100 Best Anatomy Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

Matthew Walker

5.0

“Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book…Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” —Bill Gates

A New York Times bestseller and international sensation, this “stimulating and important book” (Financial Times) is a fascinating dive into the purpose and power of slumber.

With two appearances on CBS This Mor

Recommended by Bill Gates, Brad Feld, Alexis Ohanian Sr., and 11 others.

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

Explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, heart health, brain health, mental health, emotional well-being, immune system, and even your life span. [source]

Brad Feld

Co-Founder/Foundry Group

Several friends, who know I both love to sleep and am intrigued with how sleep works, recommended that I read Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. It was excellent. While my self-assessment of my sleep habits are very positive, I learned a few things. More importantly, I now have a much better understanding of the “Why” surrounding sleep, especially around sleep’s importance to a healthy and long life. [source]

Alexis Ohanian Sr.

Agree! Best book I've read this year. Wasted so many hours just proving to myself I'd be the last one up working at @reddit and for what??? Stupid. Diminishing marginal returns after enough hours without sleep. https://t.co/cT7fDNBF3A [source]

Cover unavailable

2

Atlas of Human Anatomy

Frank H. Netter MD

4.9

The only anatomy atlas illustrated by physicians, Atlas of Human Anatomy, 7th edition, brings you world-renowned, exquisitely clear views of the human body with a clinical perspective. In addition to the famous work of Dr. Frank Netter, you'll also find nearly 100 paintings by Dr. Carlos A. G. Machado, one of today's foremost medical illustrators. Together, these two uniquely talented physician-ar

3

The Anatomy Coloring Book

Wynn Kapit and Lawrence M. Elson

4.8

Why use this coloring book? For more than 35 years, The Anatomy Coloring Book has been the #1 best-selling human anatomy coloring book! A useful tool for anyone with an interest in learning anatomical structures, this concisely written text features precise, extraordinary hand-drawn figures that were crafted especially for easy coloring and interactive study. Organized according to body systems, e

4

The Body: A Guide for Occupants

Bill Bryson

4.8

Preview Summary

In the bestselling, 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 stori

5

Strength Training Anatomy

Frederic Delavier

4.7

The third edition of Strength Training Anatomy offers the most compelling artwork ever applied to a strength training resource.

Packed with over 600 anatomical illustrations of muscles from each major muscle group, the updated edition features 48 additional pages, 12 new exercises, and 18 stretches.

6

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Mary Roach

4.7

Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no l

7

Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body

Neil Shubin

4.7

Preview Summary

Why do we look the way we do? What does the human hand have in common with the wing of a fly? Are breasts, sweat glands, and scales connected in some way? To better understand the inner workings of our bodies and to trace the origins of many of today's most common diseases, we have to turn to unexpected sources: worms, flies, and even fish.

Neil Shubin, a leading paleontologist and professor of ana

8

The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

Norman Doidge

4.7

Preview Summary

An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled the country to meet both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they’ve transformed - people whose mental limitations or brain damage were seen as unalterable. We see a wo

Recommended by Carol Dweck, Bogdana Butnar, and Naveen Jain.

Carol Dweck

For me it was exciting to read this book because while my research shows a growth mindset is really good for you, this book shows that a growth mindset also has a strong basis in modern neuroscience. It illustrates, though fascinating case histories and descriptions of recent research, the amazing power of the brain to change and even to reorganise itself with practice and experience. [source]

Bogdana Butnar

I don't have favourite books. I equate a favourite something with wanting to do it over and over again and I've never wanted to read a book too many times. I have favourite authors and I have books that changed me in significant ways because they moved me or taught me something or changed my view of the world. So, here's some of those books... [source]

Naveen Jain

I think the book that I really, really enjoy was, "The Brain That Changes Itself." It's all about neuroplasticity, you'd really love that book. [source]

Cover unavailable

9

Yoga Anatomy: Your Illustrated Guide to Postures, Movements, and Breathing Techniques

Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews

4.7

The best-selling anatomy guide for yoga is now updated, expanded, and better than ever!

With more asanas, vinyasas, full-color anatomical illustrations, and in-depth information, the second edition of "Yoga" "Anatomy" provides you with a deeper understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself.

From breathing to inversions to standing poses, see how specific

10

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst

Robert M. Sapolsky

4.6

Preview Summary

The New York Times bestseller

"It's no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read." --David P. Barash, The Wall Street Journal

"It has my vote for science book of the year." --Parul Sehgal, The New York Times

"Hands-down one of the best books I've read in years. I loved it." --Dina Temple-Raston, The Washington Post

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washin

Recommended by Sam Harris, Vinod Khosla, and Bryan Johnson.

Sam Harris

I highly recommend. It really is the most accessible discussion of brain science you will find. [source]

Vinod Khosla

Co-Founder/Sun Microsystem

Among the best insights into our brain and behavior. A top of the charts for me for this year, along with Scale. [source]

Bryan Johnson

Bryan Johnson recommended this book on Twitter. [source]

11

Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ

Giulia Enders

4.6

Preview Summary

A cheeky up-close and personal guide to the secrets and science of our digestive system.
For too long, the gut has been the body’s most ignored and least appreciated organ, but it turns out that it’s responsible for more than just dirty work: our gut is at the core of who we are. Gut: The Inside Story of our Body's Most Underrated Organ gives the alimentary canal its long-overdue moment in the spo

Cover unavailable

12

Gray's Anatomy

Henry Gray

4.5

Written in the 1850s by a young doctor, Henry Gray, Gray’s Anatomy was the most comprehensive and accessible anatomy of its time. This beautifully produced slipcased volume contains the historic text of the second edition and all of Henry Vandyke Carter’s masterly drawings. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the history of medicine or in the amazingly complex machine that is th

13

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

James Nestor

4.5

Preview Summary

No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly.

There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences.

Journalist James Nestor travels the world

14

The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease

Daniel Lieberman, Sean Runnette, et al

4.5

A landmark book of popular science—a lucid, engaging account of how the human body evolved over millions of years and of how the increasing disparity between the jumble of adaptations in our Stone Age bodies and the modern world is fueling the paradox of greater longevity but more chronic disease.

In a book that illuminates, as never before, the evolutionary story of the human body, Daniel Lieber

Recommended by Suzana Herculano-Houzel.

Suzana Herculano-Houzel

Dan Lieberman puts the brain into the context of the body as a whole. [source]

15

The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

Julian Jaynes

4.4

At the heart of this seminal book is Julian Jaynes's still-controversial thesis that consciousness didn't begin far back in animal evolution but instead is a learned process that came about only 3000 years ago & is still developing. The implications of this revolutionary scientific paradigm extend into virtually all aspects of psychology, history & religion.
Preface
Introduction
The mind of man
The c

Recommended by Adam Robinson, Adam Robinson, Bret Victor, and 1 others.

Adam Robinson

One of five books (this one perhaps most of all) that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

Adam Robinson

One of five books (this one perhaps most of all) that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

Susan Blackmore

Jaynes thinks we only started talking and thinking about consciousness and the problem of consciousness within historical times. [source]

Cover unavailable

16

Gray's Anatomy for Students

Richard Drake PhDFAAA, A. Wayne Vogl PhDFAAA, et al.

4.4

Easy to read, superbly illustrated, and clinically relevant, Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th Edition, is medical students' go-to text for essential information in human anatomy. This fully revised volume focuses on the core information students need to know, in an easy-access format and with additional multimedia tools that facilitate effective study and mastery of the material. A team of expert

17

Inside the Human Body (The Magic School Bus, #3)

Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen

4.4

Talk about a change of plans! Ms. Frizzle and her class are on the Magic School Bus headed for a museum. They have been studying how the body turns food into energy, and now they are going to see an exhibit on the human body. Things seem fine until they stop for lunch. A strange mishap causes the bus to shrink and then be swallowed! Ms. Frizzle's class is suddenly inside a real human body!

18

Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

Mary Roach

4.4

“America’s funniest science writer” (Washington Post) takes us down the hatch on an unforgettable tour. The alimentary canal is classic Mary Roach terrain: the questions explored in Gulp are as taboo, in their way, as the cadavers in Stiff and every bit as surreal as the universe of zero gravity explored in Packing for Mars. Why is crunchy food so appealing? Why is it so hard to find words for fla

19

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity

Peter Attia MD, Bill Gifford

4.4

Preview Summary

20

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

David Epstein

4.4

Preview Summary

Now a New York Times Bestseller! With a new chapter added to the paperback.

In high school, I wondered whether the Jamaican Americans who made our track team so successful might carry some special speed gene from their tiny island. In college, I ran against Kenyans, and wondered whether endurance genes might have traveled with them from East Africa. At the same time, I began to notice that a train

Recommended by Dan Pink, Gabriel Coarna, and Paul Kedrosky.

Gabriel Coarna

David Epstein's "The Sports Gene" made me decide to never tell a child that "if you really really want something, and you work really really hard, then you can achieve your dream" -- not when it comes to sports, at least. [source]

Paul Kedrosky

@fromedome @nkl Start with @DavidEpstein’s terrific book The Sports Gene. Great independently, but many academic references as well. [source]

21

Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist

Stephen Rogers Peck

4.4

Stephen Rogers Peck's Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist remains unsurpassed as a manual for students. It includes sections on bones, muscles, surface anatomy, proportion, equilibrium, and locomotion. Other unique features are sections on the types of human physique, anatomy from birth to old age, an orientation on racial anatomy, and an analysis of facial expressions. The wealth of information

22

Constructive Anatomy

George B. Bridgman

4.4

"Excellent. The most valuable, detailed anatomical studies (which are also beautifully drawn) of all parts of the figure." — American Artist
"The best book on artist's anatomy available anywhere." — Art Students League News
Countless artists and students since the 1920s have used this and other books by George B. Bridgman (for nearly 50 years a teacher at the Art Students League in New York) for a s

23

The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.

Daniel Coyle

4.3

Preview Summary

What is the secret of talent? How do we unlock it? In this groundbreaking work, journalist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle provides parents, teachers, coaches, businesspeople—and everyone else—with tools they can use to maximize potential in themselves and others.

