Microbes have been quietly shaping the planet for billions of years. They crafted the oxygen we breathe, developed the soil our food grows in, and power the cycles that render the Earth livable. In us, trillions of microbial partners break down our nutrients, teach our immune system, and even influence our thoughts and moods.

The Bright Side: Allies & Symbionts is volume two in The Dark Side series, a 20,000-word journey through the microbes that nourish, inspire, and defend us. From the yeast in bread, beer, and wine to the bacteria that enable modern medicine and biotechnology, this book discloses the surprising ways microbes make life livable.