The microbiome comprises the vast genetic universe of bacteria, yeasts, viruses and parasites that live within us. It influences every aspect of our health, even the way we think and feel, and it is the missing link in modern medicine.

The Microbiome is a definitive account of the re-discovery of human ecology. It begins at the birth of man and it explains how the gut microbiome has evolved with us, shaped our biology and defined the success of our species. It explains what we know and importantly, what we don't. Just as we have discovered this delicate and complex new organ within us it is being irrevocably destroyed through the globalisation of our diets, lifestyles and the destruction of our environment.

In this urgent, timely investigation into a new frontier of science and healthcare, James Kinross tells the story of the race to map the microbiome, mine it and protect it before it is too late.