Whether you're coaching soccer or teaching a child to play the piano, writing a novel or trying to improve your golf

Recommended by Peter Attia, Rupert Murdoch, Jason Fried, and 4 others.

Peter Attia

Founder/Attia Medical

One of the books I’ve read the most. [source]

Rupert Murdoch

CEO/News Corporation

Great reading. The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle. Forget genes! Greatness isn't born, it's grown - the hard way. [source]

Jason Fried

Co-Founder/Basecamp

Highly recommend reading The Talent Code. Wonderful book w/ great insights. [source]

24

Scientific Keys: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga

Ray Long and Chris Macivor

4.3

This book offers a scientific approach to understanding the practice of hatha yoga. Through four-color, three-dimensional illustrations of major muscles, tendons, and ligaments, Ray Long describes the practice and benefits of hatha yoga. Specific anatomical and physiological descriptions highlight the agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles that come into play with each pose. Volume I of the se

Cover unavailable

25

Anatomy for the Artist

Sarah Simblet, John Davis

4.3

Unlock your inner artist and learn how to draw the human body in this beautifully illustrated art book by celebrated artist and teacher Sarah Simblet.

This visually striking guide takes a fresh approach to drawing the human body. A combination of innovative photography and drawings, practical life-drawing lessons, and in-depth explorations of the body's surface and underlying structure are used to

26

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Mary Roach

4.3

In Bonk, the best-selling author of Stiff turns her outrageous curiosity and insight on the most alluring scientific subject of all: sex. Can a person think herself to orgasm? Why doesn't Viagra help women-or, for that matter, pandas? Can a dead man get an erection? Is vaginal orgasm a myth? Mary Roach shows us how and why sexual arousal and orgasm-two of the most complex, delightful, and amazing

27

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Iain McGilchrist

4.3

Preview Summary

A new edition of the bestselling classic – published with a special introduction to mark its 10th anniversary

This pioneering account sets out to understand the structure of the human brain – the place where mind meets matter. Until recently, the left hemisphere of our brain has been seen as the ‘rational’ side, the superior partner to the right. But is this distinction true?

Drawing on a vast bod

28

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

Robert Sapolsky

4.3

Preview Summary

Renowned primatologist Robert Sapolsky offers a completely revised and updated edition of his most popular work, with nearly 90,000 copies in print

Now in a third edition, Robert M. Sapolsky's acclaimed and successful Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers features new chapters on how stress affects sleep and addiction, as well as new insights into anxiety and personality disorder and the impact of spirituali

Recommended by Oliver Sacks.

Oliver Sacks

Neurologist, Author

Robert M. Sapolsky is one of the best science writers of our time. [source]

29

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Michael Hampton

4.3

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention is an instructional figure drawing book geared towards the novice and experienced artist alike. This book emphasizes a simplified understanding of surface anatomy, in order to clarify the mechanics of the figure, facilitate invention, and ultimately create a skill-set that can be successfully applied to other media. In addition, this book focuses very strongly

30

Classic Human Anatomy: The Artist's Guide to Form, Function, and Movement

Valerie L. Winslow

4.3

After more than thirty years of research and teaching, artist Valerie Winslow has compiled her unique methods of drawing human anatomy into one groundbreaking volume: Classic Human Anatomy. This long-awaited book provides simple, insightful approaches to the complex subject of human anatomy, using drawings, diagrams, and reader-friendly text. Three major sections–the skeletal form, the muscular fo

31

Figure Drawing for All It's Worth (How to draw and paint)

Andrew Loomis

4.3

The illustrator Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) is revered among artists - including comics superstar Alex Ross - for his mastery of figure drawing and clean, Realist style.

His hugely influential series of art instruction books have never been bettered, and Figure Drawing is the first in Titan's programme of facsimile editions, returning these classic titles to print for the first time in decades.

32

Artistic Anatomy: The Great French Classic on Artistic Anatomy

Dr. Paul Richer, Robert Beverly Hale

4.2

Artistic Anatomy is widely acknowledged to be the greatest book of its kind since the Renaissance. The original French edition, now a rare collector's item, was published in 1889 and was probably used as a resource by Renoir, Braque, Degas, Bazille, and many others. The English-language edition, first published 35 years ago, brings together the nineteenth century's greatest teacher of artistic ana

Cover unavailable

33

Drawing the Head and Figure

Jack Hamm

4.2

A how-to handbook that makes drawing easy. Offers simplified techniques and scores of brand-new hints and helps. Step by step procedures. Hundreds of illustrations.

34

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey

Jill Bolte Taylor

4.2

Preview Summary

The astonishing New York Times bestseller that chronicles how a brain scientist's own stroke led to enlightenment

On December 10, 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven- year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. As she observed her mind deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life-all

Recommended by Maya Zlatanova.

Maya Zlatanova

One of the books that had the biggest impact on Maya. [source]

Cover unavailable

35

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers, and Practitioners

H. David Coulter, Timothy McCall

4.2

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga is the only modern authoritative source that correlates the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology. Hatha yoga is comprised of stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises in upright, lying down and inverted postures. Yoga teachers and students, personal trainers, medical therapists, or anyone who is curious or troubled about how the body responds to stretching

Cover unavailable

36

Anatomy for the Artist

Jenö Barcsay, Jeno Barcsay

4.2

It’s the classic in its field—a reference work of unparalleled importance for all professionals and students of art.

