Power Unseen: How microbes rule the world
Most of us are aware of the various microorganisms responsible for diseases such as rabies, typhoid fever, and smallpox; however, some people may not be aware that microbes also play a major role in many nonmedical areas. In a collection of 75 brief essays, Dixon provides information on a wide variety of microbes, including the bacteria that help to clean up oil spills and molds that are used in manufacturing cheese. Dixon's latest work (following From Creation to Chaos , LJ 10/15/89) is valuable for its broad overview, which illustrates the diversity found in the field of microbiology. While the author readily admits that this work is not intended as a textbook but as a guide to lay readers, some readers may be frustrated to find that brief references to intriguing research are not always fully cited in the text. Recommended for general readers.- Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib .Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.