“Of Microbes and Men” by William Marshall, Ph.D.

Book Reviewed by Jeanne Klier Storch

While as undergraduates at the University of Illinois, my friend, Bonnie, and I worked at a campus bookstore to help offset the cost of our text books.  One day, a tall handsome grad student placed his books on the counter for checkout.  Neither Bonnie nor I could understand the titles of these advanced science books on biochemistry, but sparks flew and soon Bonnie and Bill became an “item.”  Shortly thereafter, they married and raised three wonderful children.

We had kept in touch over the years, as I followed Bill’s career through his work in the private and public sectors, as well as academia.  Bonnie had hinted at research and patents that consumed much of Bill’s life, but I never really had an idea of all that was involved.

Bill Marshall has just written a fascinating book entitled, “Of Microbes and Men” which takes you through the trials and tribulations of this research.  It is a remarkable story, told with honesty and humor of what all is involved when a scientist tries to correct a misnomer or faulty paradigm.  While I do not profess to understand all the technical aspects of his research, the overall concept makes sense.

As Marshall documents the various steps of his experiments, one can better comprehend how very complicated the immune system is.

As a reader of labels in the supermarket, I have always been confused by the claims made for “probiotic” or “prebiotic” products.  Wikipedia tells us that as the public becomes more health conscious, the interest in “friendly bacteria” increases.  Marshall writes in a language that helps the lay reader understand the “balance of bacteria,” both the good and the bad.  As one reviewer says of the book, it reads like a “scientific detective story.”

I encourage you to pick up a copy and find out for yourself how one man’s quest for answers could help improve our defenses against epidemics and bioterrorism.

“Of Microbes and Men,” by William Marshall, Ph.D. is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders and other bookstores.  The author can be reached at: wmarshall22@aol.com.