The Human Machine: An Owner's Guide To The Body

By Richard Walker

Book Overview

We share our planet with an incredible range of life-millions of species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. Although we are the most intelligent of all life-forms, we are, like other... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 0199118655
• ISBN13: 9780199118656
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 80 Pages

Customer Reviews

A Page-Turner for Curious Kids

I bought this book because my fourth grader had outgrown the "how the human body works" books we'd bought him several years ago, and I was hoping for something more challenging and educational. (He says he wants to be a dermatologist when he grows up). I am definitely a happy customer. My son was immediately captivated and spent all afternoon reading, with frequent pauses to inform me of interesting facts he'd learned. The author really knows how to keep a kid's attention--the true-false and "spot check" questions were an enjoyable game for my son and really kept him turning the pages. The simple experiments and comparisons with animal physiology sparked his imagination, and the colorful photographs kept the pages cheery. I would highly recommend this for a curious kid in the late elementary and early middle school years.

--Knowing how the body work is a plus for children as well as adults---

I've gone over this book several times and I think it's a wonderful source of information about the human body. I actually wish I had something like this to study and read when I was a child. It's a terrific learning tool. I can't judge for sure what age child that this would be appropriate for. I think that maybe, like any science book, it would depend on the child and their realm of interests. I do believe it would be of instant appeal for some, and boring for others. Some children at 10 years can overwhelm you with their knowledge and interest in science. While some others are equally as bright, but perhaps not as mature. All of that aside, I think it's well worth buying the book and giving it to a child any where from age 8 to 11 years. Sitting with the younger child and encouraging an interest in reading THE HUMAN MACHINE would be time well spent. For any of us, knowing how the body works is important because we will all age and keeping a healthy interest in our body will serve every human being for all of their life.

Think of your body as a machine

As the title implies this survey of the major functions of the human body for young people looks at the body as a machine, or more specifically a bio-machine. It sort of like the reader is invited to view his body, or a human body, objectively, somewhat like he would read an explanation of the features of his computer. What's great about this book and books like it is that it is fairly short--not a huge twenty-pounder! It is also nicely readable and concise, so that a lot of information can be read and digested quickly, without a huge investment in reading time. Here are some example topics: "Automatic Operations," "Refueling," "Optical Tests," "Onboard Computer," "Emergency Mode," and a number of others. I counted 33 separate topics, but don't hold me to it (I might be off one or two)! On each page there is a brief essay covering the current feature, but also constant nifty little sections, like "Rival Products"; "Design Features"--meaning key features; a "Top Tip" and sometimes "Additional Data"; and also mini-quizzes for testing one's comprehension called "True or False?" and "Spot Check." This is a book designed for learning, and designed well! One other little section that I especially like is the "Web Link Keyword"--words that can be used to search the Internet for more information on the current topic. This is vital, because if a young reader gets interested in a topic, here is a door into the Internet's vast storehouse of information--for her to explore further, if she wishes. A very nicely put-together book, with gorgeous photographs and illustrations that clarify and enliven the text. A young person (or a parent) can put in an hour or two or three of enjoyable reading and get for his or her efforts a solid understanding of how the human body works, its major features, and its requirements for good health too. In addition to the main topical chapters, there are a few other sections: a "Welcome Page," "How to use this book," and at the end key "Weblinks," a glossary and index. Highly recommended.

Quick attention grabber for my 8 year-old!

This book sat on my desk for only a few hours before my son grabbed it and demanded to know what it was about. "The Human Machine?", he asked. "We're not machines!" Ahhhh...but we are. According to the Western medical model (paradigm). So we sat down, the two of us, and started at the beginning. I was surprised that he didn't budge after the first two pages, but he turned the page for more and more. The text to image ratio in this book is just right. While my son reads at an advanced level for his age (tests at an 8th grade reading level), many concepts of biology and physiology are brand new to him. Without talking down, this book provides basic information in a clear way and peppers it with quickly graspable facts that will let the reader come away feeling smarter with each page they explore. I was a little irritated that the "True or False" question in each section was not backed up by text and detail, but my son was perfectly happy with just a provided answer (written upside down on the same page). Perhaps too much information would have lessened his interest. This is a great intro to the human body for kids 7 through 12. One of the most engaging, if not the most comprehensive, anyhow. And because it IS so engaging, as well as being easy to navigate and browse, it would be a good addition to any child's library.

Love the format!

This is just a totally cool book!! I wasn't expecting the format--it's large, bright, with more graphics than text, which is great for reluctant readers. I believe kids will learn quickly just by flipping through pages, stopping when they see an interesting picture or graphic and reading the explanation. I like the little T/F and multiple choice quizzes on each page as well. This is a book I could simply place on the eraser rail of the whiteboard in my classroom and sooner or later someone will ask, "Hey, can I look at that?" (I teach high school freshmen and sophomores.) This is a well thought out offering and I loved it the moment I pulled it out of the box.