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· 39,909 ratings · 3,682 reviews

Start your review of Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ

Sep 27, 2015 Brian rated it really liked it

This is a great intro to a fascinating subject, written with the casual reader and layperson in mind. It is almost unbelievable that we know so little about such an important part of our body (scientists know more about bees than they do about our belly-based bacteria). Our digestive system is the only part of our body that operates outside of the purview of our brain. Perhaps this is why we have so many emotional expressions that we tie to our belly ("gut reaction", "butterflies from being in l This is a great intro to a fascinating subject, written with the casual reader and layperson in mind. It is almost unbelievable that we know so little about such an important part of our body (scientists know more about bees than they do about our belly-based bacteria). Our digestive system is the only part of our body that operates outside of the purview of our brain. Perhaps this is why we have so many emotional expressions that we tie to our belly ("gut reaction", "butterflies from being in love", etc.)

Here are some other nifty things I learned:

95% of our body's serotonin is produced in our gut.
Our gut bacteria have 150 times more genes than a human being.

Saliva produces a painkiller called opiorphin - stronger than morphine and only discovered in 2006.

The surface area of our digestive system is about 100 times greater than the area of our skin.

Studies have shown that our gut bacteria has the ability to influence cravings in our brain for particular foods.

The total mass of bacteria in our body equals roughly 2.2 kilos.

A fun, informative read. I look forward to advances in science that will help us to recognize our own personal gut flora and what we can do to best care for it.

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*review based on Audible audiobook*

This is a book which is perfect for audio. Written for the layperson, it is informative and funny, but without the added benefit of an amazing narrator (who is able to get the tone just right), it may have seemed a little bit silly. Another reviewer noted the abundance of exclamation marks- in the text, that might be annoying, but when read aloud by Katy Sobey, the jokes and wry exclamations seem just right.

The content was interesting and entertaining, both edu

*review based on Audible audiobook*

The content was interesting and entertaining, both educational and practical. Despite my background in healthcare and personal experience with an irksome gut, there was lots here I didn't know and tips I could put into practice. This is not just a boring run through of the mouth-anus journey, Enders uses up-to-date research to show how scientists are finding out more and more about how the gut can affect the body in surprising ways. From how having a baby by caesarean section can leave the child more prone to asthma, to the links between certain gut flora and depression, risk taking, and suicide, this book is a trove of fascinating information. It also has a section on what your poo should look like. In other words, it has it all.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know a bit more about how their body works.

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A charming book. Which seems an odd thing to write about a book which touches on bad breathe and its causes, tonsil stones(view spoiler)[ these are the stinky white lumps that you might cough up from time to time (hide spoiler)], faeces, food intolerances, and vomiting (horses, the poor things, can't vomit, while we can co-ordinate our intestines to do so), and don't she says, attempt to induce vomiting, your gut and brain can be relied upon to sort it all out by themselves, but there we are, th A charming book. Which seems an odd thing to write about a book which touches on bad breathe and its causes, tonsil stones(view spoiler)[ these are the stinky white lumps that you might cough up from time to time (hide spoiler)], faeces, food intolerances, and vomiting (horses, the poor things, can't vomit, while we can co-ordinate our intestines to do so), and don't she says, attempt to induce vomiting, your gut and brain can be relied upon to sort it all out by themselves, but there we are, this is a book that discusses such things, asserts the centrality of the gut and the role of the bacteria in it in our health and ill-health in an utterly charming way.

If naturally I was one of her teaching staff I might with a sigh of "Fräulein Enders" dock her ten marks for that charm and another ten for the lack of footnotes, but just, of course, because you've got to keep students on their toes. She is careful to note how many participants there have been on trials and if they were on humans or hamsters, and that while the Masai do consume certain bacteria and have very low cholesterol despite a diet of almost entirely meat and milk that they also walk for thirteen or so hours a day and fast for one month in every twelve. In short despite the absence of footnotes she is both charming and careful.

In The Brothers Karamazov, I believe that Father Zosima, or somebody similar, say that the Kingdom of God is within us. In Enders account of the digestive system we see that this is literally true. Bacteria co-exist with us making it possible to digest foods and extract the nutrition we need, even producing chemicals that we are incapable of manufacturing ourselves. Lack of certain bacteria or a rich enough variety of them increases our risk of autoimmune disorders, faecal transplants a powerful cure for certain diarrhoeas. The brain she mentions in passing by analogy to other creatures, is only useful for getting about from A to B. If you can become completely sedentary, you could do without it completely, the Gut, completely capable of running the show on its own, indeed she points out, it has a deep and not completely understood influence upon the brain.

