People who should absolutely not read this: trans people, people with chronic pain, fat people, anyone with a degree in any aspect of biology, anyone who reads more than one popular science book a year. ‘Gut: The inside story of our body’s most under-rated organ’ by Giulia Enders.
I highlighted many, many pages, so I’ll just offer a few highlights here. Welcome back. I would say yes, though guardedly. Each chapter supplies punchy, readable descriptions relating to every major organ in your body; plus, the skin, hair, eyes, nerves, circulatory system, the process of ageing, disease, the immune system and, the book is so new, a final short chapter on Covid-19.
It will light up your amygdala. Besides, many biology books suffer from the fact that their authors are great scientists but horrible writers. Your lungs will inhale and exhale about 300 sextillion oxygen molecules. Need help? However, the UK health system is not exactly sitting pretty; as it is hopelessly underfunded in comparison to other services across the developed countries – but then we knew this, didn’t we. Start by marking “The Body: A Guide for Occupants” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Accès au contenu du magazine en ligne et à l’intégralité de nos archives (plus de 7000 articles).
In reading this, it occurred to me that I have a real advantage being an identical twin, and that maybe, in an medical emergency, I might need my twin brother; or at least a part of him. His dry wit shines in all of his books.
Bryson, who gives off a Cronkite-like trustworthy vibe, is good at allaying fears and busting myths. Bryson is no fan of the American health system, which just seems to be a total rip-off, and one that actually puts the population at significant risk. Any book by Mary Roach, but particularly, ‘Stiff: The curious lives cadavers’ (don’t be put off). We should be thankful. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson is a well-researched user’s manual for anyone interested in how our bodies function. The overall result is informative, entertaining and often gross (kissing, according to one study, transfers up to one billion bacteria from one mouth to another, along with 0.2 micrograms of food bits). Your lungs will inhale and exhale about 300 sextillion oxygen molecules.
The book is surprisingly detailed, for a popular-science book.
Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Read it for the pure pleasure of enjoying one more Bryson book.
October 15th 2019 Or the historical prevalence of a certain condition.