A review by eferguson
Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar

4.0

A little known fact about me, I have a phobia of the heart -- I can barely stand listening to my boyfriend's heart beat, my own pulse makes me squeamish, I worry about dropping dead from an aneurysm, and don't get me started on blood. For some reason, i thought it was a good idea to read this book (face your fears, you know). I squealed out loud at 11pm when I read about the first catheterization of the heart, done by Dr. Forssmann on HIMSELF (himself!! he just cut a vein open in his own arm and did it right there!! and then got an XRAY OF IT?!). Many of these passages made me physically nauseous and light-headed (don't get me started on the heart's vulnerable period). Was it good for my physical wellbeing to read this book? Maybe not. Was it very interesting and well-written? Yes.