This superb art manual is the best guide available on a subject that has fascinated artists for centuries: the human body. Jenö Barcsay, a professor who taught applied anatomy at the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts, offers a detailed portrayal of the body for the fine artist in 142 f

37

Anatomy and Physiology for Dummies

Erin Odya

4.2

Learn about the human body from the inside out Some people think that knowing about what goes on inside the human body can sap life of its mystery--which is too bad for them. Anybody who's ever taken a peak under the hood knows that the human body, and all its various structures and functions, is a realm of awe-inspiring complexity and countless wonders. The dizzying dance of molecule, cell, tissu

38

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards

4.2

When Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was first published in 1979, it hit the New York Times bestseller list within two weeks and stayed there for more than a year. In 1989, when Dr. Betty Edwards revised the book, it went straight to the Times list again. Now Dr. Edwards celebrates the twentieth anniversary of her classic book with a second revised edition.Over the last decade, Dr. Edwards

Recommended by Adam Robinson and Adam Robinson.

Adam Robinson

One of five books that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

Adam Robinson

One of five books that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

39

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

Florence Williams

4.2

Preview Summary

From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to eucalyptus groves in California, Florence Williams investigates the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain. Delving into brand-new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these id

Cover unavailable

40

Principles of Anatomy and Physiology

Gerard J. Tortora, Bryan H. Derrickson

4.2

Cover unavailable

41

Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form

Eliot Goldfinger

4.2

The power of the image of the nude--the expressivity of the flesh--has inspired artists from the beginning. An understanding of human form is essential for artists to be able to express themselves with the figure. Anatomy makes the figure. Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form is the definitive analytical work on the anatomy of the human figure.
No longer will working artists have to se

Cover unavailable

42

Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists

Thomas W. Myers

4.2

An accessible and comprehensive approach to the anatomy and function of the fascial system in the body combined with a holistic overview of myofascial therapy. Many different therapists now use myofascial techniques to influence postural change and pain relief. This book demonstrates exactly how the muscles connect within the connect tissue to affect posture, compensatory strain, and pain patterns

Cover unavailable

43

Anatomy of Movement

Blandine Calais-Germain

4.2

Anatomy of Movement is a dynamic, integrated approach to the study of the physical structures of the musculoskeletal system and their functional relationship to the movements of the human body. The emphasis is on basic human anatomy as it relates to external body movement. In clear and concise text illustrated with more than a thousand graphic drawings, the author takes the reader on a lively tour

44

The Double Helix

James Watson

4.2

By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry & won themselves a Nobel Prize. At the time, Watson was only 24, a young scientist hungry to make his mark. His uncompromisingly honest account of the heady days of their thrilling sprint against other world-class researchers to solve one of science's greatest mysteries gives a daz

Recommended by Peter Attia, Matt Ridley, Adam Hart-Davis, and 1 others.

Peter Attia

Founder/Attia Medical

One of the books that considers to be an important read for people interested in his career path. [source]

Matt Ridley

An astonishing literary achievement, and it was about the greatest scientific discovery of the 20th century. [source]

Adam Hart-Davis

They made a brilliant guess and the result was that they and Maurice Wilkins shared a Nobel Prize and Rosalind Franklin didn’t, which was very unfair. [source]

45

The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine

Lindsey Fitzharris

4.2

In The Butchering Art, the historian Lindsey Fitzharris reveals the shocking world of nineteenth-century surgery on the eve of profound transformation. She conjures up early operating theaters--no place for the squeamish--and surgeons, working before anesthesia, who were lauded for their speed and brute strength. These medical pioneers knew that the aftermath of surgery was often more dangerous th

Cover unavailable

46

Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body

Johannes W. Rohen MD, Chihiro Yokochi MD, Elke Lütjen-Drecoll MD

4.2

The on-going core of this atlas is its standard of realistic illustrations that portray anatomical relationships. Photographs of actual cadaver dissections along with numerous schematic drawings aid the student in anatomic orientation. Chapters are organized by region, in order of a typical dissection. Each chapter contains two sections: a description and illustration of organs, and a depiction of

47

The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

Julia Rothman

4.2

This handsome box set provides hours of enlightening entertainment for those curious about the natural world, farm life, and food. Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Rothman presents Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy in a specially designed slipcase with 10 framable prints. Rothman’s popular line drawings offer a whimsical and educational guide to life on a farm, nature’s hidde

Cover unavailable

48

The Complete Human Body: The Definitive Visual Guide

DK Publishing, Dr. Alice Roberts, Medi-Mation

4.1

We inhabit it, we are it, and we are surrounded by 6.8 billion examples of it on the planet - the human body. Some parts of it are still mysteries to science and much is a mystery to the average person on the street. But we've come a long way from the sketches and diagrams drawn by the first anatomists in Ancient Greece. New medical procedures and imaging techniques have allowed "access all areas"

Cover unavailable

49

Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice

Ann Swanson

4.1

Explore the biomechanics of 30 key yoga poses, in-depth and from every angle, and master each asana with confidence and control.

