Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies

German physician Enders (Gut) delivers a unique exploration of the inner workings of the human body. Learning how organs function and overcome challenges, she argues, can help people live more harmoniously: “Understanding the body isn’t just useful for preventing illness. Our organs also have a substantial say in what it means to be ourselves.” Enders explains five key parts of the body—the lungs, immune system, skin, muscles, and brain—and draws life lessons from how they work. When the skin encounters pressure or friction, for example, it hardens and creates callouses. The same happens in humans’ emotional lives: grieving people often go numb, or “develop a thick skin,” to feel secure. Turning to the lungs, Enders explains how breathing is one of the few bodily functions that is both unconscious and conscious (as when a person takes a deep breath). This means that when a person becomes anxious, they can consciously calm themselves through breathing techniques. The reverse also happens: if a person indulges in an aimless thought spiral, unconscious bodily processes might produce a yawn, regrounding them in the present. Enders’s observations are accessible and often profound (“you need your body and your body needs you”). It’s an entertaining and enlightening tour of the parts that make people whole. Illus. (Apr.)