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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
An extremely detailed book about anatomy, with some of the trademark ease with which Bill Bryson delivers a gazillion facts to readers. I did wish for a bit more of the "ease" or side notes, to take some of the scientific stuff down a notch - I'm sure any scientist would be horrified by everything I just wrote :-) I'm just someone who needs a bit more context of personal experience to pad too much fact-giving (like Mary Roach, for example). This book didn't quite work for me - I found myself skimming through some of the duller elements of the human body, wishing for some side notes about a person, or a case, or something much more Oliver Sacks. I think, on the whole, I wanted this book to be by Oliver Sacks, and written like he writes, in a more anecdotal fashion. Alas. It will still be endlessly fascinating to those inclined towards science and biology, I'm sure!
However horrible I imagined a frontal lobotomy would be, I had not imagined the ice pick. Thanks Bill.
Really enjoyed all the anecdotes and historical stories that the author weaved throughout explaining each portion or part of the body in great detail. I was surprised at how hooked I was throughout the book even though it gets pretty scientific in details and explanations.
The audio version of this book wasn’t for me, I feel like I would have been more inclined to pick this book up again if I had a physical or digital copy instead.
The audio version of this book wasn’t for me, I feel like I would have been more inclined to pick this book up again if I had a physical or digital copy instead.
Probably not the kind of book you should zoom through because it's a library book and due back... which is exactly what I did. Entertaining but so packed with information that little of it sticks
Enjoyable read from Bill Bryson. I was reminded of a lot of details from my anatomy and physiology classes in Nursing school, but with a lot of great anecdotes about the people who did the science as well as some patients.
Honestly, very intriguing read. More than just anatomy based, it goes over a lot of sociological and historical facts about the body. Definitely a must read for someone who wants to understand how the body works. It also goes over the miraculous nature of modern medicine in that we have historically been very bad at medicine. It is a wonder the body develops at all and that we are able to understand any part of it. Minus one star for Bill being a boring reader to listen to.
A wonderful collection of science and research with narrative story elements. I learned so much not only about the body but also about the scientists, doctors, and researchers pursuing the dynamic field of medicine. The organization of the book worked, although the ending chapters were hard to listen to as the realities of aging happens to people. Read or listen to this book!
Funny and enlightening and intriguing and accessible with or without a science/biology background. Despite how big it is, it is easy to read (and once you start you want to keep going). I learned so much and I honestly need to read it again because there was just so much information I couldn't keep it all in my head.
Bill Bryson writes fascinating, entertaining, informative books. This one is no different. Less a guide, more a summary of everything we currently know about the human body, plus a lot of the things that we used to think we know, or tried on the path to getting our current knowledge. There's some pretty gruesome stories of things that the medical practice used to do to people as late as the mid 1900s. There's also some surprising facts. Did you know that there's no evidence that MSG is bad for us or causes any of the symptoms that people blame on it? If anything, the scope is too broad so there's too much information to take in. It's also a little terrifying (I'm never taking antibiotics ever again!) But a fun read nonetheless.
4.5 stars rounded down
4.5 stars rounded down