The Body: A Guide for Occupants

by Bill Bryson

Published Dec. 15, 2019 by Doubleday.

ISBN:: 978-0-385-53930-2

Bill Bryson once again proves himself to be an incomparable com- panion as he guides us through the human body—how it functions, its remarkable ability to heal itself, and (unfortunately) the ways it can fail. Full of extraordinary facts (your body made a million red blood cells since you started reading this) and irresistible Brysonesque an- ecdotes, The Body will lead you to a deeper understanding of the miracle that is life in general and you in particular.

As Bill Bryson writes, "We pass our existence within this wobble of flesh and yet take it almost entirely for granted." The Body will cure that indifference with generous doses of wondrous, compulsively read- able facts and information. As oddictive as it is comprehensive, this is Bryson at his very best, a must-read owner's manual for every body.

17 editions

Rob Warner reviewed The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

Review of 'The Body: A Guide for Occupants' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I love Bryson's wry sense of humor and his ability to turn a phrase. He does such a great job of making the complicated accessible and interesting. I must confess, though, that as I read, I felt as if I were going to drop dead at any moment! Some of what he explains about our bodies is truly terrifying. In all, though, an extremely readable overview of the human body.

Gabriel reviewed The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

Review of 'The Body: A Guide for Occupants' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

It's not a guide but rather a good book about the history of medical science. It reveals a lot of misconceptions about deceases and treatments that are commom sense even between physicians (part of them, I hope) and shows how badly US performs in health care compared to other industrialized countries.