Another fascinating read from Marlene Zuk. She takes us far from what is commonly known about parasites and introduces us to their infinite variety and what they can do. We often associate parasites with wasting away, but there are some that actually lead to the infected organism growing larger. You may spot an impressively large crab, but it may have less to do with its vigor, and more to do with the parasites it's supporting. There are other parasites that actually extend the life of the host (though the host may be rendered sterile as part of the bargain). There are still others that sound like the inspiration for the chest-burster in the Alien films (but for crickets, instead of humans). She even discusses the parasites of other parasites. Zuk presents a mix of well-tested theories, as well as some cutting edge hypotheses regarding parasites, and she is scrupulous about identifying which is supported by a large body of evidence, and which are currently the mere musings of scientists. Some of these musings include speculation as to how parasites may affect our personalities, our propensity for accidents, our suspicion of others, our height and a whole host of other factors.
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