If, she says, you you use a cloth to wipe your dishes and a towel to clean them you are finely and evenly coating your crockery and pots with a layer of bacteria (view spoiler)[ and if you use a machine you can be smug only if the wash cycle reaches a temperature great enough to pasteurise everything (hide spoiler)]. At the same time she warns against using anti-bacterial products as these are indiscriminate and kill the good and useful - creating living space for the harmful and indestructible.

This is though plainly a book that will be supplanted, or revised many, many times, as Enders tells us the study of the Bacteria in our gut is rather new, we know a fair deal about some of those involved in digesting milk but not much more, yet potentially it can provide insights in to the migration and settlement patterns (and diet) of ancient human populations (as we inherit a health wodge of gut bacteria from our generous mothers) and into weird areas - Toxoplasmata has an effect on risk taking in a study of 3,890 Czech army recruits tracked over a few years the presence of Toxoplasmata in the blood was the highest risk factor of likelihood of having an accident, so much for free will.

A very gentle introduction to the world within us from the teeth to the anus and the creatures that live in between, looking at the impressive physical structures that keep us moving and functioning. She's careful in her descriptions so you are not plunged into a stew of indigestible language and Latin terms. Also the friendly text is broken up by illustrations by the author's sister which also contributed to the charm of the book.

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I did enjoy scientific parts of this book, I found out some stuff I haven't heard before, but fart jokes and such became rather annoying at some point. I understand that the author was trying to keep it "light" so her readers wouldn't start yawning and dozing off on facts parts, but I think it would be better off without it... Oh well, maybe I'm just not the target reader for this book.

In general - pretty good, informative and rather recommended, especially if you didn't know you shouldn't put

In general - pretty good, informative and rather recommended, especially if you didn't know you shouldn't put your fingers in your mouth after scratching your butthole. You're welcome!

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Aug 10, 2015 Wanda rated it liked it

Recommended for those who would like to know more about how their bodies work, but are afraid of biological/medical jargon. Written by a young woman in medical school, this work explains things in lay-person's terms and is very accessible.

A pretty good section on our reliance on gut bacteria to mentor our immune system and help us to process our food. She explains very clearly why too much cleanliness is not necessarily a good thing. (Did you know that the whole "cleanliness is next to godliness" idea was part of the campaign to stop the spread of tuberculosis? That our society's disparagement of public spitting dates from this epidemic?)

I guess I was expecting too much of the book however—I know that the gut & the skin develop from the same embryonic layer and that there are quite a few links now between gut problems and skin rashes. I was hoping for a more detailed discussion, but it occupied only a few sentences in the book.

Also, I continue to search for something that will explain the connection between gut bacteria and food intolerances/sensitivities and suggest useful methods to cope with such things. This was mentioned in passing, but no "how to help yourself" guide. Rats!

A good, basic explanation of how the digestive system works.

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Dec 20, 2020 Roy Lotz rated it really liked it

I began this year by reading a book about the human body by Bill Bryson. And, as it happened, this was a fateful choice. Not only does that book include a dire warning about the possibility of future pandemics, but I now find myself teaching an elementary school class on the human body. It seemed only right, then, to return to this fragile walking, talking colony of cells in these final days of 2020.

I must now admit that I read the English version of this book in the hopes that I could finally r

I must now admit that I read the English version of this book in the hopes that I could finally read the German version, which a friend had loaned to me months ago. Incidentally, the German title is significantly better than the English one: Darm mit Charme ("Intestines with Charm"). The Spanish version at least captures the spirit of this title, if not the literal meaning, with La digestión es la cuestión. In English, however, we are left with the pithy but charmless: Gut.

Giulia Enders published this little book at the ripe old age of 25. And a lot of the charm of this book derives from the odd juxtaposition of a bubbly young woman describing farts and feces. The light and fun tone does help to offset the potentially gross subject-matter, and the result is an effective work of popular science. (I also must say that parts of the book struck me as extremely German. Am I supposed to believe that sauerkraut, potato salad, and yogurt are the keys to intestinal health?)

Considering the discrete silence that usually attends the act of swallowing, digesting, and expelling, most of us know surprisingly little about this actual process, so even some of the basic science is interesting. But Enders also incorporates some newer discoveries. I did not know, for example, that there is an extensive nerve network in our guts that operates semi-autonomously from our brains; and I had only vague notions about the bacteria residing in our large intestines.

Now, my only hope is that this book does not turn out to be a fateful choice, too.

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I absolutely loved this! I learned so much about my own body it's crazy!

I am pretty sure I have been raving about this book to my friends and family so much they could probably say they have read it as well haha

I had to share everything I learned since it feels so crucial we all are informed about what goes on inside us. All the bacteria, all the processes are fascinating and I ended up watching a lot of videos on YouTube about this (some were quite disgusting I have to admit 🙈)

Highly highly h

I absolutely loved this! I learned so much about my own body it's crazy!

