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tcweeks24's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very interesting. I think it brings up a lot of interesting thoughts about the ethical limitations of the human body, as well as the historical perceptions of the body. However, the book suffers from focusing heavily on Western culture, white Western European culture to be specific.
terryfre's review against another edition
5.0
La raccolta di racconti perfetta lega i clown alle teste che ci sono dietro, tutto comincia da Rembrandt.
doomkittiekhan's review against another edition
4.0
I am grateful for the subtitle of this book - that this is a cultural history of the body and not a science text. I could not help but compare this book to Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis. I think the two work well in tandem - or maybe I just think that because I read them almost back to back. Aldersey-Williams work focuses on our artistic and literary perceptions of the human body. Touching on Shylock's infamous demand for a 'pound of flesh', phantom emotions from organ transplants and the history of gift giving, Van Gogh's ear, the public anatomy lessons of 17th century Dutch Republic, synesthesia, the stigma associated with donating "the right" blood, under-representation of the clitoris, and ancient Egyptians disregard for the brain.
I truly loved Part I of the book which focuses on the Skin and Bones. Honestly, the pages devoted to really dissecting (pun intended) Shylock's speech about a 'pound of flesh' has totally rocked my interpretation of that scene from The Merchant of Venice.
A fun read about our need to make sense of ourselves.
I truly loved Part I of the book which focuses on the Skin and Bones. Honestly, the pages devoted to really dissecting (pun intended) Shylock's speech about a 'pound of flesh' has totally rocked my interpretation of that scene from The Merchant of Venice.
A fun read about our need to make sense of ourselves.
hilaritas's review against another edition
3.0
I had high hopes for this book given the subject and the author. However, I found it to be a middling effort. The book canvasses a wide range of anecdotes, literary allusions, biological information, and cultural approaches to bodies and body parts, chiefly organized by organ. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, it's scattershot and the author's insights are superficial and at times highly suspect. The end of the book is a strangely hostile tirade against transhumanists that lacks much, if any, connection to the bulk of the book. I wish this had been the book I imagined it could be.
halfmanhalfbook's review against another edition
4.0
Having read his book Periodic Tales and really enjoyed this, I was really looking forward to this one.
The book is split into three sections, The Whole, The Parts and The future.
The first section looks at the the history of anatomy, from the grim ways that early medical studies were undertaken on cadavers that were acquired from executions or other dubious means. There are lots of gross things in this part, I won't enlighten you completely, but it was a grim and sordid task. He also gets to meet his first dead body.
In the second section he goes on to look at separate significant body parts, from the head to the feet, and lots of the bits in-between internal and external. There are lots of facts and anecdotes in all the separate chapters, and he does describe his first dissection of a pigs eye.
The final section is on the future of the human body, and the enhancements that are now available from replacement limbs to medical advances that keep people alive.
He writes in an engaging style, and assumes that if you have picked this up then you will not be a doctor or biologist. The facts are presented clearly, and he does participate in events from watching dissections to sketching nudes for the chapter on skin. Well worth a read if you have managed to avoid biology since school!
The book is split into three sections, The Whole, The Parts and The future.
The first section looks at the the history of anatomy, from the grim ways that early medical studies were undertaken on cadavers that were acquired from executions or other dubious means. There are lots of gross things in this part, I won't enlighten you completely, but it was a grim and sordid task. He also gets to meet his first dead body.
In the second section he goes on to look at separate significant body parts, from the head to the feet, and lots of the bits in-between internal and external. There are lots of facts and anecdotes in all the separate chapters, and he does describe his first dissection of a pigs eye.
The final section is on the future of the human body, and the enhancements that are now available from replacement limbs to medical advances that keep people alive.
He writes in an engaging style, and assumes that if you have picked this up then you will not be a doctor or biologist. The facts are presented clearly, and he does participate in events from watching dissections to sketching nudes for the chapter on skin. Well worth a read if you have managed to avoid biology since school!
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