When it comes to the “body” journalism there is a lot to choose from.
Diet books, exercise books, lifestyle books. At root, we’re either looking for validation
of the choices we are making, or guided by fixes we feel we need to make: lose
weight, build muscle, improve our sleep, revive energy.
Then there is This is Your Brain on Parasites by journalist Kathleen
McAuliffe. As Publishers Weekly aptly notes, McAuliffe presents her research
“less as fact than in a spirit of exploration.”
Understandably this book will piss off the serious science readers, but
for a layman like me there is so much to chew on. Here’s a sampling of my title page
note-taking: Roundworms! Chance Favors the Prepared Mind; Guinea tapeworm body
marauders; Malaria contraction wonders; Wasp vs. spider/cockroach; Caffeine and
bees, before that ants/fungus! Sex = biological uniqueness; Bears and pelt cleaning;
dirt eaters; Disgustology!
What's your appetite? Diet, sleeping, sex? Probiotics!
Do yourself a favor and look this title up. Among “body” book readers, you’ll
be the talk of the beach.
Next: Running for Your Life: Puglia
Poetry
