Breasts Audiobook By Florence Williams cover art

Breasts

A Natural and Unnatural History

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Breasts

By: Florence Williams
Narrated by: Kate Reading
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Audie Award Winner, Nonfiction, 2013

Did you know that breast milk contains substances similar to cannabis? Or that it's sold on the Internet for 262 times the price of oil? Feted and fetishized, the breast is an evolutionary masterpiece. But in the modern world, the breast is changing. Breasts are getting bigger, arriving earlier, and attracting newfangled chemicals. Increasingly, the odds are stacked against us in the struggle with breast cancer, even among men. What makes breasts so mercurial - and so vulnerable?

In this informative and highly entertaining account, intrepid science reporter Florence Williams sets out to uncover the latest scientific findings from the fields of anthropology, biology, and medicine. Her investigation follows the life cycle of the breast from puberty to pregnancy to menopause, taking her from a plastic surgeon's office, where she learns about the importance of cup size in Texas, to the laboratory, where she discovers the presence of environmental toxins in her own breast milk. The result is a fascinating exploration of where breasts came from, where they have ended up, and what we can do to save them.

©2012 Florence Williams (P)2012 Tantor Anatomy & Physiology Biological Sciences Gender Studies Los Angeles Times Book Prize Science Social Sciences Pregnancy Sexual Health Medicine Physiology

Critic reviews

"[A] remarkably informative and compelling work of discovery." ( Booklist)

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This is an interesting book, though scattered in its presentation. It ranged from being very detailed and scientific to casual and flip. (Isn't it the female XX chromosome and not the XX gene?) I listen to books in my car to and from work and this book didn't hold my attention very well. I would find my mind wandering and then would have to rewind to catch up. The attempts at humor were short and seemed out of place. I don't know if the author was trying to emulate Mary Roach's books, but it just doesn't fly. I'm sure the narrator is good at what she does, but this being a non-fiction book, I didn't see the need for her to change her voice/accent when quoting researchers. It took away from the experience. I can't say I will recommend it.

Interesting, but a tough listen in the car

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If you are a mother, this is a must read. The reader of this Audi le book was highly entertaining.

Fascinating and well-researched

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The author provides a lot of information about breasts, with some interesting points. It IS odd that there's no medical specialty for breasts, although there is for essentially every other organ or body part. Often the science and medicine seems to have neglected a body part so important, not just for self confidence, but as a vital part of child rearing for most of human history.

All the talk about toxins did make me start to doubt the author. The book ended up feeling like her personal crusade to promote her own health-related values, and I wasn't clear how much of it was or wasn't scientific.

This is a useful and educational work, with a very good narrator, but if I had to do it again I would look elsewhere to see if there were better works on the subject.

Interesting insights, but science is unconvincing

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What made the experience of listening to Breasts the most enjoyable?

This book is non fiction, scientific and profound

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breasts?

The science behind breast cancer, premature puberty and wieght issues are presented with startling clarity throughout this book. I recommend it to everyone I know, everyone I meet and now to strangers. DO NOT HESITATE to read this book. Consider giving as a gift to all of those who ask "why is there so much more breast cancer?" Why didn"t 'they' tell us?

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You can't skim like you might with a print book when the information becomes uncomfortable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Breasts, the Canaries in the Coal Mine, a Documentary

Any additional comments?

Often a title might put someone off, please don't avoid this book because the title isn't catchy.

Breasts are the canary in the coal mine...

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This story is definitely told by a "greenie" . The use of terms a chemist would only know was troubling. A lot of facts were presented and dire consequences foretold. I think it was necessary but all the three and four letter compounds left one wondering what it all means.

Do you want to be scared?

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