Connie Leas

Over 20 years ago, I retired from a career as a technical writer, a job that suited me very well. I liked doing the research, organizing the material, and explaining technical subjects in understandable language. Now I write as a hobby, picking my own subjects and working without deadlines. In 2015, I started a weekly blog called "Keeping the Doctor Away" (www.medfreehealth.blogspot.com).

I liked science in school and have been interested in medicine for a long time. I do have some scientific credentials—a BA in zoology from Pomona College (1958), and an MS in entomology from Michigan State University (1980).

Overall, I think people worry too much about things such as saturated fat (it's good for you!), "hydration" (a word I hate), and germs (e.g., fear of toilet seats). I think our bodies strive for homeostasis--to be in balance. For example, thirst leads us to drink; if we diet to get thin, our appetites increase to get us back to our normal weight.

I have written three other books: The Art of Thank You; Fat: It’s Not What You Think: and Your Hands: How They Shape and Reveal Your Nature.

My husband, Speed, and I live in Boulder Creek, California, a small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains.