Bones: Inside and Out

Bone is a versatile and unique material that repairs itself without scarring. Orthopaedic surgeon Roy Meals explores and extols the biological makeup of bones, how they grow, break, and heal, and how medical innovations enhance our lives. He also reveals the enduring presence of bone outside the body as fossils, ossuaries, tools, musical instruments, and celebrates allusions to bone in history, religion, and idiom.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2020
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Bone, a remarkable and ubiquitous material, possesses a unique ability to repair itself without scarring. However, we often encounter bone in its static state, typically depicted in two-tone images that only hint at its awe-inspiring marvels. After serving and safeguarding vertebrate lives, bone reveals itself in unexpected ways, sometimes spanning hundreds of millions of years.

In his book, "Bones," orthopaedic surgeon Roy Meals delves into the world of bones, exploring and celebrating this extraordinary substance that supports and records vertebrate life. He demystifies the biological composition of bones, shedding light on their growth, breakage, and healing processes. Meals also discusses the advancements in medical technology, from the initial X-rays to advanced surgical techniques, that have improved our quality of life. With infectious enthusiasm and a sense of humor, Meals unveils the enduring presence of bone beyond the confines of the body, as fossils, ossuaries, tools, and musical instruments. He also highlights the rich allusions to bone in history, religion, and idiom. "Bones" is an approachable and entertaining work that provides a deep insight into the essential framework of our bodies.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 160 x 235 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781324005322