I am pretty sure I have been raving about this book to my friends and family so much they could probably say they have read it as well haha

Highly highly hiiiiighly recommend this to pretty much any human being out there (maybe even to cats haha as there is a chapter relevant to them as well)

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This is a nice little book for readers who normally shy away from medical based books.

It handles the science in a light, at times humorous way to make the medical explanations more palatable (pun intended).

I am a keen reader of medical non-fiction, so I prefer slightly more rigorous books on this type of topic (see Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers). Or investigative books that go out of their way to provide a plethora of trivia (see Gu

This is a nice little book for readers who normally shy away from medical based books.

It handles the science in a light, at times humorous way to make the medical explanations more palatable (pun intended).

I had a slight issue with the author's brand of humor and the dumbed down writing style (but I am not the target audience so I get why it was written in this fashion) however, this was not a complete waste of time as I found the latter part of the book enjoyable.

Especially the sections on cholesterol and gut bacteria, the gut-brain connection as well as the chapter on dangerous bacteria like toxoplasmata. If you are a cat owner, you may want to Google this 😊

Recommended for people who has an interest in this subject matter but do not know where to start.

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DNF at 80%. I'm over the gut.

I really, really enjoy science books, especially anything having to do with medicine/the body. That make sense, of course, seeing as I have a degree in a medical field, but I really can't get enough of learning about the human body.

However, after listening to Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, which I enjoyed very much, I thought I was ready for another round of intestinal delight. I was partly right.

What Mary Roach does is she breaks up a neve

DNF at 80%. I'm over the gut.

However, after listening to Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, which I enjoyed very much, I thought I was ready for another round of intestinal delight. I was partly right.

What Mary Roach does is she breaks up a never-ending stream of facts into a story-line, of sorts. That wasn't really done here. While I found the information interesting in Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ, I missed the personal anecdotes and stories from "Gulp," which has very similar subject matter. Also, while the narrator of "Gut" was pretty good, she didn't hold a candle to the narrator of "Gulp."

I still liked learning about the alimentary canal and intestinal tract, and I still bored my family to death with random gut facts, but it got to be a little... drab for me.

Time for me to move on to another body part.

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Rating 3* out of 5. I'm not charmed. I found the writing childish with too many exclamation marks and didn't find things as funny as the author obviously did at times. I like the first 100 pages the best because of the numerous new things I learned, but the for the rest of the book I mostly just wished it would be over already. It's supposed to be fun and engaging and probably is to most people - to me it just fell a bit flat. Rating 3* out of 5. I'm not charmed. I found the writing childish with too many exclamation marks and didn't find things as funny as the author obviously did at times. I like the first 100 pages the best because of the numerous new things I learned, but the for the rest of the book I mostly just wished it would be over already. It's supposed to be fun and engaging and probably is to most people - to me it just fell a bit flat. ...more

May 18, 2017 Caroline rated it really liked it

This book gives us a warm and friendly journey through the gut. Written in easy terms for the layman, and generously illustrated by the author's sister, this is a very accessible description of the journey of food through our bodies, and the critters it meets on the way down.

Giulia Enders is a doctoral student, and she wrote the book in response to a friend wanting to know more about the gut. To do this she did a lot of research, as is shown in the bibliography at the end. Regarding the bibliography, she notes that the books and papers cited cover issues not found in standard medical textbooks. To be honest, I found some of her ideas a little wacky, or to put it another way, she gives equal weighting to all the ideas she puts forward. I felt that someone with more experience in the field might have been a bit more discriminating, or created more of a hierarchy of solutions. Enders sort of throws open the doors and leaves us to pick and choose.

I may be so wrong in saying the above. Her book has had fantastic reviews from most of the major newspapers - and I certainly learnt a lot from it. Plus I enjoyed reading it - and given the subject matter that is quite an achievement.

One final whinge. There was no index. I think that was a real oversight.

I end with a sprinkling of notes - mostly taken directly from the book - purely for my own record.

(view spoiler)[

How to poo
Squatting has been the natural pooing position for humans since time immemorial. Haemorrhoids, digestive diseases like diverticulitis, and even constipation are common only in countries where people generally sit on some kind of chair to pass their stool. Of course this is not the only cause for these problems, but the difference in countries where they squat rather than sit is noticeable.

Our position on Western toilets can be rectified (especially when we are having problems), by A) Inclining your upper body forward and B) Placing your feet on a low footrest in front of the toilet. This way all the angles will be correct.
Teeth and jaws
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance produced by the human body. And it needs to be, since our jaws can exert a pressure of up to 80 kilograms on each of our molars - or approximately the weight of a grown man. When we encounter something hard in our food, we pound it with almost the equivalent force of an entire football team jumping up and down on it before we swallow it.
Tonsils
Before we reach the age of seven, our tonsils are still an important training camp for our immune cells. For reasons not yet understood, removing the tonsils of a child younger than seven can lead to an increased risk of obesity. Tonsils of children below this age should stay in, unless there is a very good reason for taking them out.

