louis Pasteur discovered that a simple vaccine could save a man from the ravages of rabies by attacking the microbes that cause it.

©1926 Paul de Kruif; renewed 1954 Paul de Kruif (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Microbe Hunters

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Somewhat dated

The early chapters are still fairly fresh but as we get closer to the 20th century, the book shows its age. When he wrote this there were still no antibiotics and medicine was still at a point where they were celebrating arsenical compounds. There are some racist terms that were ok for 1926 but not appropriate for 2018 but I’m glad they were not edited out, to preserve the history, good or bad. Also need to remember that gay used to mean happy, since it is repeatedly used.

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9 people found this helpful

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Read as a teenager.

I read this book when I was a teenager, it inspired me to work in science as a histology technician. Enjoyed the audible version, it brought back memories of my teenage excitement for science.

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3 people found this helpful

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Captivating!

This book is one of a kind. Those interested in a microbiological field are going to be listening for hours at a time.
Keep in mind that this book was written almost 100 years ago, so some of the language is dated. Truly a looking glass into the past minds of scientists.

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2 people found this helpful

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Amazing medical history

This book is an amazing history of some pioneers in science and medicine. May we never forget and always be thankful.

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Entertaining, informative, amazing, a really great listen!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Time well spent listening to this. Thank you. I will look for more like this.

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