Evolution Gone Wrong

The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don't)

by Alex Bezzerides

On Sale: 05/18/2021

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Evolution Gone Wrong

The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (Or Don't)

by Alex Bezzerides

On Sale: 05/18/2021

Format:

Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

From blurry vision to crooked teeth, ACLs that tear at alarming rates and spines that seem to spend a lifetime falling apart—it’s surprising that human beings have beaten the odds as a species

Evolution Gone Wrong is an eye-opening look into why our bodies work—or don’t—the way they do. After all, we’re the only survivors on our branch of the tree of life. Why do human mothers have such a life-endangering experience giving birth? And why are there entire medical specialties for teeth and feet? In this funny, wide-ranging and often surprising book, biologist Alex Bezzerides tells us where we inherited our adaptable, achy, brilliant bodies in the process of evolution.

The book traces the delightfully unexpected answers to these questions and many more:

· Why do we blink?

· Why don’t our teeth regularly fit in our mouths?

· Why do women menstruate when so many other mammals don’t?

· Why did humans stand up on two legs in the first place?

Critical Praise

“a fantastic, informative book…a home run…I recommend Evolution Gone Wrong highly to anyone wishing to grasp the mix of biological and cultural forces at work on our anatomy today.” — NPR

"Entertaining... A timely reminder that we, as a species, may be outgrowing our evolutionary history and the biology we are constructed from." — Wall Street Journal

“Alex Bezzerides's subject is one that should be of inherent interest to all humans: why evolution designed our bodies in such a seemingly eccentric manner, causing us to suffer from all manner of aches and pains. He provides the answers with gentle humor and easy-to-understand explanations. Along the way he also shares plenty of curious facts that, if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to share with family and friends." — Alex Boese, author of Elephants on Acid

“An exhilarating clamber through some of the remoter branches of the human family tree. Alex Bezzerides reminds us that our great-grand-ancestors included fish and quadrupeds as well as the tree-climbing apes that more readily spring to mind. Evolution Gone Wrong is the fascinating tale of our imperfections: how millions of years of evolution created a species more intelligent than any other, but one blighted by faulty eyesight, back pain and an unfortunate propensity for choking on its food." — Thomas Morris, The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth

“You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you'll ache all over while reading this book." — Nick Caruso, coauthor of Does It Fart? The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence

“From opposable thumbs to flat feet to the pangs of childbirth, Bezzerides takes us on an unforgettable journey through this twisted miracle of evolution we call ‘our body.’” — Spike Carlsen, author of A Walk Around the Block

"Alex Bezzerides... is fascinated with the imperfect system that is the human body, and he explores and explains it adroitly in his fascinating, funny new book." — Salon