Common Myths and Misconceptions about the Body

In nearly every chapter of The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Bryson busts common myths about the body, showing that much common wisdom is wrong. Some examples include Chapter 23's information that hair and nails do not continue to grow after people die, Chapter 16 insistence that sleep is not like hibernation, and information in Chapter 17 that shows that men do not think about sex every seven seconds. Bryson writes, “Incidentally, the idea that we use only 10 percent of our brains is a myth. No one knows where the idea came from, but it has never been true or close to true” (62).

Sexism in Medicine

In many parts of the book, Bryson shows how medical science reflects dominant attitudes of society, including sexism. While medical practices of the past were clearly sexist, Bryson brings up some recent examples as well. For...