The removal of tonsils can improve things for people with psoriasis and it can also help certain people with rheumatic diseases. (It helps those people whose tonsiller crypts are shaped so they easily trap bacteria.)
Gluten sensitivity
One person in a hundred has a genetic intolerance to gluten (coeliac disease), but a considerably higher proportion suffer from gluten sensitivity. The latter is not a sentence to a life of gluten avoidance. Those with this condition can eat wheat without risking serious damage to their small intestine, but they should enjoy wheat products in moderation. Many people notice their sensitivity when they swear off gluten for a week or two and see an improvement in their general well-being. Suddenly, their digestive problems or flatulence clear up, or they have fewer headaches or are less plagued by tiredness.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is not an allergy or a real intolerance but a deficiency. The body requires a digestive enzyme to break the chemical bond found in lactose. Lactose breaks down when it comes into contact with the gut wall (& the enzyme), and the resulting single sugars can then be absorbed. If the enzyme is missing, similar problems arise to those caused by gluten sensitivity, including belly ache, diarrhoea and flatulence.

In 75% of the world's population, the gene for digesting lactose slowly begins to switch off as they get older. The older the person, the greater the probability that she will be unable to break down lactose.

However, lactose intolerance does not mean you must cut out milk products altogether. Most people have enough lactose-splitting enzymes in their gut, but their activity is somewhat reduced - say down to about 10-15 % of their initial level. So you can simply use trial and error to find out just how much your body can deal with, and how much dairy produce it takes to make the problems come back.
Fructose intolerance
The most common food intolerance in Germany (the author's country), is a problem with digesting the fruit sugar fructose. This can be the result of severe congenital inability to metabolise fruit sugar, but most people affected by fructose intolerance actually have a condition more accurately described as fructose malabsorption, and only experience problems when exposed to large amounts of the sugar.

When fructose is described on food packages as 'fruit sugar', consumers often assume it is a healthier, more 'natural' option. This explains why food manufacturers choose to sweeten their products with pure fructose, and consequently why our digestive systems are exposed to more of this type of sugar than ever before. Furthermore, globalisation and air transport mean that many Western consumers are now exposed to a previously unheard-of overabundance of fruit.

Fructose intolerance that appears later in life is thought to be caused by a reduced ability of the gut to absorb fruit sugars.

The fructose intake of the average American is currently 80 grams a day. Our parents' generation took in only around 16 to 24 grams a day.

(hide spoiler)]

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Lots of useful and interesting info that I found got buried in the wacky non-stop-not-that-funny comedy style (it's translated but I assume this must be true to the original) plus children's book type illustrations that basically fail to convey anything except wackiness. Basically a book marketed to adults, with serious content about biology and physiology and research, but styled for 8-12s. I got irritated. Like bowels. Lots of useful and interesting info that I found got buried in the wacky non-stop-not-that-funny comedy style (it's translated but I assume this must be true to the original) plus children's book type illustrations that basically fail to convey anything except wackiness. Basically a book marketed to adults, with serious content about biology and physiology and research, but styled for 8-12s. I got irritated. Like bowels. ...more

This is a jaunty, easily digestible précis of intestinal biology, an enterological cornucopia of facts and figures and buttock-clenching anecdotes. Expect a lot of often fascinating talk about poo and farting, rather like a Monty Python sketch without the punchlines, as well as layman's introductions to the latest research into probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, the human biome, and the mysterious relationship between your gut and your brain. I learned a lot. I also made several strategic alte This is a jaunty, easily digestible précis of intestinal biology, an enterological cornucopia of facts and figures and buttock-clenching anecdotes. Expect a lot of often fascinating talk about poo and farting, rather like a Monty Python sketch without the punchlines, as well as layman's introductions to the latest research into probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, the human biome, and the mysterious relationship between your gut and your brain. I learned a lot. I also made several strategic alterations to my diet, so it clearly connected on that level.

The author, Giulia Enders, is still studying for her PhD, and the book came about after a TED-style talk she gave at a Science Slam event went viral in 2012; if you understand German, you can watch it here (she's so young!). She writes about her subject with a smile on her face, fending off embarrassment with a no-nonsense, almost mumsy joviality, leavened with a few judicious euphemisms. It's all rendered into perfect colloquial English thanks to David Shaw's translation, which, at least in this edition, is refreshingly British in idiom. I'm not sure how it compares to Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, which I haven't read, but if you're interested in what you eat, how your body works, or just want to binge on some high-fibre factoids, Gut is a solid pop-science choice.

