An urgent investigation into a brave new world in science - the microbiome - and how it could save our health.
The microbiome is the missing link in modern medicine - a vast genetic universe of bacteria, yeasts, viruses and parasites that live within us. Recent discoveries suggest that it influences every aspect of our health, even the way we think and feel.
In this mindblowing book, scientist and surgeon James Kinross explains how the organisms that live within us have helped us evolve, shaped our biology and defined the success of our species. But just as we have discovered this delicate and complex ecosystem within us, it is being irrevocably destroyed through the globalisation of our diets and lifestyles, and the destruction of our environment.
With dazzling science and fascinating stories that span from the dawn of humankind to the current race to develop personalised healthcare, this pioneering book explores a new frontier in the climate crisis - the crisis within our bodies - and will change the way you think about human health forever.
About the Author
Dr James Kinross is a senior lecturer in colorectal surgery and consultant surgeon at Imperial College London and a visiting professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. He leads a research team defining how the microbiome causes cancer and other chronic diseases of the gut. Dark Matter is his first book.
Industry Reviews
I've long been interested in the microbiome, and have been eagerly awaiting a book that might uncover some of its mysteries. This is that book. James Kinross makes the science clear, understandable and completely fascinating. He's exactly the guide I want for a journey through the new universe that has been discovered within us ... Every page is full of penetrating insights, from why living in Greater Baltimore might not be good for your health to how many species of fungi have been found living in the human mouth ... I have a vested interest in what James has to say about food. But Dark Matter goes way deeper than that, right to the heart of who we are. * Heston Blumenthal *
'This book is really, really interesting (...) Nothing more important in your life than your microbiome (....) this will change your life' * Chris Evans *
A totally addictive and illuminating read. Compelling from beginning to end, presenting crystal clear insight into the hidden microbial world that lives within us all. * Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, gastroenterologist and bestselling author of The Kitchen Prescription *
A fountain of knowledge and sense in an overwhelming world of science. * Rhiannon Lambert, Registered Nutritionist and Sunday Times Bestselling Author *
A spellbinding explanation of microbiology that will help you get to the bottom of health and happiness. -- John Vincent, Co-Founder of Leon
Engaging ... [Dark Matter] stands out in revealing the microbiome through the eyes of a clinician who sees each patient not just as a human, but as a human entwined with a complex, dynamic ecosystem. * New Scientist *
