The Spark of Life

Electricity in the Human Body

By: Frances Ashcroft

Narrated by: Jenna Berk

We are all familiar with the idea that machines are powered by electricity, but perhaps not so aware that this is also true for ourselves. "The Spark of Life" is a spectacular account of the body electric, showing how, from before conception to the last breath we draw, electrical signals in our cells are essential to everything we think and do. These signals are produced by some amazing proteins that sit at the forefront of current scientific research - the ion channels. They are found in every cell in Earth and they govern every aspect of our lives, from consciousness to sexual attraction, fighting infection, our ability to see and hear, and the beating of our hearts. Ion channels are truly the "spark of life". Award-winning physiologist Frances Ashcroft weaves real-life stories with the latest scientific findings to explain the fundamental role of ion channels in our bodies. What happens when you have a heart attack? Why does an electric eel not shock itself? Can someone really die of fright? Why does Viagra turn the world blue? How do cocaine, LSD, and morphine work? Why do chilli peppers taste hot? How do vampire bats sense their prey? Was Mary Shelley right when she inferred that electricity is the "Spark of Life"? Frances Ashcroft explains all this and more with wit and clarity. She introduces a cast of extraordinary personalities whose work has charted the links between molecule and mind over the centuries. She recounts the scientific detective stories involved in the development of our ideas about animal electricity, and shows how these are intimately entwined with our understanding of electricity itself. And she describes how the latest advances have led to the identification, and in some cases the cure, of a new class of disease. Anyone who has ever wondered about what makes us human will find this book a revelation.

©2012 Frances Ashcroft (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Powerful and Highly educational

Excellent narrative with historical link s and very easy to understand. Filled with great stories that helps to digest the main topic

listening experience annoying

While the book is exquisite, and Frances Ashcroft, brilliant, the narrator was very difficult to listen to. Her enunciation was good, but her pronunciation of most key words was ridiculous. I have never heard anyone pronounce electricity with a long "e-" at the beginning, drawing it out to nearly two syllables, and then adding the rest of the word to it. No one calls it "Ee-ee-leck-tricity" so why read it that way? Now imagine how many times you have to listen to her say the word "ee-lectricity" in a book about ...electricity. That was only one example. Her pronunciation of a plethora of key words was appalling. "Eschew" was hysterically funny. How did the producer not catch this? Somebody, please teach this girl basic phonetics.

Informative

The Spark of Life contains lots of information that was explained clearly but seems to wander and digress a little too often in to personal anecdotes about the author. I also found that the reader did not appear to be familiar with many of the technical terms and read slowly. It would have been helpful if there was a pdf of the figures as the reader described several figures that would have been helpful to see. I have noticed in the past several books i have purchased that there is no pdf.

Just a very poorly titled book

There are at least 1000 science books on audible, with every page filled up with the exact same facts of sciences history. This one really I expected better but I remember listening for an hour and there wasn't one mention of electricity, just entire chapters with nothing to do with the title of the book. The ideas about electricity in the book are cut and dry also. I was hoping for something like tesla stuff, never finished it since it's barely educational.

Such a veriety!

Lots of material, history, and facts the make your senses tingle. Love this book. 😍