Gross Anatomy

Dispatches from the Front (and Back)

De: Mara Altman

Narrado por: Mara Altman

An honest, funny, neurotic, and totally gross love child of Mindy Kaling and Mary Roach.

Mara Altman's volatile and apprehensive relationship with her body has led her to wonder about a lot of stuff over the years. Like, who decided that women shouldn't have body hair? And how sweaty is too sweaty? Also, why is breast cleavage sexy but camel toe revolting? Isn't it all just cleavage? These questions and others like them have led to the comforting and sometimes smelly revelations that constitute Gross Anatomy, an essay collection about what it's like to operate the bags of meat we call our bodies.

Divided into two sections, "The Top Half" and "The Bottom Half," with cartoons scattered throughout, Altman's book takes the reader on a wild and relatable journey from head to toe--as she attempts to strike up a peace accord with our grody bits.

With a combination of personal anecdotes and fascinating research, Gross Anatomy holds up a magnifying glass to our beliefs, practices, biases, and body parts and shows us the naked truth: that there is greatness in our grossness.

Body Positive

Amazing history connecting female gender norms with the early advertising industry. Could have done without the body exploration element.

Such a funny attestation to the plight of women

Loved the whole thing. This is the book I'm getting my friends and family for Christmas.

So many facts

Well-researched and so interesting. We have all felt some of the author's insecurities. Nice to hear someone think out loud.

LOL - Gross Anatomy!

Love this book! It was hilariously educational and kept me going during a flight from New Zealand to Houston.

Gross Anatomy

This was a good book.Some was funny,some was just uncomfortable,but I learned a few things. Mara Altman wrote and narrates and does a good job.

Comedy and biology mixed perfectly together.

I love the story! Definitely gave you the sense that maybe you’re not so weird after all. Yeah, humans are gross. But in this book, we sort of make light of it, and giggle about all of the things that seemingly everyone has to deal with at some point in time or another. my only complaint is that I wish she would have added a chapter and told us how the birth went and how the babies are doing! Although I think a whole other book could be written on that topic! Hint, hint…

Frank, Honest, and Humorous Look at Our Bodies

It is a fun ride alongside the author who openly and humorously discusses all the taboos and fears associated with our bodies that women everywhere share. This book seeks to answer such questions as "Why does my dog like my crotch?" or "Is my nipple hair normal?" Mara is like the friend you openly talk about everything with, but she goes one step further. She hunts down experts in such niche topics as medieval vagina historians, and gets their opinions as to her big questions.

It is an enjoyable listen while learning some new information and being able to feel less self conscious about your own insecurities.

Quirky, Cringe-Worthy & Informative!!

I guess you would say, Everything-You-Wanted -To-Know but definitely afraid to ask. Mara's book was actually very informative despite being a potential stand-up act of self deprecating humor!! She is fun and quirky telling us all kinds of stuff about out bodies that we've wondered about. Yes, there were times driving that I gasped out loud and did get majorly grossed out. I'm sure passing cars were thinking I was having a spell of some kind! While there were some topics I would have liked to hear or to go on other tangents of her topics, I realized that this was her story not mine! There is probably endless material on this to have a series of books. It was a fun ride!

Honest and thoughtful

Wow. Mara has brought up all the strange body subjects I have always thought made me weird and uncomfortable in such an informative matter that made me realize that they are where my power lies, and truthfully, are a completely normal part of being a woman. Thank you so much!

Fantastic!

I'm so glad I stumbled on this well-researched, engaging book. I highly recommend it for interesting information and a fun listen.