Product Description

Don't Die Young is a revelatory tour of the human body, which accompanied the major BBC2 television series. Focusing on our vital organs- from the beating chambers of the heart to the coiling tunnels of the intestines - Dr Alice Roberts explains how they work and how to keep them in tip-top condition. There are many aspects of your health that you can control, and she explains how you can reduce your risk of suffering many disorders, from cystitis to cancer, and headaches to heart disease. With authoritative advice, amazing photographs and clear diagrams, she cuts through the jargon. (What exactly are antioxidants and trans-fatty acids?) This book will change the way you think about your body, and you will be better equipped to combat disease - and to treat any health advice with very healthy scepticism.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38025 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Review
'Aims to do for the human body what Top Gear does for cars' The Times 'Crammed with fascinating facts and top tips for living' Good Book Guide 'Her air of carefree capability is devastating' Sunday Times 'A really good read for people of any age ... So, read the book, watch the series, don't die of ignorance, and don't die young' South Wales Argus

About the Author
Alice Roberts is a qualified medical doctor and teaches Anatomy at Bristol University. She is a regular contributor to Channel 4's Time Team and BBC2's Coast series.

Customer Reviews

Excellent guide to the body
I love this book. It's clear, authorative and witty. It contains much more nformation than the BBC series and demonstrates the author's considerable knowledge and range of experience. I would strongly recommend this beautifully illustrated book to anyone interested in anatomy and health.

Good introduction to the body and health.
Dr Alice Roberts book don't die young is an excellent introduction for the layperson to understand how to look after your body and the consequences of what might happen if you mistreat this most precious piece of equipment. Well written and with very good photographs and diagrams helps this book to bring the message home and should be on every ones bookshelf. Organs such as the skin, brain, liver and eye are revealed in plenty of detail. The thing about Dr Roberts is that she does not talk down to you and makes you feel that you should actually be responsible for your own health care. Read it and learn, take heed of the warning lights, and hopefully you might just avoid an early death through a bad diet and too much alcohol.

The layman's guide to his or her health, without insulting the intelligence of the reader.
Having not had an opportunity to watch the TV series of the same name on which this book is based (sadly), I picked up a copy without any presuppositions in regards to it's structure, or indeed aim.

Dr Roberts could easily be accused of imparting to the reader admonitions that amount to common sense in regards to their health; don't smoke, don't take illicit drugs, take alcoholic drinks in moderation, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, be wary of postulated 'miracle cures' and so on and so forth. Yet when buffered with her encyclopedic knowledge of human anatomy (that being her trade), her eloquent writing style and her sense of wit, this book is far more than a condescending do's and don'ts list.

Understanding how your major organs function, and what happens to them when something goes wrong is crucial to gaining a more robust understanding of how to look after yourself. Yet Dr Roberts doesn't overpower the newcomer to her field with a dizzying array of jargon or technical information. She leads us on an informative, yet enjoyable journey through our bodies that is quite easily absorbed and produces a smile on occasion.