The Unseen Body: A Doctor's Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 533 ratings

Price: 13.12

Last update: 12-09-2024


About this item

In The Unseen Body, a fascinating journey through the human body and across the globe, Dr. Reisman weaves together stories about our insides with a unique perspective on life, culture, and the natural world.

Dr. Jonathan Reisman - a physician, adventure traveler, and naturalist - brings listeners on an odyssey, navigating our insides like an explorer discovering a new world. With unique insight, Reisman shows us how understanding mountain watersheds helps to diagnose heart attacks, how the body is made mostly of mucus, not water, and how urine carries within it a tale of humanity’s origins.

Through his offbeat adventures in health care and across the globe, Reisman discovers new perspectives on the body: a trip to the Alaskan Arctic reveals that fat is not the enemy, but the hero; a stint in the Himalayas uncovers the boundary where the brain ends and the mind begins; and eating a sheep’s head in Iceland offers a lesson in empathy. By relating rich experiences in far-flung lands and among unique cultures back to the body’s inner workings, he shows how our organs live inextricably intertwined lives - an internal ecosystem reflecting the natural world around us.

Reisman offers a new and deeply moving perspective and helps us make sense of our bodies and how they work in a way listeners have never before imagined.

"Petkoff gives a flawless performance of this doctor/naturalist's memoir, conveying both his inquisitiveness and assuredness with aplomb." (AudioFile)

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books


Top reviews from the United States

Danny Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022
It’s an enjoyable, quick read that teaches you some things about the inner workings of the human body. It’s written in a way that’s easy to digest and understand; it’s relatable, and it’s also entertaining. Listen, I don’t write reviews. Seriously. This is only the third review I’ve ever written – the other two reviews were for a tattoo artist in Austin and a rather expensive weed grinder that I treated myself to, but I’ve digressed. I felt compelled to write a review for this book because it’s worth sharing. I’ve recommended The Unseen Body to people I know from all walks of life – from my stoner friend, to the fellow nature-loving parents at my kid’s school, to my physician wife. There’s something in it for everyone. Once my kids are old enough, I’ll share my copy with them so that it can broaden their understanding of their own bodies, and perhaps help them put into context some of the wonder that comes from simply being alive.
F. Finn
4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating exploration of the human body
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022
You’ll learn a lot about yourself by reading this book. The functions of each body part, from the heart and brain to the genitals, are revealed with wit and candor by a doctor who writes with skill and humor.
R Epstein
5.0 out of 5 stars This book deserves more than 5 stars!
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
As someone who enjoys all those popular tv medical shows, I loved this book far more because it is based on the REAL and remarkable experiences of Dr. Reisman from his early years, through his schooling and during his medical career to date. What is particularly rewarding is his unique perspective about how his far-flung travels to remote Russia, poor areas of India, rural Alaskan villages and more have given him an understanding of how the body works in sync with nature all around each of us. His writing is colorful, engaging and entertaining and the stories he tells to support the information he shares clearly demonstrate his mastery of the subjects, which he generously shares with us. The book is thoughtfully laid out, reads very quickly and left me wanting more. I hope this is just the beginning from this very talented Doctor and Author, as it is clear that he has much more to tell us about his life and experiences in medicine.
Jon Turk
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and educational
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2021
The 'Unseen Body' takes you on a journey into your own body, and at the same time takes you on a unique and exclusive journey into the fascinating training of a physician, into the ins and outs of the health care system itself, and into the curious mind of the author, Jonathan Reisman. The book is so full of charming anecdotes and surprising case histories, that it reads almost like a novel with the reader always fascinated to know, “What comes next?” Reading the Table of Contents I started off by saying, "okay the heart should be interesting, but why is mucus so interesting?” And I found out that mucus is so interesting that I stayed up late at night to read the next page-turning chapter, “Fingers and Toes.” You’ll come away from this book amused and enriched, learning and having fun. Highly recommended.
Charles D. Ludewig
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting viewpoints about our bodies
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
This is a very interesting book on the human body and how it works.
AC
3.0 out of 5 stars Print too small to read
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024
This book looks fascinating, but the print is so small that I can only read a couple of sentences before my eyes get too tired to read. Wish I'd looked inside sooner so I coul have returned it.
Customer image
AC
3.0 out of 5 stars Print too small to read
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024
This book looks fascinating, but the print is so small that I can only read a couple of sentences before my eyes get too tired to read. Wish I'd looked inside sooner so I coul have returned it.
Images in this review
Customer image
Stuart L. Klein
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022
I know others commented on the superfluous portions of this book, but I found them very interesting as Dr. Reisman relates things to his past, his worldwide travels, etc.
I highly recommend this book to all the curious readers who want to learn more about their bodies.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is not just for medical professionals.
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2022
My wife and I enjoyed this book immensely. Not only did we learn a lot about the functions of our main bodily organs, but in a very “poetic” and entertaining way, Dr. Reisman explains how our organs compare to other creatures in the natural world. His descriptions are charming and offer much food for thought. Speaking of food, he describes how animal organs are used for food in different parts of the world. Dr. Reisman is a renaissance man who, even at his young age, has experienced many cultures, mores and life experiences as he relates the human body to plant life and other species. A fascinating read. I highly recommend this book. Much to learn within it's pages. Dr. Howard Kliman

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