Adam's Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human FormIn this amusing and brilliantly conceived book, Michael Sims introduces you to your body. Moving from head to toe, Sims blends cultural history with evolutionary theory to produce a wonderfully original narrative in which he analyzes the visible parts of the body. In this fascinating brew of science and storytelling, readers encounter not only accessible explanations of the mechanics of their anatomy, but also the layers of mythology, religious lore, history, Darwinian theory, and popular culture that have helped to shape our understanding of any given body part. A titillating and unique book, Adam’s Navel is learned and entertaining, a marvelous lens through which to study the form we all inhabit—but may not really understand. |
Contents
The Form Complete | 1 |
Skin Deep | 9 |
Headquarters | 19 |
The NotQuiteNaked Ape | 21 |
FacetoFace | 44 |
The Vigilant Eye | 56 |
Houdinis Wiggle | 80 |
A Ridiculous Organ | 94 |
The Weight of the World | 135 |
Arms and the Man | 137 |
The Monkeys Paw | 147 |
Madonna del Latte | 187 |
Adams Navel | 213 |
A Leg to Stand On | 227 |
Privy Members | 229 |
Our Steed the Leg | 269 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adam's Navel African American ancestors ancient animals apes appears arms artist bipedal birth blink bonobos brain breasts brows buttocks called century Charles Darwin chimpanzees creatures cultural Darwin DeMille described Desmond Morris digits early ears English Eve Ensler evolution evolutionary evolved expression eyebrows eyes face facial female film fingerprints fingers Freud genitals gesture glands Greek hand handedness head Hesychasm Homo sapiens human body infants inspired kissing later legs lips lipstick look male mammals Marsyas mother mouth move muscles myth mythology naked named natural navel lint Nazirite nerve nose Nowadays organ painting penis photographs Pliny the Elder portrayed primates pubic hair Rastafarian response Samson scientists sexual shape skin sound steatopygia Stephen Jay Gould story symbolic term thumb tion toes tongue ture turn upright vagina vulva walking woman women word writes wrote York young