Why people recommend it
The Unseen Body by Jonathan Reisman is a nonfiction book that explores human anatomy through unconventional perspectives. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Lex Fridman recommended the book to his listeners, noting that it brings readers face to face with the weird and wonderful aspects of the human body in a way that is both fun and honest. Fridman engaged deeply with the material, discussing the specific structural organization of the chapters, which sequentially cover anatomical parts from the throat and heart to feces, genitals, the pineal gland, and beyond. He also highlighted how the book manages to tell a broader story about the author's life, effectively capturing the real-world decisions Reisman has made throughout his medical and personal journey. Through these discussions, the podcast emphasized how the text blends scientific inquiry with engaging storytelling, encouraging audiences to explore the hidden and fascinating realities of human biology without shying away from its more bizarre elements.
Who recommended it
- Lex Fridman Recommended
Lex Fridman — 4 mentions
“i should say for people that should uh read your book they will come face to face with the fact that you do not shy away from the weird and the wonderful of the human body it's like it's fun but it's honest”
“We’ll talk about fascinating details, but what’s you— I should say for people that should read your book, they will come face to face with the fact that you do not shy away from the weird and the wonderful of the human body.”
“So your book is ordered in a particular way: it’s throat, heart, feces, genitals, liver, pineal gland, brain, skin, urine, fat, lungs, eyes, mucus, fingers and toes, and blood.”
“so the as the book title says unseen body so it it tells some kind of story of your life so it does capture the decisions you've made in your life”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (12: passing, ad reads, own books)
“the following is a conversation with jonathan weissman a physician and writer of the unseen body a doctor's journey through the hidden wonders of human anatomy”
“The following is a conversation with Jonathan Reisman, a physician and the writer of "The Unseen Body: A Doctor's Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy."”
“You wrote a book called "Unseen Body," all about the human body: the messy, the weird, the beautiful, and the fascinating details.”
“one thing i talk about in the book there's some other body parts that seem to be lacking that kind of brilliant design such as the throat you know where the food drink are swallowed and air is inhaled”
“One thing I talk about in the book is there are some other body parts that seem to be lacking that kind of brilliant design, such as the throat.”
“You talk about the wisdom of a design in the book. What are the important things about the hand?”
“for instance um i have a story in the book about a guy whose thumb is nearly ripped off by his dog's leash”
“For instance, I have a story in the book about a guy whose thumb was nearly ripped off by his dog's leash.”
“like as i talk in the book about in in india where they uh you know the hands are symmetric as you said but in indian culture and the left hand is taboo”
“You know, like I talk about in the book about in India where they, uh, you know, the hands are symmetric, as you said, but in Indian culture, the left hand is taboo.”
“So, as the book title says, Unseen Body.”
“As we talked about sex and death, I talk about in the book a lot of for instance the female genital tract, how the uterus is very unusual because, you know, it doesn't even sort of wake up and start doing its thing until the second decade of life.”