Lisa LaCivita
Marvelous: superb; excellent; great: a marvelous show. Such as to cause wonder, admiration, or astonishment; surprising; extraordinary; improbable or incredible. That is us alright. The human body is a marvel. If you really think about our bodies, they should cause wonder, admiration, and/or astonishment. The human body is surprising, extraordinary, improbable, and incredible. Scientific research continually expands our knowledge of the human body and makes for some interesting reads. Here are a few recent titles that feature aspects of our marvelous human bodies, of which you may be unaware…
Beginning at the outside and working inward try The remarkable life of the skin : an intimate journey across our largest organ. Monty Lyman “leads us on a journey across our most underrated and unexplored organ and reveals how our skin is far stranger, more wondrous, and more complex than we have ever imagined". After being exposed to the science around your skin then you might be interested in: Meet your bacteria, described as a “fascinating examination of the three pounds of bacteria living in a typical human being.” Who knew that microbes and bacteria played such an important role in our health? Microbes : the life-changing story of germs tells us “both sides of the story of germs: that they are critically important for our health and that the dangers of emerging pathogens continue to wreak havoc in our bodies and around the world.” This leads us to our immune system: Elegant defense: the extraordinary new science of the immune system : a tale in four lives by Matt Richtel. “Richtel effortlessly guides readers on a scientific detective tale winding from the Black Plague to twentieth-century breakthroughs in vaccination and antibiotics, to the cutting-edge laboratories that are revolutionizing immunology—perhaps the most extraordinary and consequential medical story of our time.” Which brings us to: Vaccines: what everyone needs to know which provides "a scientifically grounded overview of the science, manufacture, and culture of vaccines in the United States and internationally."
In Ticker: the quest to create an artificial heart author Mimi Swartz recounts progress towards this goal and reasons for this still uncompleted quest. Nine pints is “an eye-opening exploration of blood, the lifegiving substance with the power of taboo, the value of diamonds and the promise of breakthrough science.” When death becomes life: notes from a transplant surgeon “is a thrilling look at how science advances on a grand scale to improve human lives.” “Mezrich’s riveting book is a beautiful, poignant reminder that a life lost can also offer the hope of a new beginning.” In case you have forgotten much of what you learned in biology class, here are two recent overviews for the human body. The secret life of the human body: uncover the hidden workings of your body “reveals just how intricate and fascinating our body is.” The body: a guide for occupants by Bill Bryson “will lead you to a deeper understanding of the miracle that is life in general and you in particular.”
We have DVDs on many of the same subjects found in our books. They will be shelved using the same numbering system as the non-fiction books. Documentaries such as The amazing human body, Hunting the nightmare bacteria, Transplanting hope and Vaccines calling the shots tell compelling stories in a visual format further enhancing your reading experience.
All the books mentioned in this blog were featured in the Nature & Science newsletter. You can look at previous issues of newsletters here. Sign up for the Nature & Science Newsletter here. The Nature & Science Newsletter features new titles added to the library’s collection and is emailed to you every two months.
