History of The Heart

For much of recorded history, people considered the heart to be the most important organ in the body. In cultures around the world, the heart—not the brain—was believed to be the location of intelligence, memory, emotion, and the soul. Over time, views on the purpose of the heart have transformed as people sought to understand the life forces it contains. Modern medicine and science dismissed what was once the king of the organs as a mere blood pump subservient to the brain, yet the heart remains a potent symbol of love and health and an important part of our cultural iconography.

'Thrilling… The "dizzying" story of heart surgery is every bit as important as that of the nuclear, computer or rocket ages. And now it has been given the history it deserves' Sunday Times.

"Fascinating . . . Surprising entertainment, combining deep learning with dad jokes . . . [Schutt] is a natural teacher with an easy way with metaphor.”
—The Wall Street Journal

This revised edition of Prairie features a new preface along with updated research on the effects of climate change on an increasingly vulnerable landscape.

'Hilarious' Sam Leith
'I loved this book' Susie Dent'
'Witty and affectionate' Lynne Truss