Linda Calabresi

This book was wonderfully put together. The illustrations were also beautifully detailed and colorful.
The author begins with a detailed illustration and description of the cell. Next she displays a timeline beginning in ancient times to the present that describes the history of important events within the evolution of medical technology. This is done with illustrations and test descriptions as well. The author proceeds to demonstrate each one of the human body systems with colorful and detailed illustrations of each part. She labels the intricate parts of each of these systems body parts, with a brief, concise, easy to understand descriptions of said parts function. Other detailed diagrams that show zoomed in parts of particular body components, including the lymphatic system and the heart, demonstrate even greater detail of what each part is made of with more illustration and text. The vocabulary is relatively simple, although the author provides a useful glossary in the back for extra reference.
The last few pages of the book cover the 5 senses and also provide very detailed and colorful illustrations of the body parts involved in each one of these senses, such as, the eye, fingers, and nose. Side notes are on all pages that explain little tidbits of fascinating information about how humans have used medical technology to enhance the workings of each body part, such as a pace maker, prosthetic leg, and hearing aids.
Two color coded maps are also displayed toward the back of the book that shows the life expectancy and calorie consumption for each country. The maps add to the quality of the book, although I think they could have used another map demonstrating rates of human disease or population count. A food pyramid is displayed with a vitamin and mineral guide that defines good sources of each and what good they do for the human body system. An index is provided, although a reference page is not. Credits are given for these remarkable illustrations.
I would introduce this book in an anatomy and physiology or biology class. This is a must see for everyone because such intricate detail is given to the illustrations, it helps the reader get a better idea as to how the human body actually is aligned, as opposed to say a diagram that did not pay special attention the web pattern of many body systems, including the lymphatic system and the respiratory system.… (meer)