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3.5 stars.

In the year or so I have had a fascination with my own gut, after my doctor surmised that my stomach problems were because I have IBS. Since then I have read countless articles and watched countless videos on the subject, in an attempt to help me manage my gut and its problems better. So naturally, when Gut by Giulia Enders was released, I had to get it and read up on the subject from a more scientific point of view.

This book was a truly fascinating read, and I learned a lot of things

3.5 stars.

This book was a truly fascinating read, and I learned a lot of things that I didn't know before. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to keep a notebook and pen beside me while reading, because I would have liked to have had a list next to me that I could go back through again in more detail. However, some of the things I learned were why antibiotics are only a good thing in the most extreme cases, why not all creatures can vomit and why it's a good thing we can, how babies born naturally as opposed to with a caesarean section are better protected with bacteria in their early months, and how it's not actually probiotics that will do our guts the best but prebiotics.

There were definitely sections of this book that interested me more than others, such as sections on allergies and intolerances, vomiting (despite my fear of the subject), and how the brain and the gut are a lot more linked than we might have previously thought. However, particularly with the latter section, I would have loved to have seen a bit more information as I felt they were way too short in comparison to other sections. I also wish there had been more of a focus on issues such as IBS, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease - although all three were mentioned, I was hoping for a bit more information on what causes them, and what can be done to manage their symptoms.

I enjoyed Enders writing style for the most part - she manages to balance some of the more fact-heavy sections with light-hearted humour which was nice (particularly for someone who is relatively new to popular science). However, there were times where I found the constant jokes less funny - she uses a lot of metaphors throughout the book to illustrate her point, but they did seem at times more for comedic value than to help further clarify her points, and a lot of them I could have really done without. I did however like the pictures that accompanied the text, drawn by her graphic designer sister Jill Enders, and they were actually very helpful at seeing certain elements of Enders text more clearly - for example, in how our food travels through our body.

Overall this was a fun and very entertaining read, and I did learn a lot from it. Although there were things I would have changed and gone into more depth about, this is probably a really great starting point for science n00bs like me, who want to know more about our own body and its role in our everyday lives.

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I find it quite hard to know just what to say about this book. It is one of the most interesting books I've read in quite some time. It is also one of the most improbable page turners I've read. The illustrations are wonderful and quirky.

It's a book about what happens in the passage between the mouth and the backside. At times maybe it is not for the faint-hearted. You will learn quite a lot about your poo! However you will also learn a lot about your gut bacteria and their impact - frequently s

It is actually quite a scientific book. The book talks about the bad guys - Helicobacter for example. And then the next section talks about a bacteria that can be beneficial to you - Helicobacter... Some section really did make me go "wow". As an example the section on Toxoplasmata - a genuinely quite nasty inhabitant of the guts of cats but sometimes they stray.

I'd be surprised if most people who read this don't start questioning aspects of their (or their families) lifestyles. Allergies and intolerances are far more prevalent now - does this book possibly explain some aspects of that? Why if we kill off all the bacteria we possibly can by cleaning everything are we still experiencing similar rates of infections?

Entertaining, thought provoking, accessible and well written - I'd be happy to recommend this one to anyone with any interest in the subject. It might even change the way you sit on the loo :-)

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Nice and short little primer on the digestive system. Learned quite a few things I didn't know.

4 Stars

Listened to the audio book. Nicely narrated by Katy Sobey.

Nice and short little primer on the digestive system. Learned quite a few things I didn't know.

4 Stars

Listened to the audio book. Nicely narrated by Katy Sobey.

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Feb 14, 2016 Lois Bujold rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone who lives in a body

Recommended to Lois by: random internet review

Neat little owner's manual for your digestive system, straightforward, humorous, and jargon-free. Complex ideas are presented as simply as possible, to reach as broad an audience as possible. It also included a lot of information I hadn't known, either because it was new, or because I hadn't been paying attention.

Recommended.

Ta, L.

Recommended.

Ta, L.