Did you know that yoga practice can help treat age-related memory loss better than brain-training games, or that the correct way to breathe throughout a sun salutation is influenced by what is happening to your organs as you move?

Recent scientific research now backs up wh

50

The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity

Nadine Burke Harris

4.1

“An extraordinary, eye-opening book.” —People

"A rousing wake-up call . . . this highly engaging, provocative book prove[s] beyond a reasonable doubt that millions of lives depend on us finally coming to terms with the long-term consequences of childhood adversity and toxic stress.” — Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris was already known as a crusading physician de

Recommended by Jamie Grayson.

Jamie Grayson

This is one of the best interviews I’ve ever heard. Explained a lot-even about myself. @DrBurkeHarris I downloaded your book (because I LOVE listening to you speak) and cannot wait to listen. Keep ON. What a gift. Truly. ❤️ https://t.co/KhCa9H0MDD [source]

51

Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method For Stopping Chronic Pain

Pete Egoscue

4.1

Pete Egoscue learned a lot about pain when, as a Marine officer, he was wounded in Vietnam. He segued from patient to physical therapist, and now runs a famous clinic in San Diego, where he claims he's helped 95 percent of his patients cure chronic pain--including Jack Nicklaus and Charles Barkley, whose athletic careers he helped prolong. At the heart of his program are stretches and motion exerc

Recommended by Tony Robbins and Anthony Robbins.

Cover unavailable

52

Cyclopedia Anatomicae

Gyorgy Fehér, András Szunyoghy

4.1

Designed for both professional and amateur artists, Cyclopedia Anatomicae is an essential guide to mastering the fundamentals of anatomical drawing. In addition to the human figure, it covers horses, dogs, cats, pigs, apes and more. Detailed, fully annotated illustrations of the skeletal, joint, and muscular systems clarify the proportions of each body type and lay the foundation for reproducing m

Cover unavailable

53

Dynamic Anatomy

Burne Hogarth

4.1

Praised by critics and teachers alike for more than 40 years, Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Anatomy is recognized worldwide as the classic, indispensable text on artistic anatomy. Now revised, expanded, and completely redesigned with 75 never-before-published drawings from the Hogarth archives and 24 pages of new material, this award-winning reference explores the expressive structure of the human form

54

Pilates Anatomy

Rael Isacowitz

4.1

Take a detailed look at your Pilates practice with the superbly illustrated exercises in Pilates Anatomy, Second Edition.

Choose from 46 exercises to target a particular body region and delve deeper to stretch, strengthen, and finely coordinate specific muscles. See which key muscles are activated, how variations and minor adjustments can influence effectiveness, and how breathing, alignment, and

Cover unavailable

55

Albinus on Anatomy

Robert Beverly Hale, Terence Coyle

4.1

This beautiful, enthralling book represents the rarest of human achievements: a work of great scientific merit that is a magnificent work of art as well. Bernard Siegfried Albinus was the greatest descriptive anatomist of the eighteenth century. Over a period of twenty years, he produced two volumes of drawings, Tables of the Skeleton and Muscles of the Human Body and Tables of the Human Bones, th

56

Genome: The Autobiography of a Species In 23 Chapters

Matt Ridley

4.1

The human genome, the complete set of genes housed in twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, is nothing less than an autobiography of our species. Spelled out in a billion three-letter words using the four-letter alphabet of DNA, the genome has been edited, abridged, altered and added to as it has been handed down, generation to generation, over more than three billion years. With the first draft of t

Recommended by Charles T. Munger, Charlie Munger, Mark Zuckerberg, and 2 others.

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder/Facebook

This book aims to tell a history of humanity from the perspective of genetics rather than sociology. This should complement the other broad histories I've read this year, as well as follow "Energy" well in focusing on science. I've wanted to read Matt Ridley's books for a while. His recent book "The Rational Optimist" about how progress and the economy evolve is also near the top of my ever-growing pile of books to read. [source]

Naval Ravikant

CEO & Co-Founder/AngelList

Getting into the more evolution, science kind of books, I really highly, highly recommend picking up Genome … . [source]

Cover unavailable

57

Anatomy for Sculptors, Understanding the Human Figure

Uldis Zarins with Sandis Kondrats;

4.1

226 page most easy-to-use human anatomy guide for artists, explaining the human body in a simple manner. The book contains keys to figuring out construction in a direct, easy-to-follow, and highly visual manner. Art students, 3D sculptors and illustrators alike will find this manual a practical foundation upon which to build their knowledge of anatomy - an essential background for anyone wishing t

Cover unavailable

58

Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness

Anne Waugh MSc CertEd SRN RNT FHEA, Allison Grant BSc PhD RGN

4.1

The purpose of the book is reflected in its title, Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. The text is written in straightforward language and is complemented by extensive clear, full-colour illustrations. Each chapter provides an explanation of the normal structure and functions of the human body and what occurs when disease or illness disrupts the normal processes.
Carefully refined, clear

