DNF "Hey let's pretend to talk about parasites but actually take all the worldviews we don't agree with and call em dumb"

No, thank you.

The audio narration isn't great. I don't prefer his voice. It's breathy and flat.

The writing is mediocre. It reads less like learning things about parasites and more like just stating that parasites act parasitical and gee-whillickers aren't conservatives basically parasites.

Thanks to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for an audiobook to read and review voluntarily.

If you love learning about the creepy-crawly things in the world, you will love this audiobook.
I loved learning about leeches and their role in medicine.
This book can get dry really fast, so hopefully you like medical terms and apt descriptions of how parasites work.

Unfortunately I only got halfway through this audiobook before my time was up I was busy and simply didn't have the time to listen to this fully. However from the half I did get through it was very good and probably would have been a 4 star.

I greatly enjoyed this book as a lover of weird and creepy things, it was delightfully full of heebie jeebies. I learned a lot of parasites and have a different (more positive) perspective of these kinds of creatures now. I am someone that if I have a negative view of something, I will learn about it so it is less scary to me. The author does a great job of making these creatures not seem as scary and a plague to the world. He loves his profession as it is very clear to see that through his writing. He can seem a slight bit rambling on the subject; I never found it off-putting due to his passion for the subject. It felt like I was in his class and the class got very slightly off curricula during discussion. I love professors like that, however if you did not, it may not be the book for you. He does tie in a lot of ‘life lessons’ we can learn from parasites. Some can seem a little of a stretch but I never felt it to be untrue. He also ties the Covid-19 pandemic into the book often and in these ‘life lessons’. However, I could tell that the pandemic ( and how people interacted with it) affected the author a lot, and being in the Oklahoma and Nebraska part of the midwest, it would. As someone in the area, the way people interacted with the pandemic was greatly disheartening. Being someone who has to learn about infection, I could understand why he was talking about it often. Although I could see why it could be more of a stretch for others.

The audio portion of the book was delightful and clear. The narrator didn’t seem weirded out by the subject either.

Overall, I had a great time in this book. It is assuredly a book for the morbidly curious.

John Janovy Jr. One of the world’s preeminent experts on parasites looks back on his large experience, dealing with anything and everything to do with parasitic life and pulls life lessons to depart on the reader.

This is an interesting take on a mix of scientific memoir and self-help book. For myself, I did find very political. There’s a lot of Covid and a lot of current political opinions noted.

It’s also safe to say that the Was sometimes graphic and gross. I think that’s to be expected with this subject. Funny enough, I found the politicizing more cringe worthy.

This scientific memoir from 50 years of experience ended up feeling like my boomer uncle ranting at me for a few hours.

That being said, the narration was well done and fit the text well. Again, wasn’t my boomer uncle? Yeah, but that went well with the context.

Overall, there are some really interesting points made, but I think this is geared towards an older mentality.

I read Life Lessons From A Parasite as an ebook and gave it 3.5 stars. I was kindly given this ebook by Netgalley and the publishers Highbridge Audio in exchange for a review so thank you, but I would like to clarify that all opinions are my own. I really liked Life Lessons From A Parasite, at first I was a bit hesitant as to whether or not this would teach me anything new or from any different perspectives, but I can say that after reading this it did teach me a lot about parasites and animals, but also about humans as well and how some our language and communication can also be described similarly like parasites as well. While I had the audiobook copy of Life Lessons from a parasite, i would suggest that if this nonfiction is something you'd like, maybe get the physical or digital copy so you could annotate and go back over to look at the notes as there is a lot of information and while I did enjoy the audio, I think more of the information would have stuck with me if I had the physical/digital copy to go back to. Overall, I would recommend Life Lessons From A Parasite as it is a really interesting book, but I would say that it's not a book for everyone.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and RBmedia for the arc audiobook.

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Have you ever had a professor that loves to ramble? They’re very knowledgeable in their field and they have a lifetime of experience, and you know what they’re saying matters but…you kind of get lost between the points. Life Lessons from a Parasite is that professor. While linking fantastic scientific endeavours to current moral and political dilemmas, I found myself wondering how the heck the varying topics would impact me. A better way to phrase this critique is that this book would have been better as a series of essays

This is clearly meant for a specific type of audience: science x social justice — which is SO cool. This is the bread and butter of my teaching, or better yet, using science for social justice. However, this framework of readers also limits readers. I, for instance, wouldn’t be able to recommend this to my colleagues or students, to my family and very few of my friends. Interest will be split 50/50.

The recording of this audiobook tried to keep the dense subjects light, as the writing was also well done, but ultimately listening for hours was draining.

Life Lessons from a Parasite is a great idea in theory, though in practice, it falls flat.

— Instagram & TikTok post: August 22

Good info in the book but it was very repetitive and pretentious sounding. I’ve enjoyed other books similar to this so I was excited for this but was throughly disappointed in Life Lessons from a Parasite.


Thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge audio for the ALC of this book!

This could have been a little more streamlined and shorter but overall I found it interesting and couldn’t believe how much we can learn from parasites that apply to human living. The book definitely delivered the promise of its title

In my day job, I work for a research center that is largely parasitology-focused (I'm in communications and not research). While I have a degree in biology and have done graduate work in ecology, parasitology isn't really a field I had much experience with before starting at this center 24 years ago. It is an interesting field and I often review books related to parasites and parasitic diseases for my own knowledge and interest. So while I may have heard of the parasites and the diseases they cause, I come to these books as a layperson and not as someone who has experience in the field.

