A fascinating exploration of the skin in its multifaceted physical, psychological, and social aspects Providing a cover for our delicate and intricate bodies, the skin is our largest and fastest-growing organ. We see it, touch it, and live in it every day. It is a habitat for a mesmerizingly complex world of micro-organisms and physical functions that are vital to our health and our survival. It … It is also a waste removal plant, a warning system for underlying disease and a dynamic immune barrier to infection. One of the first things people see about us, skin is crucial to our sense of identity, providing us with social significance and psychological meaning. And yet our skin and the fascinating way it functions is largely unknown to us. In prose as lucid as his research underlying it is rigorous, blending in memorable stories from the past and from his own medical experience, Monty Lyman has written a revelatory book exploring our outer surface that will surprise and enlighten in equal measure. Through the lenses of science, sociology, and history—on topics as diverse as the mechanics and magic of touch (how much goes on in the simple act of taking keys out of a pocket and unlocking a door is astounding), the close connection between the skin and the gut, what happens instantly when one gets a paper cut, and how a midnight snack can lead to sunburn—Lyman leads us on a journey across our most underrated and unexplored organ and reveals how our skin is far stranger, more wondrous, and more complex than we have ever imagined.
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Dr. Monty Lyman’s The Remarkable Life of the Skin is a fun read for those with a sense of wonder about the human body. The author describes it as “a circumnavigation of, and a love letter to, our most remarkable organ.” It took me a chapter or two to get used to the author’s style; he shares a great deal of information in a manner that can sometimes feel like a bit of a brain dump. Be prepared for plenty of medical and scientific terminology, but if that doesn’t bother you, this is an interesting and comprehensible read.
I found the author’s enthusiasm for his topic infectious. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about skin parasites (complete with diagrams comparing different types of lice), but was intrigued by his discussion of how a protein in tick saliva might one day be used in a drug to treat heart disease. The discussion of the skin microbiome was even more fascinating.
I was most interested in the chapters of the book discussing physical aspects of the skin, but subsequent sections on psychological and social aspects were also interesting. The back matter includes a glossary and references.
I would definitely recommend this book for the intellectually curious. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to lean over and share the latest interesting tidbit you just read with whoever is sitting next to you.
Thanks to the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press, for providing me with an unproofed ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.
Monty Lyman takes his reader on a journey around the body exploring the various ways your skin protects the contents of the body. His writing is quasi-scientific in that it is rich in details, but not so scientific as to be unfathomable to the lay reader. Lyman has also included a large glossary of words, all pertaining to the skin, and extensive footnotes.
There will undoubtedly be few lay people reading this book who do not find fascinating facts about skin and Lyman includes the results of several recent studies that shed light on why the skin has evolved into what it is today.
If you haven’t given your skin much thought beyond some typical skin issues like acne, skin cancer, or wrinkles, you need to read this book because you’ll learn more about those conditions and many others in this book than you will from a dermatologist.
My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Edelweiss for an eARC.
dermatology, anthropology, historical-research, science, sociology
Dermatology for anyone with skin. Discover the scientific bases, familiar and unfamiliar conditions, the physical and emotional responses, and even the historical aspects of the largest organ of the body. Even though I have a lot of skin, am a retired RN, have had the problems of the very light skinned, and even developed psoriasis after retirement, I learned a lot without having to work for it. I recommend it to anyone with skin whether in the paramedical field or just curious. Loved it! But I will need a print copy because hunting for the illustrations after the fact in an ebook is a big nuisance.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press via NetGalley. Thank you!