Nothing can be more challenging for an author than trying to write a popular book on a subject that evokes disgust in the public at large. In his latest effort, Claude Combes attempts to sell parasites and their life-style to a lay audience. To readers of this journal, this may seem like a simple task; after all, we know that parasites are wonderful creatures. But convincing the average person of this simple fact is a monumental challenge indeed. On the whole, Combes achieves this superbly.