Life Lessons from a Parasite (which is a bit of a misnomer since Janovy discusses several different parasites) is different from some of the other parasitology books I've read. At times it read more as a memoir as the author details his scientific career. But it wasn't like when I've read memoirs from female scientists - perhaps because he didn't have the same social struggles and obstacles to overcome. There is also some science history (which is a favorite subject for me). And then there is what I term "social commentary". It is the section where the author tries to bridge the study of parasites to contemporary social issues.

It is in these sections of linking scientific inquiry to social issues that I struggled the most with the book.

Partly it is personal preference - I want to read about the science. But at times I thought he was reaching too far to make the connection or I didn't really see the metaphor the same way which then had me going off on a thought tangent which is fine if I was reading the book, but as I was listening to it I would then realize I was no longer paying attention to what was being said and missing parts. I also thought there was a time or two that he was being biased.

That all being said... I do agree that studying science as a discipline does change one's way of thinking about the world. And studying biology in particular gives you insight into life. However, I'm not sure if studying parasitology is the only discipline that makes one think this way or that even all parasitologists think the same way John Janovy, Jr. thinks (both of which I felt he was at least implying if not explicitly stating). Some of the questions he asks about parasites, I also ask as a naturalist when I see an insect or natural formation. I also could argue that anyone who studies infectious diseases could see information, words, and marketing as infectious agents.

But I do love the title. Life Lessons from Infectious Microbes doesn't have quite the same ring.

If you or someone you know is starting graduate school studying biological sciences, Janovy includes some advice on how you should approach the sciences. The book could also serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration for aspiring PhDs.

The book isn't full of scientific jargon. Janovy gave clear explanations in an understandable way. For example, he explains how new species often get their names and provides descriptions of scientific procedures (sometimes too detailed when describing the collection and study of animals).

The audiobook was well done. Joel Richards has a clear, soothing voice but not one that lulls you to sleep. Though I had difficulty following the book as my mind often wandered as Janovy gave much "food for thought".

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/08/life-lessons-from-parasite-by-john.html

I've always been grossed out and fascinated at the idea of all the parasites living in and on me and those I love. I can actually give myself the icks thinking about it, but I also love how interesting it is and how useful parasites can be.
So I was really excited to see that this book was available, and I moved it to the top of my reading list. It was definitely amazing, with a lot of information and insights about parasites from a biological perspective. What was really cool was when the author extrapolated to social systems and how people share information, with all the effects and repercussions.
I got to listen to this, and the narrator did such a great job making the topic sound easy and conversational. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

This book was interesting! I work in the ER as a Nurse practitioner and was excited to receive this book. I have recommended it to several people will make a post about it on my instagram. I read "get well soon" by Jennifer Wrigth as was hoping this would be similar-which I felt like it was but the humor was a bit drier. Thank you so letting me listen/review this book!

Parasites might not be the most glamorous subject, but John Janoy Jr. PhD manages to turn the topic into a fascinating exploration of life, biology, and even human psychology in Life Lessons from a Parasite. What struck me most was how the author cleverly draws parallels between biological parasites and the ideas or behaviors that can "infect" human minds and societies.
One of the book's most intriguing aspects is the comparison of people’s ideas to parasites. The author suggests that just as parasites need hosts to survive, ideas need minds to thrive and spread. Some ideas, like parasites, can be beneficial, while others can be harmful, subtly altering our thoughts and actions in ways we might not even realize.
The concept that there are unrelated species and carriers of parasites to the final destination was particularly eye-opening. This idea extends beyond biology and into the realm of human relationships and social interactions. It made me wonder about the connections we form and the ideas we spread, sometimes unknowingly acting as carriers of "parasitic" thoughts or trends that could have unforeseen consequences.
Interestingly, this book hit close to home for me. Recently, I was called a "parasite" online, and it stung. But after reading Life Lessons from a Parasite, I found myself reconsidering the label. If parasites are simply surviving by finding a host, maybe being called a parasite isn’t entirely negative. After all, in the right context, even a parasite has its role and purpose in the grand web of life.
In a broader sense, Life Lessons from a Parasite challenges us to reflect on the ideas we harbor and the roles we play in the ecosystems of thought and behavior. Are we hosts to positive, constructive ideas, or are we unwittingly spreading harmful ones? And when we do encounter these "parasitic" ideas, how do we deal with them?
Overall, Life Lessons from a Parasite is a compelling read that offers a unique lens through which to view both the natural world and the complexities of human society. It’s a reminder that even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant organisms—and ideas—can have a profound impact.

Are you interested in learning more about natures creepy crawlies? Life Lessons from a Parasite may be the book for you. I listened to the audiobook and it was fascinating.

Thank you, NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this advanced audiobook. As an Infection Prevention nurse, this was a fascinating, and at times, maybe a little gross at times, study of how tapeworms, lice, roundworms, maggots, and other parasites can show us about our world. This is a book about science, but also about politics, humanity, and life. It was interesting, kept me engaged throughout, and taught me new information. This book may not be for everyone, but it was fun and those who like reading about how you can learn about the world around you and apply it every day like events, you will enjoy this.