Review
"An extremely well-written scientific 'novel'....Brings back the days when scientific texts were written not only to put forth hard scientific information but also to entertain and delight."―Choice
"One adage―Show them, don't tell them―applies to topics ranging from writing to romance. Nevertheless, few scientific books show; most scientific books tell, recite strange names and wallow in complexity. But over the years I have grown to expect that Steven Vogel will always show me science. And his latest book, Vital Circuits, did not disappoint me....At home, I have a special shelf filled with my favorite science books―books that remind me that childlike curiosity may be the best scientific skill....Steven Vogel's Vital Circuits now sits on that special shelf."―Mike May, American Scientist
"An elegant traversal of the whole shebang, a romp through biology, physics, fluid mechanics, and chemistry....There is little Vogel doesn't tell us about hearts."―Chicago Tribune
"[Vogel] writes clearly and informatively and with just the right touch of humor....The humor...conforms with Vogel's witty contention that 'our plumbing should be no leaden subject.' Vital Circuits will fascinate science buffs and may inspire would-be scientists." ―Booklist
"There is much here that will appeal to the home handyman and the physics student as well as to those naturally curious about the way things work."―Kirkus Reviews
"Readers wanting a diagram of the circulatory system with a few facts to flesh it out can consult almost any physiology or human biology textbook. If, however, they want to enjoy what they read while learning in depth about the heart and blood vessels, they should read Vital Circuits....[Vogels] explanations are clear and easily understood."―Library Journal
"The author skillfully explains the workings of the heart and blood vessels....The book is a fascinating review of the physiology and anatomy of a complex system that is much involved with the delivery of nutrients and disposal of wastes and an interesting model of translating science for public understanding."―Journal of the American Dietetic Association
"Scientists who are suitably gifted should try to make their field accessible to a general audience. On the evidence of this book, Vogel has certainly succeeded in this task....Using simple models derived from household plumbing, and examples culled from a wide variety of species, he leads us through the functions and regulation of the heart and circulation, and deals at length with the thorny problems of fluid mechanics and blood viscosity―topics which are so often ducked by teachers of physiology―-with extraordinary clarity and lightness of touch....It is difficult to find fault with this eccentric and lively account of the circulation....The true mark of a really good popular science book is that it is as interesting to the expert as it is to the general audience to whom it is addressed. I strongly recommend this book to anybody who teaches the physiology of the circulatory system, and to cardiologists and all those who live in fear of them."―David Weatherall, Nature
"How nice...to come across a book that both sings the praises of this industrious pump...and does it with a great sense of fun...It makes a great story, especially in the hands of skilled narratory Steven Vogel....With Vital Circuits you are never quite sure what's waiting around the next corner. It could be Samuel Pepys's observations on microscopes, the problems of deciding how much time roast meat should spend in the oven, the use of cow's tendons in Roman artillery, or even the reaction of small children to fur....Vital Circuits is much more than a textbook. It is a sustained invitation not just to pumps and pipes, but to the world of science itself. It is certainly the only physiology book I know that includes instructions for cooking its principal subject matter."―Stephen Young, New Scientist
"An extremely well-written scientific "novel"....This book brings back the days when scientific texts were written not only to put forth hard scientific information but also to entertain and delight."―Choice
About the Author
Steven Vogel is Professor of Zoology at Duke University. His most recent book Life's Devices, which Nature hailed as "brilliant and eccentric," won the first Irving and Jean Stone Prize for Science Writing for Public Understanding.
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