Cover unavailable

59

The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression

Gary Faigin

4.1

This instructional and reference manual is a visual index of facial expressions. It centres on the muscles of expression and their effects as a basis for understanding and analyzing those expressions they see on models and in photographs. Artists will be aided in understanding expression and in creating expression. The book is organized around three parts - part one analyzes the basic structures o

60

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the World under the Sea

Julia Rothman

4.1

Julia Rothman’s best-selling illustrated Anatomy series takes a deep dive into the wonders of the sea with Ocean Anatomy. Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and engaging artwork along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves to explore the hows and whys of the watery universe, from how the world’s oceans formed to why the sea is salty. Oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves, anatomical

Cover unavailable

61

Dynamic Figure Drawing

Burne Hogarth

4.1

This powerful book offers a systematic approach to rendering action figures that seem to leap off the page.

Cover unavailable

62

Bones: Skeletons and How They Work

Steve Jenkins

4.1

Caldecott Honor winner Steve Jenkins presents a fascinating look at the bones of the human body as compared to the bones of animals, and shows them off!
This book is far from skinny -- it's the definitive nonfiction title about human and animal bones, delivered with in-your-face accuracy and intrigue. In this visually driven volume, kids come face-to-face with some head-to-toe boney comparisons, ma

63

The Key Poses of Yoga

Ray Long and Chris Macivor

4.1

Offers a scientific approach to understanding the practice of hatha yoga. Through four-colour, three-dimensional illustrations of major muscles, tendons, and ligaments, this title describes the practice and benefits of hatha yoga.

Cover unavailable

64

The Human Figure in Motion

Eadweard Muybridge

4.1

This is the largest selection ever made from the famous Muybridge sequence high-speed photographs of human motion. Containing 4,789 photographs, it illustrates some 163 different types of action: elderly man lifting log, woman sweeping, woman climbing ladder, men boxing and wrestling, child crawling, man lifting weight, man jumping, and 155 other types of action, some of which are illustrated by a

65

Insect Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs

Julia Rothman, Michael Hearst

4.1

Get a close-up look at the world of insects with a delightfully illustrated guide to the fascinating insects, bugs, arachnids, and other creatures that populate our planet by the billions. Millions of species of insects fly, crawl, dig, swarm, and eat on every continent. Our very existence depends on them; without pollinators, we would have no food, and without decomposers, the world would be cove

Cover unavailable

66

The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness

Eric Swanson

4.1

For millennia, Buddhists have enjoyed the limitless benefits of meditation. But how does it work? And why? The principles behind this ancient practice have long eluded some of the best minds in modern science. Until now.

In this groundbreaking work, world-renowned Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche invites us to join him in unlocking the secrets behind the practice of meditation. Working with

Cover unavailable

67

Human Body

Steve Parker

4.1

Focusing on contemporary and historical developments in the study of the human body, this book features clear, expertly written text, color and black-and-white photos, charts, graphics, and 3-D models--all of which combine to make complex scientific concepts easy to understand. Includes 8 pages of new text.

Cover unavailable

68

Trail Guide to the Body: How to locate the body's muscles, bones and more

Andrew Biel

4.1

This acclaimed book teaches readers to palpate the body's structures with ease and precision. The beautifully illustrated, user-friendly guide to the muscular and skeletal systems makes learning the necessary bodywork skills interesting, memorable and easy. With 420 pages and 1,100 illustrations, this 3rd edition covers more than 125 muscles, 206 bones, 30 ligaments and 110 bony landmarks. It prov

69

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

Mary Roach

4.1

The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule, Mary Roach takes us on the surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.

Recommended by Deborah Blum.

Deborah Blum

I picked this book because, as I talk about science as part of the everyday world, it is so good to find writers who really make an effort to reach out to a wider community. I really admire Mary Roach’s ability to take science and make it both fascinating and accessible to people who wouldn’t normally love science. She does a great job of keeping science incredibly accurate and yet making it very friendly. [source]

Cover unavailable

70

Netter's Anatomy Coloring Book Updated Edition

John T. Hansen PhD

4.1

Learn and master anatomy with ease, while having fun, through the unique approach of Netter's Anatomy Coloring Book, 2nd Edition. You can trace arteries, veins, and nerves through their courses and bifurcations...reinforce your understanding of muscle origins and insertions from multiple views and dissection layers...and develop a better understanding of the integration of individual organs in the

71

Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing

Caroline Myss

4.1

Building on wisdom from Hindu, Christian, and Kaballah traditions, this comprehensive guide to energy healing reveals the hidden stresses, beliefs, and attitudes that cause illness.

Anatomy of the Spirit is the boldest presentation to date of energy medicine by one of its premier practitioners, internationally acclaimed medical intuitive Caroline Myss, one of the "hottest new voices in the alternat

Recommended by David Allen and Tudor Teodorescu.

