Wisdom of the Body

Chatto & Windus, London 2007. 2007. Hardcover. 8vo hardcover 395pp index, b/w illus. good+, page edges browned / very good d/w. Editorial Reviewsnn ReviewnMuch has been written about what makes humans distinct from other species, but what makes individual humans different from each other? Part of the answer lies in our responses to life-threatening illness, as Sherwin Nuland shows in this beautifully written meditation on human variability. Nuland explains biology and advanced medical procedures and makes them seem no more complicated than a good baseball game, and at least as exciting. Mostly, though, Nuland finds the human spirit within these complex systems, and the reader can be as exhilarated by his findings as he is. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.nnFrom Library JournalnIn this engrossing book, Nuland, author of the prize-winning How We Die, has turned his medical knowledge to the wonder of life. He offers a lucid anatomical and physiological tour of the human body, from cells and DNA to tissues and organs, reinforcing the sense of wonder with strategic case studies from his medical experience at Yale Medical School. Interspersed throughout is a discussion of the gnawing issue of what constitutes the mystery of life: How do biochemical interactions explain the quintessence of Homo sapiens? Nuland presents a formidable set of scientific facts and gives us much to ponder concerning our spirituality. Highly recommended.n-?James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New YorknCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. .