Everywhere you look there are probiotic products. One of its global pioneers explains how this came about and what to look for when deciding to use beneficial microbes for your health.

In 1982 when recently graduated Gregor Reid was introduced to the concept of microbes benefitting humans, almost nobody had heard of the term probiotic. Today, probiotics are a $60 billion market involving multiple industries and scientists around the world, spanning applications in humans, animals, insects, coral, fish and other species, all with the intention of improving health.

After a career that spanned over 600 peer-reviewed publications, multiple international awards and more than 60,000 citations to his work, Professor Reid now tells the story of how the probiotic field emerged and the challenges that he and others faced. He emphasizes that products need to be developed through diligent science and clinical studies.

Starting out trying to help women with painful urinary and vaginal infections, Professor Reid was at the heart of the microbiome field, working with colleagues all over the world and expanding into gut, skin and heart health as well as applications to honeybees.

In a fascinating view of the field, filled with humor and surprises, Professor Reid doesn't hold back in criticizing bureaucracies, countering falsehoods and challenging companies who put profit above scientific validity. This can't-put-down novel is easy for lay people, scientists, and students to enjoy. Using fun analogies from the golf course where hurdles abound, Professor Reid clarifies what probiotic are and what they are not.

This must-listen story will leave you thinking, 'wow, did that really happen' and 'so, that's what it really means'. You think you know fermented foods, prebiotics, synbiotics or which probiotic you might take, then try the quizzes in the book.

Beyond the discussion of science, this is a personal tale about how belief and perseverance can conquer rejection and ridicule. It is about why we need to bring discoveries to the people who need them the most, including in rural Africa, to fight malnutrition, disease and poverty.

In the end, this is a story about hope for the future.