From Conception to Birth: A Life Unfolds (Hardcover)

by Alexander Tsiaras (Author) "Is anything more fascinating or marvelous than the conception of a human life?..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Not a guidebook but a visual diary of fetal development via computer imaging.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Praise for Alexander Tsiaras and Anatomical Travelogue:

"A step into medicine's future."
-Chicago Tribune

"These images capture life and in their association with illness show it at its most mysterious and most vulnerable...A magical anatomy tour."
-The New York Times

"If there is to be an Audubon of the human form, Tsiaras can make rightful claim to the title."
-John Hockenberry, MSNBC

"A fascinating look at the inner workings of the human body."
-Newsweek

"This enormous cache of digital information is being transformed in a provocative new method of visualizing--and thereby understanding."
-ID Magazine

"[Tsiaras] reworks data to dazzling effects."
-Scientific American -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (October 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385503180
• ISBN-13: 978-0385503181
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #271,469 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars view of a layman [person], November 22, 2002

By A Customer

Yesterday I was browsing in Barnes & Noble and picked up this book. I'm into literature and not big on science but the cover was intriguing so I opened it. Thirty minutes later (of being entranced) I finally closed it, and went home to go online to buy it at a cheaper price on Amazon[.com] (sorry, B&N!) Then I read these customer reviews. I have to say, I take issue with some of the things they wrote. The book clearly stated the images are digital creations from actual physiological data, thus they are as real and accurate as a film photograph. And how could such images ever be considered "propaganda"? Only in this country with our backward "moral" obsessions could innocent scientific images of how we human beings develop from the moment of conception be accused of politics. It seems to me this book is pure science mixed with the miraculous beauty of our biological creation. It also strikes me that such a book with such images is long overdue, in view of our incredible leaps in technology.... Speaking of technological leaps, I'm certain the Neilsen book he cites was an important book for its time; but why would a "Ph.D. scientist" want to deny people such new, and exciting, and beautiful, technological images of the life miracle that is us? That's like wanting Hollywood to use special effects techniques from the 1960's to make a movie in 2002. And he accuses the authors of not being "experts in fetal development"; I had to laugh: obviously the authors are experts in fetal development, very much so, as a thirty-minute perusal like the one I did of the book will prove.) One more thing: I'm a layman's layman, and admittedly not big on science; but I remember - and I still have it - Carl Sagan's book COSMOS as fascinating, because it taught a layman moron like me about space and the cosmos. Well, this book teaches a layman moron like me, in a like manner, about how I grew in my mother's womb until my moment of birth. I'm not a "Ph.D. scientist", but I think this makes this book of particular value.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, revolutioinary images!, November 21, 2002

By A Customer

From Birth to Conception will satiate anyone with a visual mind as to the formation of a baby in the womb! As a medical student I can appreciate the detail and 3-dimensional insight into structural relationships within the body that cross-sectional analysis (used to make the images) affords. Tsiaras and his cast of anatomical illustrators make use of innumerable cross-sections, bringing about the most accurate depictions of the embryo. Combine that with the most advanced technologies in imaging and the outcomes are stunning. The book is great for anyone interested in embryonic development;a very understandable read as well.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular Photos!, November 6, 2002

By	Sandra Farrar (Lyman, ME USA) - See all my reviews

I had the opportunity to look through the book and it is incredible! The pictures are the best and most clear I've ever seen. The detail left me in awe. Being six weeks pregnant myself, I decided I would love to have this book so I can look through and see how my baby is growing every day and/or week. They certainly did a great job with this book. Well done!