Tudor Teodorescu

I can say that my area, or my background involves a lot of practical work, traveling, learning and performing a big variety of sports, meeting new people and making contacts. But taking into account that being a young entrepreneur I wish I had known a lot of things before starting everything. Therefore, what I would suggest people to do is invest a lot in themselves professionally and personally, where I put a lot of emphasis on developing an equilibrium between mind, body and spirit. This equilibrium will help a lot in everything you do in your daily life. So these are the books I would recommend. [source]

72

Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Alex Hutchinson

4.1

From the National Magazine Award-winning Runner’s World columnist, frequent New Yorker online contributor, and Cambridge-trained physicist: a fascinating and definitive exploration of the extraordinary science of human endurance and the secrets of human performance, for fans of The Sports Gene, Born to Run, and Grit.

From running a two-hour marathon to summiting Mount Everest, we’re fascinated by t

Recommended by Malcolm Gladwell, Bear Grylls, Adam Grant, and 2 others.

Malcolm Gladwell

Writer & Journalist

This book is AMAZING! [source]

Bear Grylls

Adventurer, author, survival instructor

If you want to gain insight into the mind of great athletes, adventurers, and peak performers then prepare to be enthralled by Alex Hutchinson’s Endure. [source]

Adam Grant

Reveals how we can all surpass our perceived physical limits. [source]

73

Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing From Life: Over 1,000 Illustrations

George B. Bridgman

4.1

“An indispensable volume...published for the first time in paperback....More than 200 illustrations of hands and hundreds of images of arms, shoulders, heads, torsos, legs, knees, and feet.” —Library Journal. “It will...meet a deeply felt need to draw the human figure from a vantage point of understanding and visual acuity.”—Arts & Activities.

Cover unavailable

74

The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body

David Macaulay

4.1

In this comprehensive and entertaining resource, David Macaulay reveals the inner workings of the human body as only he could. In order to present this complicated subject in an accurate and entertaining way, he put in years of research. He sat in on anatomy classes, dissections, and even reached inside the rib cages of two cadavers to compare their spleen sizes. He observed numerous surgeries, in

Cover unavailable

75

Clinically Oriented Anatomy

Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley

4.1

Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Fifth Edition provides first-year medical and allied health students with the clinically oriented anatomical information that they need in study and practice. This book is renowned for its comprehensive coverage of anatomy, presented as it relates to the practice of medicine, dentistry, and physical therapy. This latest edition is fully updated with new content and add

76

Drawing the Head and Hands

Andrew Loomis

4.0

77

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Julia Rothman

4.0

Cover unavailable

78

Anatomy Lessons From the Great Masters

Robert Beverly Hale, Terence Coyle

4.0

This classic book, whose foremost author was one of the great artistic anatomy teachers of the twentieth century, is an invaluable instructor and reference guide for any professional, amateur, or student artist who depicts the human form.

Revealing the drawing principles behind one hundred inspiring masterpieces, the book presents work by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rubens, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt,

79

A Natural History of the Senses

Diane Ackerman

4.0

Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth.

Recommended by Bianca Bosker.

Bianca Bosker

A grand tour of the senses with Diane Ackerman playing tour-guide. [source]

Cover unavailable

80

Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators

Mike Mattesi

4.0

Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for AnimatorsCapture the force in your life drawing subjects with this practical guide to dynamic drawing techniques - packed with superb, powerfully drawn examples that show you how to: • Bring your work to life with rhythmic drawing techniques • Create appealing and dynamic poses in your drawings* Experience the figure's energy in three dimensional space* Use the asym

81

Human Anatomy & Physiology

Elaine N. Marieb, Katja Hoehn

4.0

With each edition of her top-selling Human Anatomy & Physiology text, Elaine N. Marieb draws on her own, unique experience as a full-time A&P professor and part-time nursing student to explain concepts and processes in a meaningful and memorable way. With the Seventh Edition, Dr. Marieb has teamed up with co-author Katja Hoehn to produce the most exciting edition yet, with beautifully-enhanced mus

Cover unavailable

82

Anatomy: A Complete Guide for Artists

Joseph Sheppard

4.0

In this superb guidebook, a skilled practitioner of figure drawing demonstrates how to achieve mastery of anatomy through careful, knowledgeable articulation of the muscles and bones lying beneath the skin. Joseph Sheppard's concise instructions have been carefully integrated with over 250 halftone illustrations and over 180 line drawings to lead artists one step at a time through the techniques r

83

The Yoga Anatomy Coloring Book: A Visual Guide to Form, Function, and Movement

Kelly Solloway

4.0

This fun mix of coloring book and instructional guide demystifies anatomy for the yoga enthusiast and teacher.

Yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist, and anatomy teacher Kelly Solloway provides an entertaining and informative journey through the human body, focusing on the bones, joints, and muscles used in yoga. After an overview of helpful terms, Kelly covers the skeletal system, joints, a

Cover unavailable

84

See Inside Your Body

Katie Daynes, Colin King, Carrie Armstrong

4.0

This astonishingly inventive title allows young children to discover the inner workings of the human body in a gently humorous, yet wholly accurate way. Bright, original colour illustrations and diagrams display all the major organs of the human body and are accompanied by witty, clear and informative factual text. It contains over fifty flaps, which children can lift to reveal extra detail. Enter

