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sharpenanother's review against another edition
5.0
This book was an interesting and entertaining way to learn a little something about the human body. Each chapter tells new stories that relate to the body part in focus. The writing is very good with beautiful descriptions of different parts of the body, often making connections to geographical or natural features. I was reminded why I couldn't be a doctor, getting queasy at some points when he describes surgeries. The stories he relates are very moving and highlight the fragility of life, making me very grateful for my current good health.
ohnoflora's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating journey (head to foot, naturally) through the human body.
Gavin Francis has drawn on a wide range of texts which enrich his writing on the body: poetry, fairy tale, philosophy as well as historical sources. In other hands, this could be heavy going, however he has a light touch and the text is never a struggle to get through.
I liked the balance between the lyrical and the matter-of-fact. Francis manages to de-mystify the body and its functions (and failings) while also encouraging a sense of fascination and wonder. He is never cold and distant (although can be clinical!), instead he celebrates the life-long relationship we have with our bodies and how that impacts on how we interact with the world around us, particularly through art.
Thinking about your body and how it works can be scary (at least for me with my hypochondriac tendencies). This book doesn't hide the fact that things can go wrong, and badly, but Francis' clear, compassionate tone somehow it makes it seem less frightening.
Gavin Francis has drawn on a wide range of texts which enrich his writing on the body: poetry, fairy tale, philosophy as well as historical sources. In other hands, this could be heavy going, however he has a light touch and the text is never a struggle to get through.
I liked the balance between the lyrical and the matter-of-fact. Francis manages to de-mystify the body and its functions (and failings) while also encouraging a sense of fascination and wonder. He is never cold and distant (although can be clinical!), instead he celebrates the life-long relationship we have with our bodies and how that impacts on how we interact with the world around us, particularly through art.
Thinking about your body and how it works can be scary (at least for me with my hypochondriac tendencies). This book doesn't hide the fact that things can go wrong, and badly, but Francis' clear, compassionate tone somehow it makes it seem less frightening.
kath61's review against another edition
5.0
At first I was a little disappointed as I had imagined it to be similar to books by Henry Marsh. However, it grew on me and by the end I was full of admiration for the author. Each chapter refers to a different part of the body and includes perspectives from history, different cultures, poetry and art as well as medicine. What is more a genuine compassion underpins all his observations.
Very well written.
Very well written.
reginacattus's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautifully meandering book. It meanders through history, discovery, anatomy and the individual. It's a wonderful exploration of the human body and humanity as a whole.
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
Almost a travel book of the human body - and that is a fascinating landscape to watch in deed! As we travel from head to toe Dr Francis also gives us bits of literature, art, myths and traditional beliefs about the limb or organ, as well as a look into medical history especially around Edinburgh University.
The book is as the title says an adventurous journey through the human body, and it is both an entertaining and educational trip: From electro chok therapy actually doing good these days for the severely depressed, over life and death dispersed through the body and organs, to the feet that carry us around: who knew Da Vinci dissected a bears foot, when he couldn't get his paws on a human foot? (Bears can walk upright like humans, and have the same stride of heel to front foot, so he was as always being clever!
Sometimes the literary windings get a bit long, I for one would have preferred a little more insight into the muscle complex of the hip over the differnet Jewish interpretations and translational disputes about Jacob's hip injury from fighting with an angel. But apart from that a great read!
The book is as the title says an adventurous journey through the human body, and it is both an entertaining and educational trip: From electro chok therapy actually doing good these days for the severely depressed, over life and death dispersed through the body and organs, to the feet that carry us around: who knew Da Vinci dissected a bears foot, when he couldn't get his paws on a human foot? (Bears can walk upright like humans, and have the same stride of heel to front foot, so he was as always being clever!
Sometimes the literary windings get a bit long, I for one would have preferred a little more insight into the muscle complex of the hip over the differnet Jewish interpretations and translational disputes about Jacob's hip injury from fighting with an angel. But apart from that a great read!