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  • The Body

  • A Guide for Occupants
  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Bill Bryson
  • Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,945 ratings)
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The Body

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Discover what makes human tears unique
  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Learn how the vestibular system functions
  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Explore the biology of teen sleep

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Behind the scenes

Watch our exclusive interview with the best-selling author as he reveals the inspiration behind The Body.
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Editor reviews

“Between the mysterious, the unexpected, the unknown and the undiscovered The Body: A Guide for Occupants takes us through all the weird and wonderful parts of the human body with humour, historical anecdotes and some truly jaw-dropping facts. Somehow, with all that jam packed in, listening to it still feels like an entertaining coffee with an old friend. I have loved many of Bill Bryson’s books but I think this one may have just jostled its way to the top of my list of favourites. Definitely take a listen if you’ve ever wondered why or how your body does what it does, or, if not, take a listen for the multitude of amazing facts you can pull out at your next awkward dinner party.” (Alex, Audible Editor)

“In this illuminating history of the human form, Bill Bryson presents scientific research in an accessible way, introducing a host of individuals including the world’s first kidney transplant recipient and the Nobel Prize-winning Peter Medawar. Covering everything from sleep to immunity, I came away from listening to the audiobook with a newfound appreciation and respect for my body. A perfect listen for new and existing Bill Bryson fans alike.” (Jess, Audible Editor)

The life and times of Bill Bryson


Born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951, Bill Bryson now resides in the UK. His best-selling, wry-humoured books cover travel, the English language, history and popular science.
In 1972, longing to experience the wider world, Bryson left his home state and toured Europe, delighting in its strangeness. Returning the following year, he took a job at a psychiatric hospital before embarking on a career in journalism. His first published book, The Lost Continent (1989), recounts a tour of America, though he’s claimed this wasn’t a travel book. “It was more sociological” he says. “I was looking at this country that I’d grown up in and seeing how it had changed – and how I had changed.”

Summary

'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.’  

In the best-selling, prize-winning A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson achieved the seemingly impossible by making the science of our world both understandable and entertaining to millions of people around the globe.  

Now he turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological makeup.

©2019 Bill Bryson (P)2019 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about The Body

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent starter in Anatomy, Physiology and Bioch

I've been a doctor for over 30 years and enjoyed the book immensely.
Loved the stories about the famous, ( and less famous) characters in medicine and the amazing complexity of our bodies and disease
An interesting overview of over investigation( particularly in USA) and Health Outcomes ( US & UK excellent examples)
I found the pronunciation of some words slightly jarring to UK ears, but perhaps I've said it wrong for nearly 4 decades!!!

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67 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Sending me to sleep

I love Bill Bryson's books - but he should have got a professional actor/reader to narrate this. Bill's soft monotone keeps sending me to sleep. Given it three goes of the first two chapters, but just can't listen anymore. I'm going to have to return this audio and maybe get a print copy.

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65 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Hard listening

Shame he didn’t pay William Roberts to read it as with his other books. Bought it on the strength of his previous work but he’s narrated it himself and he’s no professional narrator- disappointing

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57 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, let down somewhat by the narration

This was my first time listening to a Bill Bryson book and whilst the story had all the ingrediants I enjoy about his work, the narration made it difficult to fully appreciate. The author has a very soft voice without huge range and as such, I often found myself having to rewind and turn the volume up high to hear what had just been said. It didn't stop me enjoying the material, but it definitely sent me back to the kindle version for large sections. I'll continue to invest in Bill's books - but I don't think i would choose another audio book where the author has narrated the work himself.

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53 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Bill Bryson at his best.

This is Bill at his best, full of wonder and the ability to put across scientific information in a sometimes humorous but concerned and hopeful way,
His audiobooks are always enhanced when he reads them himself, this is no exception. You can listen to an abridged version on BBC Sounds radio 4, but I encourage you to get the full version it will become a go to textbook for healthcare personnel and members of the public and educational establishments.

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36 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

An early review.Do not start this book at bedtime!

I always fall upon Bill Bryson books as soon as they are published. This one is utterly enthralling from the first word. Read by Bill Bryson himself (what a lovely voice) the narrative kept me awake and thoroughly engaged until I was forced by tiredness to pause it at 4am. If I wasn’t so busy I’d be listening again now., my head is bursting with very interesting facts about the mysterious and wondrous human body,and I’m sure I will reread many times in future.

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27 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not one of Bryson's best...

I was counting down the days to the release of this book, as I am a huge fan of Bill's books; then devoured it in one day. Alas, all I was left with was a slight feeling of indigestion, not a lasting feeling of fullness. it feels like a slightly rushed summary of high school level biology spiced up with a few truly interesting morsels. it lacks Bryson's usual personal experiences, anecdotes and insights. I will, of course, buy his next book, and maybe try nibbling on it first, instead of swallowing it whole...

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26 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Sends me into a sleep slumber whilst educating

Don’t know what it is but there is something very soothing about Bill Bryson’s voice that is just perfect to listen to before sleep. I set my timer for 30 mins and more often then not I’m asleep by 20 minutes. I repeat the books to make sure I listen to the whole book and cover the bits I drifted off to!

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24 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I love Bill Bryson books.I've read or listened to all of them. His normally witty storyline interspersed with funny anecdotes and facts around the timeline are missing here. This feels like a review of a medical textbook, lacking in an sense of enthusiasm by the author. He is not a narrator and doesn't have a voice for audible. I actually found him hard to listen to in the first few chapters and by the time I'd got used to his tone and pace the book was finished. I'd skip this one

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22 people found this helpful

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Just couldn't listen

I was really looking forward to this book as I am a great admirer of the author. However, after less than an hour I had to return it as I just couldn't listen to his narration any more. Very disappointing and I wish they had used an actor.

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14 people found this helpful