Adam's navel a natural and cultural history of the human form Cover Image

E-book

Adam's navel [electronic resource] : a natural and cultural history of the human form / Michael Sims.

Sims, Michael, 1958- (Author).

Summary:

An informed survey, Adam's Navel is a unique brew of science, history, and storytelling that illuminates our perception, exploitation, and celebration of the human body. Moving from head to toe in twelve chapters, Michael Sims blends cultural history with evolutionary theory to produce a wonderfully original narrative. "No part of the body lacks a story," writes Sims, who analyzes and demystifies the visible parts of the body that make up the whole-our animal form that is also a screen onto which we project our fears and obsessions. He tells of dreadlocks and Achilles' heel, of fingerprints and penis size. He discusses the history of breastfeeding, the allure of navel rings, ancient rules for shaking hands, why nature builds men and women on a female body plan, and how the evolution of our two-legged stance affects childbirth and back pain. Drawing on evolution and the mechanics of human anatomy, along with Shakespeare, mythology, film, and popular culture, Sims creates a marvelous new lens through which to view this body that we inhabit almost unconsciously. Adam's Navel is a field guide to the landscape of ourselves.

Record details

ISBN: 9781440675317 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
ISBN: 1440675317 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
ISBN: 9781440677953 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
ISBN: 1440677956 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
ISBN: 9781440677298 (electronic bk. : Mobipocket Reader)
ISBN: 1440677298 (electronic bk. : Mobipocket Reader)
Physical Description: 342 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
Publisher: New York : Viking, 2003.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references (p. 315-327) and index.
Reproduction Note:	Electronic reproduction. New York : Penguin USA, Inc., 2009. Requires Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 1668 KB) or Adobe Digital Editions (file size: 404 KB) or Mobipocket Reader (file size: 577 KB).