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This is a good exploration of E. coli bacteria / associated topics for a layman, and a pleasant read overall. The book begins with a brief description of historical context under which E. coli bacteria was discovered, but quickly transitions to describe the life of E. coli. An amazing picture of a complicated and intricate molecular machine emerges. The book goes on to describe populations of E. coli, their chemical warfare/symbiosis, different strains, genetics, and (inevitably) evolution. It finishes with synthetic biology and societal considerations regarding our present use of E. coli through genetic engineering. I knew a lot already but I imagine that for someone who does not know much about molecular biology, genetics or evolution this will be a dense but exceptionally rewarding read. 4/5
— Andrej Karpathy
2012-11-01 on goodreads.com