lauralauralaura's review against another edition

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4.0

Our skin is amazing and Monty Lyman is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, but I still want to read the version of this book written by an author with a smidge more panache and flair, like Mary Roach or Siddhartha Mukherjee or Stephen Jay Gould.

amyflora's review against another edition

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4.0

Monty Lyman’s book was a wonderful surprise for me. I chose it on the basis that it was a non-fiction audiobook that happened to be available at the library.

Far beyond a recounting of the nature and physicality of skin Lyman has a tremendous amount of appreciation for the actual sociological and psychological impact that skin has on a person and a group. The sections about Māori tattoos and Tanzanian albinos were particularly telling.

The book seems to fall into a new-ish trend of science books that are rooted in science but find space for human stories.

The only content warning I would give is that you will find yourself convinced you have an itch or some incurable disease in a few sections of the book. Stay strong and power through.

cameliarose's review against another edition

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3.0

Have you ever wondered what phrases such as: skin-deep, saving one's skin, being comfortable in your own skin, get into/under/out of one's skin, have to do with skin? Well, Dr. Lyman has. Dr. Lyman, as a dermatologist, is well-suited to write a book about skin. The Remarkable Life of the Skin is a not only about the possible medical conditions of our skin, but also the cultural, historical, aesthetic, even spiritual aspects of the human skin.

A *healthy tan doesn't exist. To get or not to get a tatto? That's the question. Sun creams are the best anti-aging creams ever invented. An entertaining enough book.

poorlywordedbookreviews's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

“𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸.”
   
I picked this after reading Lyman’s brilliant overview of pain at the start of the year. This book is definitely worth a read if you’d like to know a little bit more about the organ that acts as the wrapping to what most doctors might think of as the ‘sexy stuff’. Dermatologists don’t score highly in the inter-departmental hierarchy politics of a hospital, and I suspect most people think of dermatology as simultaneously dull and gross. Unless of course they might have the secret to getting rid of your dark circles and wrinkles…
   
Overall I didn’t find this book as interesting as The Painful Truth. How much of that was the writing, and how much was down to pain being a much more engaging topic in general 🤷‍♀️ This is still super accessible, but it’s definitely aimed at at those with little biology knowledge, as not a lot was knew to me. There’s still interesting facts peppered throughout for all readers though.
   
Depressingly I was reminded that my current winter urge to eat every carb in sight is getting a helping hand to lay down a permanent muffin top by the skins seasonal behaviour - with winter blue light reducing the amount of fat a cell can store. And I learnt my cats aren’t just licking to keep themselves clean, they’re collecting vitamin D that’s been formed on the oils secreted from their skin. 

zibby's review against another edition

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4.0

learnt some cool facts about skin from this book.

zarasaleem's review against another edition

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5.0

really interesting and accessible go monty!!!

mylifeasjessskincare's review against another edition

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3.0

Really detailed and so many interesting chapters. A must read for anyone on the beauty industry

tinaathena's review against another edition

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4.0

Lovingly written, very fascinating, and thoughtful. My interest wained around two thirds through, which I realize of a recurring theme in non fiction books (especially science) but the chapter in Social Skin got me right back in. Felt like each chapter could be its own book, though I think it's good that it wasn't. While some info is relevant to it, not going to satisfy people out for skincare tips. (But the skincare takeaways: Stay out of the sun, don't smoke, don't drink alcohol)

annarella's review against another edition

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5.0

A fascinating, well researched and informative book about skin that made me learn a lot and gave me a lot of food for thought.
I thinks it's a great example of how science should be explained to people like me, informing and easy to understand.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

helenar's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.5