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Jul 23, 2016 Anatoly rated it liked it

This was a nice and an interesting read. Although written in simple language and full of humor and funny anecdotes, this book is quite informative and encompasses a great deal of knowledge.
But, this is also it`s downside. This is a really good start for those who don`t have any prior knowledge on the subject or don`t have a scientific background. But for those that are looking for something less light and a bit more scientific I would recommend something else. This was a nice and an interesting read. Although written in simple language and full of humor and funny anecdotes, this book is quite informative and encompasses a great deal of knowledge.
But, this is also it`s downside. This is a really good start for those who don`t have any prior knowledge on the subject or don`t have a scientific background. But for those that are looking for something less light and a bit more scientific I would recommend something else. ...more

What I learnt from this book:
- Why farting is good for you
- A depressed mind could be linked to a shitty (pun intended) gut
- 50 Grades of Poo - the good, the bad, and everything in between
- Why I should continue ending my meals with good old yoghurt
- The next time I feel like a small, useless speck in the universe, I must remember that I have a universe inside of me
...And a whole lot of other shit!
Very interesting, very entertaining, and the little drawings throughout the book are an added bonus What I learnt from this book:
- Why farting is good for you
- A depressed mind could be linked to a shitty (pun intended) gut
- 50 Grades of Poo - the good, the bad, and everything in between
- Why I should continue ending my meals with good old yoghurt
- The next time I feel like a small, useless speck in the universe, I must remember that I have a universe inside of me
...And a whole lot of other shit!
Very interesting, very entertaining, and the little drawings throughout the book are an added bonus. Made me want to go back to Biology class and show this book to my teacher - "THIS is how you should have taught me the subject!", I would have said. In my mind. Because I don't want to hurt her feelings. ...more

Mar 18, 2020 Jyotsna rated it really liked it

So, where do I start?

It took me a really long time to finish this book and honestly, this is one of the best books I have read this year.

Your digestive system is the underdog of your body and if you don't take care of it, the implications that it has on the other aspects is immense. You are what you eat.

The book explores everything a layman can understand - from eating to antibiotic resistance - everything that you will need to worry about when dealing with your digestive system.

Conclusion:

So, where do I start?

It took me a really long time to finish this book and honestly, this is one of the best books I have read this year.

Your digestive system is the underdog of your body and if you don't take care of it, the implications that it has on the other aspects is immense. You are what you eat.

The book explores everything a layman can understand - from eating to antibiotic resistance - everything that you will need to worry about when dealing with your digestive system.

Conclusion: A great read! It is very informative and this is a must read if you suffer from gastric issues. Also, love the author's sense of humor.

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Mar 18, 2015 Karina rated it liked it

A lot of overlap with Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, naturally, and - as it turns out - I prefer Roach's style. This one has cutesy illustrations and a title that makes a horrendously cute rhyme in the German and Norwegian editions, which is obviously a plus. A lot of overlap with Mary Roach's Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, naturally, and - as it turns out - I prefer Roach's style. This one has cutesy illustrations and a title that makes a horrendously cute rhyme in the German and Norwegian editions, which is obviously a plus. ...more

Feb 28, 2016 Charlene rated it it was amazing

If you are looking for a book on gut microbes and want to avoid pseudoscience and delve into a book which contains solid science, this book is an excellent choice. Oddly, I find that ratings for pseudoscience books like Perlmutter's Grain Brain are often higher than they are for books written by responsible scientists who will not make claims or provide any suggestions that are not scientifically studied and replicated. My guess is that real science, which doesn't yet have all the answers about If you are looking for a book on gut microbes and want to avoid pseudoscience and delve into a book which contains solid science, this book is an excellent choice. Oddly, I find that ratings for pseudoscience books like Perlmutter's Grain Brain are often higher than they are for books written by responsible scientists who will not make claims or provide any suggestions that are not scientifically studied and replicated. My guess is that real science, which doesn't yet have all the answers about microbes, is far less sexy than pseudoscience books that can make any claim or suggestion they like, while playing fast and loose with the actual available evidence.

The Good Gut by the Sonnenberg's contained a hippie vibe as well as solid science. This book has less of a hippie vibe but is far more rigorous than even the Sonneberg's book. So even if you were hoping for more of a hippie vibe, I would actually recommend this book over The Good Gut, only because it's actual scientific content is better. Adding to that, Enders is a fantastic writer and her tour of the human digestive system was absolutely fantastic. I have not found such a wonderful description in any other book.

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May 11, 2021 Numidica rated it really liked it

Giulia Enders is enthusiastic about the human gastrointestinal system. Her book is written in a bubbly kind of prose which is intended to draw in those who might otherwise feel disgust about the process the body uses to convert food into energy and dispose of the unusable parts. I did learn quite a few things from this book that I had not previously heard, and in fact I just emailed my son about a prebiotic mentioned in the book that is beneficial to babies who are converting to formula from bre Giulia Enders is enthusiastic about the human gastrointestinal system. Her book is written in a bubbly kind of prose which is intended to draw in those who might otherwise feel disgust about the process the body uses to convert food into energy and dispose of the unusable parts. I did learn quite a few things from this book that I had not previously heard, and in fact I just emailed my son about a prebiotic mentioned in the book that is beneficial to babies who are converting to formula from breastmilk, as his son is.

If you have never heard of the profound influence our gut bacteria have on our lives, and if you are at all squeamish about the subject, this book is a good place to start. That said, the edition I read was published in 2014 with updates added in 2017, and since this area of study is moving quickly, the information presented here will still be a bit dated. But in fairness to Dr. Enders, I do not know of a more comprehensive and accessible book on the subject, though perhaps one exists.

There is quite a bit of useful information in this book, from ways to build your beneficial gut biome, to knowing (by inspecting your feces) whether you are getting enough fiber, to how the process of vomiting works, to how depression can sometimes be relieved by changing the bacteria in your gut, to why babies who are breastfed for more than a year tend to avoid obesity later in life. There are so many useful tidbits that I found myself wishing for a chart or cross-reference. But the main takeaway from the book is to know you should watch carefully for developments in this area, because they are coming fast as research on the gut biome increases. Some of the weirder effects of gut biome, like fearless mice, or curing irritable bowel syndrome with worms I knew about from listening to podcasts, but much more, and much more useful information, is on the horizon, as the author says.

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The (original German) title nails it: Darm mit Charme (charmful gut / gut's charm), for this is a very charmful book indeed. It was not only super interesting and helpful, giving the reader lots and lots of insights of what is really going on down there, below the stomach area, you know, in this bundle of intestines that somehow transforms food into, well, poop. But that's not all it does by far - and even though we know about some of the gut's extra powers, might have read or heard about its in The (original German) title nails it: Darm mit Charme (charmful gut / gut's charm), for this is a very charmful book indeed. It was not only super interesting and helpful, giving the reader lots and lots of insights of what is really going on down there, below the stomach area, you know, in this bundle of intestines that somehow transforms food into, well, poop. But that's not all it does by far - and even though we know about some of the gut's extra powers, might have read or heard about its inhabitants who keep the flora in peace, abouts its intelligence and about its super powers to fight diseases, we (well, at least I) don't really dwell too much on these informations. Because hey, there's the shiny brain with its super intellectual powers, there's the heart keeping up the beat, there's the skin that needs its treatment - but the gut? Ah well, toilet talk.

And this is where Giulia Enders enters. Not only does she present this awesome amount of interesting information, it's also how she does it. The charming part. Her writing is adorable, not in the "lemme tell you about poo poo, twinkie winke"-childish nonsense kind of way, but in a way that is respecful yet close to the subject... and full of love. What I mean is: Her adoration and awe of the gut shines through on every page, in almost every word, and it totally took me over. I loved her style, all the little tidbits, the often sweet and/or funny comments. That, combined with the wonderful illustrations contributed by her sister made this book a very special treat for me.

Plus, it told me about the sea squirt, an animal whose only goal in life it is to find a place to settle down forever. And once it found it and settled in, it eats its own brain, for that organ is no longer neeeded. Oh, sea squirt - maybe you were right all along?

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Jun 20, 2015 Mary rated it it was amazing

Ok, I'll go (down) there, Enders presents a tour de force of the alimentary canal focusing on the importance of gut and its beloved, misunderstood bacteria. This book makes it to my very short list of most helpful books ever. Plus she's a gen-u-ine scientist, clever, funny, likeable and has mastery over the substance and content of her book. She makes the case that the human body is gut-heart-lungs-brain. Other researchers contend that gut bacteria should be classified as an ORGAN! Thank you swe Ok, I'll go (down) there, Enders presents a tour de force of the alimentary canal focusing on the importance of gut and its beloved, misunderstood bacteria. This book makes it to my very short list of most helpful books ever. Plus she's a gen-u-ine scientist, clever, funny, likeable and has mastery over the substance and content of her book. She makes the case that the human body is gut-heart-lungs-brain. Other researchers contend that gut bacteria should be classified as an ORGAN! Thank you sweet Jesus for not letting me tolerate the smell of cat urine (if this concerns you, google toxoplasmosis asap) That said, I have absolutely no qualifications to evaluate this book. It's a gut reaction.

I would love to see the original German phrases and folk sayings that had to be substituted into American for the English language translation. Just knowing that Enders is German made this journey all the more delicious. The way she lovingly (and at times lusciously) describes bacteria and how we imbibe them made me want to run outside with a bottle of kombucha, frolic in the dirt, roll down to the beach and kiss some strangers. Eskimo kiss a dog's nose for dessert?

I learned a lot, altered my way of thinking and lol'd throughout this book. Must read for anyone with the interest and the fortitude (excluding, of course, MDs and scientists who [think they?] know more than she does!)

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Sep 21, 2015 Arminius rated it it was ok

Second in importance, only to the Brain, in our miraculous body is what is called the Gut. Gut is the shortened name of gastrointestinal tract which is the long tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the back passage. It includes the Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach, Pancreas, Large and small Intestine, the Appendix and Anus. The author claims that much of our health is determined by the Gut including Allergies, intolerances and reflux.

