"For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer's disease have suffered its debilitating effects, with family members watching their loved ones disappear a little more each day until the person they used to know is gone forever. It was in 1901 that German psychologist and neurologist Alois Alzheimer began working with Auguste Deter, a 51-year-old woman suffering from dementia. When several years later upon her death he examined her brain under the microscope,...

From blurry vision to crooked teeth, ACLs that tear at alarming rates and spines that seem to spend a lifetime falling apart, it's a curious thing that human beings have beaten the odds as a species. After all, we're the only survivors on our branch of the tree of life. The flaws in our makeup raise more than a few questions, and this detailed foray into the many twists and turns of our ancestral past includes no shortage of curiosity and humor to...

"Bill Bryson, bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything, takes us on a head-to-toe tour of the marvel that is the human body. As compulsively readable as it is comprehensive, this is Bryson at his very best, a must-read owner's manual for everybody. Bill Bryson once again proves himself to be an incomparable companion as he guides us through the human body--how it functions, its remarkable ability to heal itself, and (unfortunately)...

Examines the complex interactions between humans and viruses and discusses the threat from viruses that jump from species to species.

Author and journalist Melanie Warner takes readers on a vivid, fascinating journey through the world of alternative medicine. Crossing continents and sides of the debate, visiting prestigious research clinics and ordinary people's homes, she investigates the scientific underpinning for the purportedly magical results of these practices and reveals not only the medical power of beliefs and placebo effects, but also the range, limits, and uses of the...

"Based on a wildly popular Atlantic article: an astonishing investigation into the world of microbes, and the myriad ways they control how other creatures -- including humans -- act, feel, and think As we are now discovering, parasites -- microbes that cannot thrive and reproduce without another organism as a host -- are shockingly sophisticated and extraordinarily powerful. In fact, a plethora of parasites affect our behavior in ways we have barely...

"An empirical, exhaustive, and entertaining look at the body and its functions, in the vein of the author's stories and viral video series for The Atlantic on sleep, aging, diet, and more, examining and reassessing those health concerns that never seem to go away"-- "If you want to understand the strange workings of the human body, and the future of medicine, you must read this illuminating, engaging book." --SiddharthaMukherjee,author ofThe Gene...

"A well-known animal behaviorist shows dog owners how they can provide better lives for their dogs by understanding canine psychology and creating environments that allow dogs to safely express their instinctive drives"--

A hardworking, step-by-step guide to the easiest, most affordable techniques for making more plants--houseplants, vegetables, flowers, and more.

Offers a broad examination of the subject of longevity, looking at the current scientific understanding of aging, as well as simple things people can do to promote longevity and common myths, misconceptions, and scams on the subject. "From acclaimed journalist Bill Gifford comes a roaring journey into the world of anti-aging science in search of answers to a universal obsession: what can be done about getting old? SPRING CHICKEN: Stay Young Forever...