Comments on: Parasite Rex: Chronically Infecting Amazon.com

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:16:36 +0000

Hi Carl. I just want to thank you for writing Parasite Rex. I bought the book from Amazon, and it arrived last Saturday, and I was planning to read it over the course of a week or two, but it was so riveting I couldn’t put it down, and read the entire thing in a day and a half. I just started reading it again, so I can catch all the little details, instead of just being swept away by the grand story. I can understand why people say it forever changes the way they see the world. For me it was maybe less of a radical change, because I read your book ‘Evolution: Triumph of an Idea’ 5 or 6 years ago, and there were a lot of ideas mentioned in that book that were fully fleshed out (if I can use that term) in Parasite Rex. But Parasite Rex is still a pretty mind-blowing book. I don’t know what order the books were written but I think they add a lot of insight whatever order you read them. Great books. Thanks again, and keep writing great books.

By: Cannonball Jones

Cannonball Jones — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:39:41 +0000

Well done on the rating, I read it a few years back and have to say it really was one of the most enjoyable popular science books I’ve ever read. The looks on my friends’ and colleagues’ faces when I described particularly gruesome parts were worth the cover price alone

By: stu

stu — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:25:28 +0000

I wonder how many people bought it after Penn Jillette plugged it on his (now defunkt) radio show/podcast…

This book is also my favorite.

By: Christie

Christie — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:03:24 +0000

I have to confess, I hadn’t purchased this book until recently – and as a fan of parasites, it’s truly shame on me for not having read it sooner. But now, I don’t think I can live without it – I feel like a blind person who is suddenly cured and can see for the first time. I can’t wait to read Microcosm!

By: Uncle Al

Uncle Al — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:10:39 +0000

Inside the bizarre world of Naure’s most dangerous creatures

The social advocate.

By: Vince

Vince — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:40:57 +0000

I too just finished Parasite Rex. Agreed, one of the best. I just wish that I read it before I retired. (33 years, 7th grade science) Lots of great stories to share with the students. Thanks, now I’m looking forward to reading Microcosm.

By: Melody

Melody — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:12:43 +0000

I just finished this book yesterday, and I adored it! I’ve recommended it to a whole bunch of people in the last couple of days.

By: gruebait

gruebait — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:01:57 +0000

When it comes to exciting protaganists, you just can’t beat blood flukes…

By: Steven

Steven — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:45:36 +0000

Cool.

By: Joshua Zelinsky

Joshua Zelinsky — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:00:02 +0000

Congratulations. Of your books I’ve read that one was definitely my favorite. Among other things it provided the most interesting tidbits that can just get dropped into any conversation.

By: Marek

Marek — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:56:21 +0000

Congrats!

My brother actually bought it from Chapters (Canadian book chain) the same day I bought Microcosm. When we both go home for the summer, we plan to trade!

By: John H

John H — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:43:01 +0000

I’m with Dave C. I teach a college course on evolution and the students all read a chapter for a class discussion, then many go out and buy it. I was amazed by how much I loved reading the book too. One for the ages!

By: Dave C

Dave C — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:31:27 +0000

Carl, as one of the many people who bought that book on Amazon, I’ve got to say I consider it the best piece of non-fiction I’ve read in the past decade.

By: Measure

Measure — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:11:52 +0000

That’s your one book I couldn’t make it through. All the goryness of the ways that the parasites affected the people. Too gross for me.

My Father in law is named Rex, though, so I got a kick out of showing off the cover to him.