Netherworld

From “ground-breaking” (New York Times) ecologist Chelsea Wood, an awe-inspiring journey into the hidden world of parasites.

Parasites are some of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. The hundreds of thousands of species of parasitic worms, insects, viruses, bacteria, and fungi support nearly every ecosystem on Earth. And yet, for most of us, any mention of parasites is a close encounter of the most grotesque kind. 

In Netherworld, leading parasite researcher Chelsea Wood reveals the scientific truth behind our fear: While a tiny fraction of parasite species threatens humans, the vast majority of these misjudged marvels are essential to the health of our planet—and they’re in trouble. With infectious curiosity (and plenty of worm jokes), Wood guides us around the world to show the threats parasites face and their many consequences. We visit Costa Rica, where banana conglomerates have eradicated many of the parasitoids that control banana-eating pests, and Japan, where a critically endangered fish species may be plummeting toward extinction because the parasite it depends on is being killed off by deforestation. 

For fans of Ed Yong and Mary Roach, Netherworld is the first book to uncover the fascinating—and urgent—science of our wormy neighbors.  

• “Parasites are unsung ecological heroes. Chelsea Wood’s infectious enthusiasm will change your opinion of them forever.”
   
  Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling author of A City on Mars
• “Parasites have found their champion in Chelsea Wood. With the perfect mix of science and story, she celebrates the fascinating biology of what may be the world’s most maligned and misunderstood creatures. Netherworld is a revelatory read and a much-needed redress, but it is also a warning, because parasites are disappearing fast. And as Wood’s paean makes abundantly and alarmingly clear, we’ll miss them when they’re gone.”
  Thor Hanson, author of Buzz and Close to Home