Never Home Alone : From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live

A natural history of the wilderness in our homes, from the microbes in our showers to the crickets in our basements Even when the floors are sparkling clean and the house seems silent, our domestic domain is wild beyond imagination. In Never Home Alone, biologist Rob Dunn introduces us to the nearly 200,000 species living with us in our own homes, from the Egyptian meal moths in our cupboards and camel crickets in our basements to the lactobacillus lounging on our kitchen counters. You are not alone. Yet, as we obsess over sterilizing our homes and separating our spaces from nature, we are unwittingly cultivating an entirely new playground for evolution. These changes are reshaping the organisms that live with us--prompting some to become more dangerous, while undermining those species that benefit our bodies or help us keep more threatening organisms at bay. No one who reads this engrossing, revelatory book will look at their homes in the same way again."Scintillating... In a time of clear-eyed assessment of the environment, Dunn is a voice of reason who should be heartily welcomed."―\*Booklist, starred review \*\*\* "[An] intriguing and captivating scientific detective story...Dunn eloquently observes that many species we find in our homes have value to us."―\*\*BookPage \*\*\*\* "Of course we must chlorinate our water, wash our hands, get vaccinated, and so on, Dunn argues persuasively and entertainingly. But we also need to relax and cultivate biodiversity for the good of all life on Earth."―\*\*Kirkus Reviews\*\*\*\* "Delightfully entertaining and scientifically enlightening... [Dunn] makes a compelling case for the value of biodiversity, while also conveying the excitement of scientific investigation, demonstrating that important discoveries can be made very close to home."―\*\*Publishers Weekly \*\*\*\* "Picture this: after a long week, you finally have the house to yourself. As you settle into the couch, something stirs--a mouse darts out from under a cupboard, a fly zips past the window--and you suddenly realize that you're not alone after all. Indeed, our homes are buzzing with life, but aside from the pursuit of better pest control, we've had only the barest understanding of it. That is why Rob Dunn and his team decided to take a closer look. In [this book], Dunn reveals that our domestic domain, far from peaceful, is wild beyond imagination. From the Indian meal moths in the cupboard to the camel crickets living in the basement to the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus waiting on the kitchen counter, every house is a wilderness brimming with thousands of species of insects, bacteria, fungi, and plants that live literally under our noses. To regain control over our critter-filled quarters, we fight back by obsessively sterilizing our homes. However, in doing so, we are unwittingly cultivating an entirely new playground for evolution, enabling deadly bacteria to thrive instead of species that help our immune systems and add flavor to foods like beer, sourdough bread, and kimchi. The "healthier" we try to make our homes, the more likely we are to put our own health at risk. A rich natural history and a thrilling scientific investigation, Never Home Alone shows us that if we wish to thrive in our homes, we must welcome the unknown guests that have been there the whole time." --Jacket A natural history of the wilderness in our homes, from the microbes in our showers to the crickets in our basements Even when the floors are sparkling clean and the house seems silent, our domestic domain is wild beyond imagination. In Never Home Alone , biologist Rob Dunn introduces us to the nearly 200,000 species living with us in our own homes, from the Egyptian meal moths in our cupboards and camel crickets in our basements to the lactobacillus lounging on our kitchen counters. You are not alone. Yet, as we obsess over sterilizing our homes and separating our spaces from nature, we are unwittingly cultivating an entirely new playground for evolution. These changes are reshaping the organisms that live with us — prompting some to become more dangerous, while undermining those species that benefit our bodies or help us keep more threatening organisms at bay. No one who reads this engrossing, revelatory book will look at their homes in the same way again. A Natural History Of The Wilderness In Our Homes, From The Microbes In Our Showers To The Crickets In Our Basements. Prologue: Homo Indoorus -- Wonder -- The Hot Spring In The Basement -- Seeing In The Dark -- Absence As A Disease -- Bathing In A Stream Of Life -- The Problem With Abundance -- The Far Sighted Ecologist -- What Good Is A Camel Cricket? -- The Problem With Cockroaches Is Us -- Look What The Cat Dragged In -- Gardening The Bodies Of Babies -- The Flavor Of Biodiversity. Rob Dunn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.