Experimental Man: What One Man's Body Reveals about His Future, Your Health, and Our Toxic World (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: percent risk factor, genetic results, Experimental Man, San Francisco, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...gives us a brilliant view of what cutting-edge medical technology can - and -cannot tell us about our future health." (Financial Times, July 4th 2009)

Product Description

Bestselling author David Ewing Duncan takes the ultimate high-tech medical exam, investigating the future impact of what's hidden deep inside all of us

David Ewing Duncan takes "guinea pig" journalism to the cutting edge of science, building on award-winning articles he wrote for Wired and National Geographic, in which he was tested for hundreds of chemicals and genes associated with disease, emotions, and other traits. Expanding on these tests, he examines his genes, environment, brain, and body, exploring what they reveal about his and his family's future health, traits, and ancestry, as well as the profound impact of this new self-knowledge on what it means to be human.

David Ewing Duncan (San Francisco, CA) is the Chief Correspondent of public radio's Biotech Nation and a frequent commentator on NPR's Morning Edition. He is a contributing editor to Portfolio, Discover, and Wired and a columnist for Portfolio. His books include the international bestseller Calendar: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year (978-0-380-79324-2). He is a former special producer and correspondent for ABC's Nightline, and appears regularly on CNN and programs such as Today and Good Morning America.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470176784
• ISBN-13: 978-0470176788
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #160,849 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Voyage and A Must Read, March 13, 2009

By	Robert C. Bickle "Flightdog" (New Hope, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In David Ewing Duncan's new book, "The Experimental Man", he takes us on an adventure through his own body that a mere decade ago would have been seen as science fiction, not science fact. A modern "Fantastic Voyage", we travel with David through a variety of tests that explores who we are and where are going.

Most people by now have heard an advertisement for fully body scans, genetic testing for markers, or genetic testing for family lineage. David Ewing Duncan has obviously decided to take this not just a few steps further, but leagues in the future-present and doing what many would be fearful of doing, taking the world along for the ride.

Not just a book of medical tests, medical capabilities, or the effects of the world on our bodies, this is a masterly crafted story of one man's odyssey of medically-enhanced self-discovery.

If you a wondering "Should I buy this or not?" stop hesitating. David Ewing Duncan's book is a must read and belongs on everyone's book shelf and will soon be the topic of discussion at every water cooler and social gathering.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read! Riveting human stories that actually make sense of the future of medical testing. Plus an environmental angle., March 5, 2009

By	Nadia Mustafa - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just got a copy of David Ewing Duncan's new book, and it's amazing. It
makes sense of some of the new science that I've been reading about --
genetics and brain scans and the like -- and explains it from the
perspective of a real person taking these tests. The environment parts of
the book are riveting -- and a bit frightening: that we are being exposed to
everything from mercury to pesticides, and that our genes might give us some
protection, or not, from these chemicals.

In the end, it's a great read, well written with very human stories. I
highly recommend this book if you want to see what the future holds for
medical testing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writer Transforms Medical Testing to a Conversational Level, March 9, 2009

By	Helen Conte "Booky" (New York) - See all my reviews

David Ewing Duncan must be the most thoroughly tested human on this planet.He tells his story in such an entertaining and informative manner, that you forget how much science is involved in the explanations.He allows his body to be used for all the tests that focus on genes, enviroment, brain and body.He is genius in his ability to show the interplay of, genes and environment.His description of his brother is sensitive and exhibits a deep bond between the two. I highly recommend this book. A fascinating read.