Story Of The Human Body: Evolution, Health And Disease (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
This was one fascinating, informative book! Imagine covering everything from the evolution of modern man from primates to how the bodies we now have are mismatched to our wildly changed world.Yes, we all know modern humans can talk and make and use fancy tools, but for the details on how we have it all over primates (and earlier hominids), look here. Who knew about our rounder skulls or bigger heel bones or shorter vocal tract? Who knew that our awesome pincer grip and endurance running capabilities set us apart? Who knew that Africans are the only race without Neanderthal or Denisovan genetic mixing? (I blame those early homo sapiens men who couldn't resist taking advantage of hominid females.)Then the book switches gears and discusses our current mismatch with our environment. Adapted over millenia to eat fruits and vegetables, tubers, seeds, nuts, and lean meat, we now chow down lots of sugar and simple starch. Adapted to walk lots and lots, we now slump all day in office chairs and La-Z-Boys, staring at screens and stuffing our feet in shoes that lead to fallen arches and shortened calves and all sorts of craziness.Nowadays we suffer from and eventually die of diseases caused by "stimuli that are too much, too little, or too new." Too much: energy from sugar and simple carbs. Too little: physical activity--not just exercise, but things like chewing unprocessed food--and too little exposure to worms and germs. Too new: environmental chemicals, shoes, comfort products(!), reading (!!!). Reading this book made me (1) get up and do some housework (uses 196.5 calories/hr, versus about 70-some/hr to just sit on my fat A reading); and (2) skip my usual "something sweet" after lunch and dinner. Might be time for another severely-reduced sugar kick...Anyhow, I highly recommend this one and wish everyone would pick it up. I bought this book a while ago because the review sounded interesting. Then it sat on my self for months. I finally got around to reading it, and really enjoyed it. I found his discussion of human evolution intriguing and a nice refresher from schooling. The second part when he discusses more of the present health issues was well-written but it was the same facts and advice I've read over and over. It wasn't as good, but still written in a manner that was easy to read. The book is more a discussion of the human body--where we came from and how that still affects us today--than an advice or lifestyle/diet book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and its discussion on the human body.
What do You think about Story Of The Human Body: Evolution, Health And Disease (2013)?
Fascinating read, particularly the second half. It changed the way I view modern ailments.
—a4ayeshakhan
It is such a wonderful book! Love it.
—poe_the_kitty_
