So Very Small

"So Very Small" offers a compelling history of the discovery and understanding of microbes and their role in disease, highlighting the centuries-long journey of scientific discovery and the societal attitudes that shaped it. The book explores how human perceptions of ourselves and nature influenced the recognition of germ theory and the development of public health measures, as well as the impact of advances like antibiotics. Through a global perspective, it examines the interplay between scientific progress and human hubris, revealing how our beliefs and habits of mind often hinder our understanding of the microbial world.