Spare Parts: In Praise of Your Appendix and Other Unappreciated Organs - Hardcover

Rinzler, Carol Ann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 151071250X ISBN 13: 9781510712508

Publisher: Skyhorse, 2017

Synopsis

Charles Darwin considered them extraneous, but this witty book sheds moderns scientific light on the Darwin Six --appendix, tailbone, "third eyelid," wisdom teeth, external ear muscles, body hair -- once considered useless, now  known to be both valuable and interesting, plus a chapter on the true "dispensables," parts with which we can indeed dispense. Along the way, best-selling author Rinzler weaves in Darwin's brilliant and ground-breaking theories of evolution and shares insights into what the human body may look like millennia from now.

About this title

About the Author:

Carol Ann Rinzler is the author of  more than twenty books on health, including Leonardo'sFoot  which the American Association for the Advancement of Science called "some of the best science writing by a non-scientist in years," the bestselling Nutrition For Dummies (6 editions) and Controlling Cholesterol For Dummies, (2 editions), and the award-winning Estrogen and Breast Cancer: A warning for women.   In 2015, she was named one of the New York State Senate's "Women of Distinction" and given the first-ever New York State Society of Anesthesiologists' Patient Advocate Award.

Review:

"The book offers a mesmerizing perspective. There is unparalleled information, both arcane and titillating, like finding out, for example, how the term 'goosebumps' is expressed in 20 foreign languages. Admitting she is diverted along the  'literary sideways and byways down whose paths we may travel thanks to the oddity of the subject at hand,' Rinzler shares knowledge drawn from her previousbooks on health.We rated this book: Five stars."  Seattle BookReview, Manhattan Book Review 

"Carol Ann Rinzler once again informs and entertains.She helps us see that evolution is a profound and powerful force of nature that produces things that work, but also produces some quirky and not-so-intelligently designed parts as well."Richard N. Gottfried
Chair,Committee on Health, NewYork State Assembly
 
 
"Spare Parts  gets its sometimes surprising facts right: Human 'ear wiggling,' once considered rare and worthless, may have significant medical value.  And a pinna (outer ear) that through evolution eventually flaps strongly downward to cover the ear from the growing onslaught of loud sounds and noise could actually protect your hearing. Arline L.  Bronzaft, Ph.D co-authorof Why Noise Matters.  
 
"What a pleasure this book is to read! Rinzler has chosen a terrific topic, and carried it off with style and erudition."  Sandra Opdycke, author, No One Was Turned Away, The Role of Public Hospitals in New York Citysince 1900
 

About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 151071250X
• ISBN 13: 9781510712508
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288