Book: Don't Die Young: An Anatomist's Guide to Your Organs and Your Health
Author: Dr. Alice Roberts
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Released: March 3^rd 2008
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 0747592802
ISBN-13: 978-0747592808 

Reviewed By: Amanda Waschuk (Calgary Correspondent - Canada)

Don't Die Young: An Anatomist's Guide to Your Organs and Your Health, is a good read if you actually enjoyed text-book reading in science class.  But if intentions are for entertainment-purposes, I suggest finding another, less scientific-based book. 

In an attempt to explain the anatomy of the body in a way that's amusing to the public, author Dr. Alice Roberts almost hits the mark.  Her witty remarks and interesting metaphors do give some enjoyment, but not enough to overcome the feeling of being back in school and trying to remember and differentiate between all the confusing terminology of the body.  Although Dr. Roberts does ease this difficulty by providing the origin for most of the terminology which, in most cases, helps to associate the name with the body part. 

If you've ever wanted to know how your body works, right down to the dirty details, then this is the book for you.  Dr. Roberts covers the following organs in her book: lungs, heart, stomach/intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys and bladder, reproductive organs, brain, eye, and skin.

In the goal to give health recommendations, her suggestions are too general to be of much use.  Exercise regularly, eat healthy, and don't smoke are all health instructions we hear everyday; we don't need to purchase a book to figure it out.  In the intro for the book, Dr. Roberts even states: "a lot is common sense".

The layout of the book is easy to read and contains headings that are easy to navigate.  Each new organ begins with a "how it works", moves on to a "common problems and how to prevent", and ends with a list of ways to keep that organ healthy (obvious as they may be).

There are many detailed photos that are so intense they're almost offensive; so if you have a queasy stomach, beware.  But I'm not trying to say that the photos are bad because they are actually unbelievably accurate and help you to picture what the heck is being described in text. 

If you want an introduction course to the science of the body, rather than spend the ridiculous amount charged by secondary-education institutions today, pick up this book for the small rate of 12.99 (pounds).  But if it's an easy summer read you're looking for, then you may want to search elsewhere.