All in a Drop

Kevin T. Collins's even pacing makes this scientific history easy to follow. After building his own microscope in 1674, Antony van Leeuwenhoek's discovery of tiny moving creatures in lake water stunned the scientists of his day and led to the field of microbiology. Collins narrates the story in an accessible, lively way, portraying Antony's patient, diligent work over 50 years of scientific inquiry. Listeners hear the initial scorn of the Royal Society and the amazed wonder at Antony's discovery of hidden worlds. Collins's formal tone provides a droll contrast to Antony's fascination with the microbes living in people's skin scrapings, tooth plaque, earwax, and feces. Factual sidebars flow seamlessly throughout the narrative, adding context. Also included are the author's note, a timeline, and a glossary. S.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine