The Human Body (Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides, #5) by Ken Jennings

The Human Body (Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides, #5) Reviews

• 
  Josiah

  This is what I hoped for when I first heard about Ken Jennings's Junior Genius Guides. The Human Body is packed with fascinating information, most of which I'd never heard. Previous Junior Genius Guides had these nuggets, but not as many as this book. The humor is also excellent, an aspect of Ken's writing that he honed over the years via his Twitter feed. Most important, the scientific facts in The Human Body center on foundational themes that elevate the book as a transcendent work of literature, worthy of comparison to the best children's nonfiction of its era. This is arguably the book where "Professor Jennings" perfected the formula for this series, and the results are splendid. Into our carbon-based bodies the professor leads us, to explore the mystery and magnificence of the human form. If you didn't already realize how wonderfully you are made—whoever you are and whatever your physical flaws—this book offers plenty to enlighten you.
  
  What is a human worth? Your nonmaterial parts have value that science can't measure or appraise, but your biological apparatus alone is worth a staggering sum. In first period, Mr. Jennings points out that the oxygen, carbon, calcium, potassium, and other elements of your body would cost a pittance in their raw state, but the way they combine to form your body makes you an incredibly valuable specimen, objectively worth a fortune. That's a good truth to remember if you ever feel cheap or unwanted. Ken explains the basics of human DNA, the almost unimaginably intricate codes that determine every detail of your body, from the shape of your fingernails to the function of vital organs. DNA presents a plethora of mysteries, some of which science may never solve. Mr. Jennings takes us back to the start of human life in the uterus, when a sperm cell meets an egg cell and grows into a baby. There are quirks to the pregnancy process, but the female body is built to withstand them. How hardy are human beings? Ken lists examples of people who lived through outrageous mishaps, including a man who survived a drill boring through one eye and out the back of his head in 2003. Our bodies are uncanny, as we see in a brief gallery of the tallest, fastest, and oldest humans on record. Fragile as it can seem, the human body is an engineering marvel.
  
  In second period we progress to the brain, a maze of gray tissue that houses our thoughts, made possible by electric synapses firing in precise combinations. Brilliant people seem to think on a higher level than you or I ever could (and judging by his accomplishments on the quiz show Jeopardy!, Ken is one such person), but our brains aren't all that different from an Albert Einstein or other genius. We have the same equipment, capable of storing mass quantities of information. Professor Jennings dispels a few myths about the brain—that oft-repeated line about humans using only ten percent of their gray matter is untrue; we use most of our brain most of the time—and then we delve into the brain's anatomy. It is primarily composed of fat tissue, and divided into coordinated sections for a wide variety of thought processes, from abstract reasoning to our instinctive "fight or flight" response to danger. Some people, such as Kim Peek (inspiration for the main character in the 1988 movie Rain Man), have cognitive gifts that make them seem like superheroes, but even an average mind is freakishly powerful and resilient. The brain adapts to one's specific needs and challenges over a lifetime, playing an integral role in healing the body; the placebo effect is a prime example, the ability of the body to heal itself if the brain believes it has received medication. A complicated computer like the brain can go haywire in ways slight or serious, but you'll never have a better tool at your disposal.
  
  After all that academic heavy lifting, it's time for recess. Professor Jennings emphasizes the importance of exercise; it keeps the cardiac system in shape and helps maintain muscle, bone, nerve, digestive, and cognitive function. Ken suggests a few anatomy-themed games for recess before we go back to the textbooks in third period. The lesson shifts to the skin, our body's largest organ. Human skin is in a continuous renewal process, replacing old cells with new ones fashioned out of the food we eat. Our skin is a complex circuitry of cells, nerves, glands, pores, and blood vessels, all managed by the brain. Mr. Jennings provides an assortment of intriguing facts about our skin and the surprising services it renders to our bodies. We take a closer look at hair: what it's made of, why and where it grows, and its extreme strength and flexibility. Human hair is a biological marvel often overlooked because our bodies contain so many other, more obvious marvels. We then study the eyes, our windows to the world. The eye is a self-cleaning organ that heals faster than any other part of the body, with built-in protections against wear and tear. Whole books are written about it, but Ken gives a good mixture of anatomy, philosophy, and facts regarding the eye's place in human culture and history. You won't take your sight for granted after third period.
  
  Off to art class, where we learn to build an external model of the main organs in the human torso. A makeshift heart, liver, lungs, and stomach can be wildly entertaining when they're glued to a paper bag you wear so you can witness your systems in action. Fourth period is a study of our bones. In the late 1800s a German scientist, Wilhelm Roentgen, discovered X-rays and used them to see inside the human body. A big reason it's important to consume proper nutrition is our bones, which derive their density from minerals, particularly calcium. An adult skeleton is made up of two hundred six bones, and Ken gives an overview of the notable ones, from the interlocking pieces of the skull, to the ribcage that guards our vital organs, to the small, delicate bones in our hands and inner ear. Muscles and tendons work together so our bones can move; our six hundred fifty muscles are strategically placed to enable nearly any movement we can imagine. The body has fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles, as well as smooth muscle tissue, which performs involuntary tasks such as breathing and blinking. The further we dive into our study of the body, the more astounding it is.
  
  A lunch break seems appropriate, and Ken begins it by discussing amputation. Ha! A recipe for "Finger Food"—slim sandwiches designed to look like severed human fingers—might hit the spot for a group of kids after a long study session. Visually, the recipe is kind of gross, but it probably tastes good. Post lunch we return for fifth period to discuss mucus, saliva, and so forth. That transitions neatly to teeth and our sense of taste, the first parts of the digestive system. The stomach contains hydrochloric acid, but our bodies implement natural safeguards so we're not burned by it. Food moves through the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, where nutrients are stripped along the way and sent where needed. The digestive roles of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are explained, and finally the waste products are expelled from our bodies in liquid or solid form. It's remarkable to consider that everything in this chapter occurs each time we eat or drink.
  
  Music Class! Our ears are indispensable in creating music. Professor Jennings elaborates on the anatomy of the ear, cautioning us to use it wisely. It's tempting to crank our favorite songs up to full volume, but resisting that temptation means you're more likely to enjoy a lifetime of optimal hearing. Ken mentions a few practical ways to guard against hearing loss as we age. Next we jump into cardiology: the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Have you been told your heart is on the left side of your chest? Actually, it's right in the middle, but tilted slightly toward the left in most people. The Human Body is full of factual surprises like this. The amount of blood pumped by the heart—through fifty thousand miles of blood vessels, no less—boggles the mind, and several examples are given to illustrate this. The cardiovascular system employs a complex array of valves that open and close on a rigid schedule when everything is working properly; when it's not, heart disease has historically been the leading cause of human mortality, but medical advancement leads to continually improving solutions. Innovation will probably only grow more sophisticated, but a few contemporary wonders of medicine are detailed here. Every bit as vital as the heart, the lungs fill with oxygen and dispatch it to every cell of the body. Oxygen molecules on our planet are so numerous and they spread so widely that with virtually every breath we take, we inhale molecules breathed by any person in history we can name. Connections between humans of the past and present are closer than we usually imagine. This is why Ken suggests we consider donating blood to hospitals and blood banks; you never know whose life you'll save.
  
  Seventh period shifts to discussion of illness. Tens of thousands of known diseases exist, but our bodies are anti-infection fortresses with or without the help of doctors. Ken runs through a list of our antibodies that combat bacteria and viruses, a lineup of weapons that should reassure you during cold season. Illnesses common and rare can be dangerous, but as medical research improves, so does our ability to eradicate diseases that once threatened mankind. Preventative healthcare is best, eating foods that nurture and don't harm the body; we can all practice good hygiene too, so germs don't spread unnecessarily. Being conscientious about germs is inconvenient, but it's a lot more fun to be healthy than sick. The Human Body ends with the Official Junior Genius Certification Exam, and a few lighthearted homework assignments to whet your appetite to continue learning about the subject. It's been an invigorating school day under the inimitable Professor Jennings.
  
  What sets The Human Body apart from previous Junior Genius Guides is its deeper themes. Anyone can chide kids for not exercising, saying they should want to get moving while they're young, but Ken acknowledges the appeal of lazy behavior. Your body will always feel like relaxing, but that isn't healthy, and you have the authority to choose what's best for your body. In Ken's words, "Your butt may like to sit, but your butt is not the boss of you! Say no to your butt." You'll feel better being physically active, so it's your responsibility to say "No" to your body. You can choose what your brain knows you actually want, not what your body feels like it wants. It takes practice to exert your brain's authority over your body, but you'll be startled how you improve as a person once you do. Ken also has a meaningful take on how humans perceive the passage of time. "In general your brain stretches out time when there's a lot going on. That's why time seems to pass more slowly in childhood than it does in adulthood���because kids are doing so many new things for the first time. If you want to have a longer-seeming life, that's the secret, Junior Geniuses. Keep trying lots of new things, and enjoy each moment!" Youthful passion is key to a fulfilling life whatever age you are. If you fall into the trap of living by habit and stop pursing creativity, relationships, and exploring the limitless mysteries of our world and beyond, you are exchanging the priceless potential of life for a drab existence that is the envy of no one. Live to the full measure a human can in the perplexing paradigm of conscious existence, and you'll be a Junior Genius whose wisdom and experience increase every day.
  
  Earlier Junior Genius Guides are fun and informative, but The Human Body is elite juvenile nonfiction. Every aspect harmonizes for an enjoyable reading journey that can be taken many times just as pleasurably as the first. The series reaches its pinnacle in this book, a marriage of comedy and education as only Ken Jennings could do it. Because the human form stays pretty much the same, the information has a longer shelf life than other nonfiction topics, another major point in this book's favor. I rate The Human Body three and a half stars, and believe it should have received serious consideration to be a 2016 Newbery Honor recipient. Ken Jennings isn't just a celebrity who wrote books for kids; he's a bona fide creator of children's literature, and I look forward to reading more of his Junior Genius Guides. If any are as good as this one, it will be more than worth my time.
• 
  Gabriel Alexandru

  O carte bună
• 
  𝑅𝑎𝑧𝑣𝑖 𓃰

  This is a book that everyone should read because you can learn a lot of things from this but in a fun way!
• 
  Scarlett Sims

  So I've checked out a bunch of non-fiction kids' books in my quest to know a little bit about everything and while some people swear by Brad Rutter or Arthur Chu, I'll always remember my freshman year of college, actually making a point of watching Ken Jennings' epic run on Jeopardy!. I trust him to give me the info I need.
  
  He delivers an overview of the basic systems of the human body with funny (to me) subtitles and illustrations and definitely presents the information in a way that (I think) I will be able to remember it. Rather than a wall of text, it's divided up into little chunks and bite-sized pieces of trivia. It's an incredibly superficial overview (this is meant for age probably 8-12) but honestly how many people do you know who know the difference between arteries and veins? I didn't! So I would say this was useful to me.
  
  This is the first I've read from this series but I have another checked out and I think these are books I would have really liked as a kid. Heck, I like them now. I would caution parents though: if you have the kind of kid who wants to share with you every fun fact he/she learns, you might want to exercise caution, because every time I got to something cool (in ancient Egypt men peed sitting down and women peed standing up!) I just had to go tell Hunter.
• 
  Pink STREAM

  If you want to be an expert about the stuff going on inside you, incredible systems of your body, this book is for you. There is very interesting, weird, and disgusting information about your body. The book leads you to do some research because sometimes you cannot believe what you read. But after searching you realize there are a lot of people and a lot of interesting things. The book is not just a book; there are questions, extra credit sections, pop quizzes, funny pictures, and a certification exam at the end. If you pass the exam you become a certified junior genius, cool! It is not like a textbook, the author's word choice made the book pretty fun. You should read this book if you are interested in illnesses, organs, systems, people with different characteristics and much more. You will shock your friends, family members, and even your teachers with your amazing knowledge about the human body. You will become a walking encyclopedia!
• 
  Bea Elwood

  Would love to get this series for my students, funny with lots of interesting facts, easy to read - but the content is way advanced for 5th graders, some of those standards we don't hit until 7th or 8th grade (which means they would be ready but I need something more basic to introduce them)
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  Samantha Shank

  Such a great book packed with a lot of great information about the human body in a fun layout. I love Jennings' memorable and simple explanations and I learned quite a bit about my body.
• 
  Alexandra_alq

  Conține informații utile,de cultura generala💉💊🩺🩹🧬
• 
  Alex

  Love love love these books.
• 
  Katey

  Another fantastic trivia book for kids. I love buying books from this series for my nephew (but reading them first). A nice bonus for me was the activity/game that was a play off musical chairs, but with different parts of the brain, to simplistically give an idea of how consciousness works, and that "free will is an illusion!" Also great how this and the other books tackle myths and incorrect info that kids will undoubtedly hear, like "you only use 10% of your brain." (spoiler: you use all of it)
• 
  Yari

  As a jeopardy fan how could I not pick up Jenning's book. It's a good book for the curious child.. However- I had to remove 1 star for the few references to evolution. This may not sit well for strict christian worldview teachers and parents. Other than that a good summer read for a child on a lazy day. 'semper quaerens'
• 
  Michele

  Did you know you live 80 milliseconds in the past at all times? My hair is so strong it could hold an elephant? The bacteria count in my mouth is greater than the sum total of all people on earth? My body has enough carbon in it to provide the graphite for more than 6,000 pencils?
  If not, you should be reading Ken Jennings!
• 
  Elizabeth

  Another great installment in the Junior Genius Guides. My kids and I really enjoy them.
  
  Some people reading this series seem put off by the tone, but I think if you remember you are reading a trivia-based book for kids, you are better off.
  
  These would be great for kids 8-12 or as a quick trivia "brush up" at any age!
• 
  Iggi

  Another in the pile of books I'm reading through on my quest for gender-supportive body books for kids.
  This one was mostly fine. It's cute and packed with facts, but the illustrations at a glance were mostly boys made of black outlines on the white paper. In addition, the table of contents is useless because the chapter titles are things like "First Period" and "Recess."
• 
  H

  A humorous and engaging nonfiction choice. Students who prefer nonfiction but are being pressed to read longer formats should really enjoy this. Of limited use for research, but a very good choice for nonfiction readers. Grades 4-6.
• 
  Maria

  Lots of fun facts. Bent toward evolutionary thought, but oh well. I'm using the facts about the human body at church for how amazing our creator is. :)
• 
  Jason Freng

  Super quick and full of super fun facts that will stick with me
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  aarifa

  AmAzing!!!! Looking forward to reading he other books!