This Is Your Brain on Parasites: Summary Review

This is a summary review of This Is Your Brain on Parasites containing key details about This Is Your Brain on Parasites.

What is This Is Your Brain on Parasites About?

“This Is Your Brain on Parasites” by Kathleen McAuliffe explores the fascinating relationship between parasites and the brain. The book highlights the many ways in which parasites manipulate the behavior of their hosts to enhance their chances of survival and reproduction.

This Is Your Brain on Parasites is both a journey into cutting-edge science and a revelatory examination of what it means to be human. Parasites influence our species on the cultural level, too. Drawing on a huge body of research, the author argues that our dread of contamination is an evolved defense against parasites. The horror and revulsion we are programmed to feel when we come in contact with people who appear diseased or dirty helped pave the way for civilization, but may also be the basis for major divisions in societies that persist to this day.

Summary Points & Takeaways from This Is Your Brain on Parasites

Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:

* Parasites are masters of manipulation: Many parasites have evolved sophisticated strategies for manipulating the behavior of their hosts to increase their chances of survival and reproduction. For example, some parasites can change the behavior of their host insects so that they become more attractive to predators, thereby increasing the likelihood of the parasite being transmitted to a new host.

* Parasites can alter brain function: Some parasites can manipulate the brain of their hosts in order to change their behavior. For example, the parasite Toxoplasma gondii can alter the brain chemistry of infected rats, making them less afraid of predators and more likely to be preyed upon.

* Parasites can have long-term effects on behavior: The effects of some parasites on the brain can persist long after the parasite has been eliminated. For example, studies have shown that people infected with Toxoplasma gondii are more likely to be involved in car accidents, perhaps because the parasite is altering their behavior.

* Humans are not immune to parasite manipulation: While many of the examples of parasite manipulation in the book focus on insects and animals, the author notes that humans are not immune to the effects of parasites on the brain. For example, some parasites can alter human behavior, such as causing changes in mood, anxiety levels, and sexual behavior.

* Overall, “This Is Your Brain on Parasites” provides a compelling and scientifically rigorous look at the impact of parasites on the brain, and highlights the ways in which parasites can manipulate behavior to increase their chances of survival and reproduction.

Who is the author of This Is Your Brain on Parasites?

Kathleen McAuliffe is a contributing editor to Discover. Her work has appeared in over a dozen national magazines, including Discover , the New York Times Magazine , Atlantic , and Smithsonian. From 1999 to 2006, she was also a health columnist for More.

Book details

• Print length: 288 pages
• Genre: Science, Nonfiction, Biology

What are the chapters in This Is Your Brain on Parasites?

Chapter 1 Before Parasites Were Cool
Chapter 2 Hitching a Ride
Chapter 3 Zombified
Chapter 4 Hypnotized
Chapter 5 Dangerous Liaisons
Chapter 6 Gut Feelings
Chapter 7 My Microbes Made Me Fat
Chapter 8 Healing Instinct
Chapter 9 The Forgotten Emotion
Chapter 10 Parasites and Prejudice
Chapter 11 Parasites and Piety
Chapter 12 The Geography of Thought

What do critics say?

Here’s what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: “Engrossing … [An] expedition through the hidden and sometimes horrifying microbial domain.” — Wall Street Journal

* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you’re interested in furthering your personal growth, you may want to explore my list of favorite self-improvement books. These books, which have had a significant impact on my life, are carefully curated and come with summaries and key lessons.

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an impact-driven creator at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 life goals around the globe. Tal's journey and recent book, The Art of Fully Living, inspired him to found Elevate Society.