author
Paul De Kruif
1890–1971
A microbiologist who turned medical history into gripping storytelling, he helped generations of readers see science as a human adventure. Best known for Microbe Hunters, he wrote with the urgency of someone who believed public health mattered to everyone.
1 Audiobook
Microbe hunters
by Paul De Kruif
About the author
Born in Zeeland, Michigan, in 1890, he studied at the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree in 1912 and a Ph.D. in 1916. Trained as a bacteriologist, he also served during the years of the Mexican Expedition and World War I before moving further into research and writing.
He is best remembered as the author of Microbe Hunters (1926), a lively and influential book that introduced famous figures in microbiology to a wide audience. His writing helped make laboratory science feel dramatic, personal, and important, and he became known for explaining medicine and public health in a way general readers could enjoy.
Beyond his books, he wrote extensively on science and health for popular magazines and was an outspoken advocate on public-health issues. He died in 1971, leaving behind a body of work that still stands out for its energy, clarity, and faith that scientific discovery could improve everyday life.