The Five-Second Rule and Other Myths about Germs: What Everyone Should Know about Bacteria, Viruses, Mold, and Mildew

From the title, one may assume that myths about germs comprise this book's main theme. In fact, there is much more that awaits the reader. This book can be viewed as a short course on microbiology aimed at the general public. It covers the nature, habitats and important characteristics of what we call germs, i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, spores, etc. Prominent in the book is the matter of staying healthy; thus, recommendations are made on avoiding contact with unhealthy germs and decontaminating our bodies and our personal environments as efficiently as possible. After reading about how dangerous and numerous many of these germs are and knowing how filthy human living conditions have been during certain periods in history, one cannot help but wonder at how humans could still be around. Nevertheless, here we are. The writing style is authoritative yet quite accessible; though I found some passages to be a bit dry. Although I felt that the author was a bit overly cautious in her constant emphasis on rigorous cleanliness, I do agree that the book dispels many myths about germs. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, although readers who tend to be a bit germ-phobic may become even more so as they read this book.