85

Nature Anatomy

Julia Rothman

4.0

See the world in a new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman celebrates the diverse curiosities and beauty of the natural world in this exciting new volume. With whimsically hip illustrations, every page is an extraordinary look at all kinds of subjects, from mineral formation and the inside of a volcano to what makes sunsets, monarch butterfly migration, the ecosystem of a rotting log, the par

86

Trail Guide to the Body

Andrew Biel

4.0

Trail Guide to the Body, 5th Edition, A hands-on guide to locating muscles, bones and more

Before you can assess or treat a muscle, you first must be able to locate it. This acclaimed book delivers beautifully illustrated information for learning palpation and the musculoskeletal system. It makes mastering the essential manual therapy skills interesting, memorable and easy. With 504 pages and 1,40

87

The Foot Book: Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites

Dr. Seuss

4.0

A toe-tapper babies will love--the classic Seussian book about opposites: "Wet foot, dry foot. Low foot, high foot..."

This Little Book is an adaptation of the original book The Foot Book published by Random House in 1963.

88

How We Die: Reflections of Life's Final Chapter

Sherwin B. Nuland

4.0

A runaway bestseller and National Book Award winner, Sherwin Nuland's How We Die has become the definitive text on perhaps the single most universal human concern: death. This new edition includes an all-embracing and incisive afterword that examines the current state of health care and our relationship with life as it approaches its terminus. It also discusses how we can take control of our own f

Recommended by Kathleen Taylor.

Kathleen Taylor

It’s a description of what people actually die of and the mechanisms by which life is extinguished. [source]

Cover unavailable

89

Yogabody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana

Judith Hanson Lasater

4.0

In Yogabody, author Judith Hanson Lasater writes, "You can't fully understand the dynamic movement of asana without first understanding the basic structure of the human body." Drawing on almost 40 years' experience as a yoga teacher and physical therapist, she focuses here on macroanatomy and kinesiology in relationship to asana practice and teaching. Organized into five parts — the locomotor syst

90

All That Remains: A Life in Death

Sue Black

4.0

Sue Black confronts death every day. As Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, she focuses on mortal remains in her lab, at burial sites, at scenes of violence, murder and criminal dismemberment, and when investigating mass fatalities due to war, accident or natural disaster. In All that Remains she reveals the many faces of death she has come to know, using key cases to explore how foren

Cover unavailable

91

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It

JoAnn Deak Ph.D., Sarah Ackerley

4.0

Learn How Much Your Brain Can Grow!

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It is the book you need to teach growth mindset.

Did you know you can stretch and grow your own brain? Or that making mistakes is one of the best ways your brain learns? Awarded as one of the best growth mindset books for kids, Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It teaches all the ways that the brain can

92

Anatomy for Runners: Unlocking Your Athletic Potential for Health, Speed, and Injury Prevention

Jay Dicharry

4.0

Tired of getting the same treatments from doctors that didn’t heal his joint and muscle pain from running, Jay Dicharry decided to combine different fields of clinical care, biomechanical analysis, and coaching to help you avoid common injuries and become the best runner you can be.

Running has become more and more popular in recent years, with thousands of people entering marathons, buying new run

Cover unavailable

93

Why Do Men Have Nipples?: Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini

Mark Leyner, Billy Goldberg

4.0

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Say you’re at a party. You’ve had a martini or three, and you mingle through the crowd, wondering how long you need to stay before going out for pizza. Suddenly you’re introduced to someone new, Dr. Nice Tomeetya. You forget the pizza. Now is the perfect time to bring up all those strange questions you’d like to ask during an office visit with your own doctor but hav

Cover unavailable

94

The Human Body

Martyn Page

4.0

Human Body is a concise guide to the structure, functions, and disorders of the body. Using full-color, highly detailed illustrations and clear, accessible language, this book is a fascinating introduction to how the body works and what may go wrong. The first part, Anatomy of the Human Body, begins with a medical atlas that shows how the parts of the body fit together. Each individual body system

95

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

Daniel J. Levitin

4.0

Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your life—even if you never realized it. Why does music evoke such powerful moods? The answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emerging field of evolutionary psychology. Both a cutting-edge study and a tribute to the beauty of music itself, This Is Your Brain on Music unravels a

Recommended by Vinod Khosla and Justin Boreta.

Vinod Khosla

Co-Founder/Sun Microsystem

Fascinating though older book. [source]

Justin Boreta

Goes into the evolutionary thinking behind why music does what it does. [source]

96

Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive

Philipp Dettmer

4.0

97

Science of Stretch: Reach Your Flexible Potential, Stay Active, Maximize Mobility (DK Science of)

Dr. Leada Malek

4.0

Cover unavailable

98

Anatomy Coloring Book

Stephanie McCann and Eric Wise

4.0

Coloring the body and its systems is the most effective way to study the structure and functions of human anatomy. Kaplan's Anatomy Coloring Book provides realistic drawings, clear descriptions, and must-know terms for an easy way to learn anatomy.

Anatomy Coloring Book features detailed illustrations of the body's anatomical systems in a spacious page design with no back-to-back images--goodbye, b

99

The Anatomy of Stretching

Brad Walker

4.0

Cover unavailable

100

Body Worlds The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies - Catalog

Dr. Gunther von Hagens

4.0