The one interesting bit of information the author provides is

The one interesting bit of information the author provides is that 130 or so years ago it was discovered that Tuberculosis was caused by a bacteria and since then bacteria has been associated as dangerous. However the fact is that more than 95% of the World's bacteria are harmless to humans and many are beneficial.

She advises making the aim of cleaning to reduce bacteria but not to eliminate it. You can achieve this by diluting such as washing fruits with water. This will wash away some bacteria but still leave a harmless amount. The other way to control bacteria is by keeping things dry. Bacteria cannot live on dry surfaces.

What she offers to help your gut is to eat prebiotic foods. Prebiotic foods feed the good bacteria in your gut. The most nutrient dense prebiotic foods are Asparagus, Bananas, Onions, Garlic, Cabbage and Beans.

I otherwise found this book a disappointment. It did not keep my interest throughout the book.

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Mar 20, 2017 Jeanette rated it really liked it

Any human, healthy or not, would probably learn something of considerable help when reading this book- that's how many exact facts are here. Some of which you have probably wondered about (especially if you've had kids or changed diapers or had travel/motion sickness) or even have had side effects of constipation or dry mouth from travel or medicine. Tons of other excellent and pertinent details that doctors never truly discuss with their patients.

She also has consistent humor and intellectual

She also has consistent humor and intellectual kindness in her giving you a "heads up" when the more messy or unpleasant aspects are minutely detailed. She knows what to tell you and how to impart it.

This taught me about foods, about different peoples having different bacteria in predominance in the gut- and all kinds of issues with pace of digestion and antibiotic "after effects".

Some of the information here will also give you some extra red flag help to determine illness or depletion or all kinds of other organs' issues that you would not think are at all connected in case and effect.

The graphics were cute and so poignant! They made me laugh.

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I learned so many amazing facts from this book. Including some that I will never forget and with which I permanently scarred my husband by having him which YouTube videos on what they are. I'm looking at you Tonsil Stones (don't look up videos on this on YT unless you are not squeamish).

This book really motivated me to add some more fermented foods into my diet, and to look at my gut as something I can improve to help all areas of my life. I love books like this where you walk away with a new wealth of knowledge. Plus since with grad school the only books I seem to finish recently are audiobooks while I drive to campus and then walk around it for several hours, the narrator of this book was fantastic!

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This was a fascinating and informative read. I really enjoyed learning about the gut. I especially liked learning that the appendix is not a useless appendage and that it is surrounded by immune tissue. The tonsils are also surrounded by immune tissue and both of these appendages play a role in our health. The information in this book was presented in an easy to understand way.

Blessed with 10-years of progressive MS, I have difficulty these days with the concentration needed for reading. So I've been "reading" audiobooks! This book piqued my interest for the gross, the scatalogical, and the waste.
This lay-person explanation of the digestion system posits the link between the gut and the brain, specifically the nervous system. Having MS and living the unfortunate issues of the gut, I was all-too happy to read more about what I have always suspected.

The author dives i

The author dives into bacteria, the nitty-gritty details of food transformation in every stage of the digestive process, how poop comes to be, the asshole, the truth behind stomach rumblings, farts, diarrhea, and so much more. Fascinating and easy to understand.

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Giulia Enders (born 1990) is a German physician and writer.

Enders is a two-time scholarship winner of the Wilhelm Undelse Heraeus Foundation and currently works on her doctorate of medicine at the Institute for Microbiology in Frankfurt.

In 2012 she won the first prize at the Science Slam in Freiburg, Berlin and Karlsruhe with her talk Darm mit Charme (Charming Bowels). This talk was also published

Giulia Enders (born 1990) is a German physician and writer.

Enders is a two-time scholarship winner of the Wilhelm Undelse Heraeus Foundation and currently works on her doctorate of medicine at the Institute for Microbiology in Frankfurt.

In 2012 she won the first prize at the Science Slam in Freiburg, Berlin and Karlsruhe with her talk Darm mit Charme (Charming Bowels). This talk was also published on YouTube. Enders received the offer to write a book about this subject that has sat atop the German paperback charts shortly after the release in March 2014. The drawings for the book were made by her older sister, Jill Enders.

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"While some of us might be sitting around thinking "Nobody cares about me!", our heart is currently working its seventeen-thousandth twenty-four-hour shift—and would have every right to feel a little forgotten when its owner thinks such thoughts." — 28 likes

"Looking closer at human beings, it becomes clear that each of us is a world of our own. Our forehead is a breezy meadow, our elbows are arid wastelands, our eyes are salty lakes, and our gut is the most amazing giant forest ever, populated by the weirdest of creatures." — 18 likes

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