Bones, Roy A. Meals, MD
Bones, Roy A. Meals, MD
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Bones
Inside and Out

Author: Roy A. Meals, MD

Narrator: L.J. Ganser

Unabridged: 8 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/03/2020


Synopsis

Human bone is versatile and entirely unique: it repairs itself without scarring, it's lightweight but responds to stresses, and it's durable enough to survive for millennia. In Bones, orthopedic surgeon Roy A. Meals explores and extols this amazing material that both supports and records vertebrate life.

Inside the body, bone proves itself the world's best building material. Meals examines the biological makeup of bones; demystifies how they grow, break, and heal; and compares the particulars of human bone to variations throughout the animal kingdom. In engaging and clear prose, he debunks familiar myths—humans don't have exactly 206 bones—and illustrates common bone diseases, like osteoporosis and arthritis, and their treatments. Along the way, he highlights the medical innovations—from the first X-rays to advanced operative techniques—that enhance our lives and introduces the giants of orthopedic surgery who developed them.

With enthusiasm and humor, Meals also investigates the diverse roles bone has played in human culture throughout history. He highlights allusions to bone in religion and literature, from Adam's rib to Hamlet's skull, and uncovers its enduring presence as fossils, technological tools, and musical instruments ranging from the Tibetan thighbone kangling horn to everyday drumsticks.

About Roy A. Meals, MD

Roy A. Meals, MD, is a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at UCLA and the author of Bones: Inside and Out, a Barnes & Noble Best Science Book of 2020. The author of several medical books, he has practiced, researched, and taught hand surgery for forty years. He lives in Los Angeles, California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by David on July 21, 2021

3.5 stars. The publisher's description (above) is completely accurate. Dr. Meals is an expert on the subject matter of bones and the bibliography suggests he's done a good amount of research to supplement his knowledge of the material. The author is appropriately enthusiastic without being annoying a......more

Goodreads review by Amos on May 31, 2021

Learned a whole mess about bones, yo; both inside the body (what they're made of, how they work, how they heal, ancient/modern bone surgery procedures, etc) and out (used as decorative pieces, buttons, sewing needles, musical instruments, earrings, false teeth and on and on). Fascinating stuff!! 3 1/......more

Goodreads review by Anna on February 16, 2023

Truthfully I don't want to give this book a 3 but a 3.5, and I think the reason it's not a 4 star is because I expected more of it than it could deliver. Dr Meals is very clearly a smart and curious individual and he is able to translate more academic writing for a non-academic crowd quite well in m......more

Goodreads review by Nick on September 19, 2023

Fascinating in the way that someone rambling about their obsession is fascinating. I’m picking up some interesting fun facts and definitely learning more about the subject, but my friend keeps jumping from one thing to the other and then doubling back so my retention of specifics is limited. Best ch......more

Goodreads review by Colleen on January 29, 2022

This is a great survey of everything you never knew you wanted to know about bones. There is medical information, including both how the healthy process of bone replacement proceeds as well as what happens with various diseases and treatments, but then there are sections on bones in myth, art, music......more