Survival of the Sickest: The Surprising Connections Between Disease and Longevity - Softcover

Moalem, Sharon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000725654X ISBN 13: 9780007256549

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2008

Synopsis

In this groundbreaking and absorbing book Dr. Sharon Moalem, delves back into the evolution of man to offer a radical perspective on survival, the human body, and our understanding of disease. Survival of the Sickest will change the way you think about your body.

About this title

Review:

'A tart, funny and fascinating confection about emerging evolutionary understanding of illness.' The Guardian

'Groundbreaking and absorbing.' Closer

'...an entertaining journey through evolutionary medicine.' New Scientist

'This is a revolutionary and engaging exploration of our evolutionary history'. The Herald

'Insightful and accessible.' The Good Book Guide

'Smart, entertaining and informative.' Lifescape

‘This excellent book deserves a place in every lending library in the land.’ The Oldie

Synopsis:

In this groundbreaking and absorbing book Dr. Sharon Moalem, delves back into the evolution of man to offer a radical perspective on survival, the human body, and our understanding of disease. Survival of the Sickest will change the way you think about your body. Dr. Moalem investigates peculiar and puzzling features of human biology to reveal the answers to such provocative questions as: / Why do we need to pee when we're cold? / Can a person rust to death? / Why are Greeks hairier than Africans? / Can the tanning salon lower cholesterol? / Why are leeches back in vogue? / Can sunglasses cause sunburns? / Who gets drunk faster -- Europeans or Asians? In considering the question of why diseases exist, Dr Moalem proposes that most common diseases came into existence for very good reasons. Diabetes, hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia may all exist because, at some time in our past, they helped our ancestors survive some grand challenge to human existence.In turn, he also discovers that genetic and cultural differences have led to each race having different and unique ways of reacting to their environment and subsequently how they become susceptible to certain diseases.

Survival of the Sickest is a book about life -- yours, ours and every little living thing under the sun. About how we all got here, where we're all going and what we can do about it. Revelatory and written in an utterly engaging fashion, Sharon Moalem's book will change the way you think about your body.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 000725654X
• ISBN 13: 9780007256549
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 290