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

Description

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.

Dr. Sharon Moalem is an award-winning neurologist and evolutionary biologist, with a PhD in human physiology. His research brings evolution, genetics, biology, and medicine together to explain how the body works in new and fascinating ways. He and his work have been featured on CNN, in the New York Times, on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, on Today, and in magazines such as New Scientist, Elle, and Martha Stewart's Body + Soul. Dr. Moalem's first book was the New York Times bestseller Survival of the Sickest. He lives in New York City.

'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