Description
Book SynopsisDistilling a vast amount of research in a style that is engaging, conversational, and even personal and witty, this book opens readers’ eyes to the complexity and significance of the humble knee.
Trade ReviewHan Yu provides an engaging and accessible meditation on the human knee—its evolution, its structure, its function, its pathologies, its weaknesses, as well as its roles in society and fashion, the feminist and equality movements, and aggression. Who knew there were so many ways to view the human knee? -- Ian Tattersall, curator emeritus, American Museum of Natural History
Walking will never be the same. Kudos to Han Yu for exploring the functional development, frailties, and cultural impacts of this seemingly simple hinge joint. In a conversational tone, she bridges topics as disparate as women’s fashions, martial arts, therapeutic heat, and police tactics. Wonderful stories, personal anecdotes, and summaries of scientific investigations combine to provide the reader with openings for many stimulating dinnertime conversations. Who knew that flapper girls applied rouge to their knees to attract further attention? -- Roy A. Meals, MD, orthopedic surgeon and author of
Bones, Inside and OutAs fun and entertaining as it is erudite and well-researched, this book is a
very comprehensive look at an overlooked part of our anatomy, warts and all. -- Nathan H. Lents, author of
Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken GenesIn this enlightening blend of science and cultural history, Yu (
Mind Thief), an English professor at Kansas State University, considers the evolution and physiology of the human knee, as well as its role in fashion and customs. Yu excels at identifying colorful material on an ostensibly mundane subject, and lay readers will appreciate the accessible prose. This makes for an animated and wide-ranging exploration of an unassuming body part. * Publishers Weekly *
Highly recommended. * Choice Reviews *
Highly recommended. * American Library Association (ALA) *
Table of Contents1. Knees Before the Brain
2. Confused Anatomy
3. Bare Knees, Dicey Power
4. The Weaker Sex?
5. To Kneel, or Not to Kneel
6. Treatment, or Placebo
7. The Hurtful Knee
8. Race and Money
9. Last Words
Notes
Bibliography
Index
