Warum wir sterben

From the opening scene, the author invites us into a witty conversation with death itself, using the everyday act of breakfast to expose our hidden anxieties about germs. By introducing the larger‑than‑life figure of Professor Élie Metchnikoff, a pioneer of microbiology, the narrative turns a simple slice of bread into a battlefield where invisible bacteria wage a quiet war on our health.

Through clear, almost conversational explanations, the book maps the trillions of microbes that populate our intestines and shows how their metabolic waste can seep into the bloodstream, challenging the old belief that our liver‑kidney system can neutralise everything. The author weaves scientific insight with philosophical reflection, asking whether the very microbes that help us digest might also be digging our graves, and suggesting practical habits that could tip the balance.