Francesca Gould - Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers and Other Gross or Useless Information About Your Body Review

I was passing the bargain book bin at retail establishment that employees me and spied a book I'd never seen before.  Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers & Other Useless or Gross Information About Your Body intrigued me because, well, that's how I roll.  Since it was on sale for a mere $3.00, I decided to sacrifice a Little Debbie cake and a Diet Coke because I figured ANY book with the word "booger" in the title was worth at least three bucks and a bargain at that.

Now, classic literature, it ain't. Don't say I didn't warn you.  But, if they ever come out with a version of Trivial Pursuit dedicated to all the gross functions the human body is capable of performing and having performed on it, you'll be happy you read it.  Me, I need no such flimsy excuse for I am shameless.  I read it and enjoyed every page.

Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers was written by Francesca Gould in 2007, another fine export from the United Kingdom.  All  228 pages are written with tongue firmly in cheek, yet the book is that rare combination of fact-filled AND fun.

The chapter headings, to give you an idea of what you are in for are:

1. Epidermal Ephemera

2. Follicular Fancies

3. Skeletal Singularities

4. Hematological Hors D'oeuvers and Aortic Amuse-bouches

5. Scatological Silliness

6. Cognitive Curiosities

7. Ocular Obscurities

8. Olfactory and Pulmonary Piffles

and 9. Amatory Arcana

With fun chapters like that, how can you go wrong?  You can't!  The book is well-written and each chapter presents a series of questions based on the chapter title.  The author then proceeds to answer those questions in a paragraph or two.  So, consider it a twisted little Q&A session in book form.

For instance, you fans of CSI might have asked "How can maggots help to solve crime?" Answer is right here in this book!  Thinking about Botoxing your pretty little self?  Ms Gould gives us the low down. (I've watched this procedure. It's not without pain)  Wanna know why your next door neighbor smells like a sweaty pig dipped in cow poo?  Yep, right here.

Other  pressing questions answered are "Is it true that books used to be bound in human skin?" (Short answer? Yes.)  "Is acne contagious?"  (No).  "Why Do Our Knuckles Click?"  "Does anything eat facial hair?" (the answer is not for the squimish)  "Could a tapeworm be used for weight loss?" (Yes, but....) "Can poo ever be valuable?" (Answer might surprise you) which begs the next question, "What is poo?" (Disclaimer:  Use of the word "poo" to describe bodily excrement is purely the device of this author.  I have MUCH better words I use....).   How about this one, "Are You more likely to catch disease from a toilet seat or a computer keyboard?"(Answer might surprise you).

I must warn you, reading this book might change some of your habits, like when you read the response to the question, "Is it possible that the bacteria found in poo could also be on your toothbrush?"

There are also lots of fun facts to be learned and shared with your unwitting friends and neighbors.  For instance, did you know there are probably mites living in your eyelashes?   Or, that Victorian  women never even talked about pubic hair much less get a bikini wax! It was such a taboo subject that paintings in those days either hid the subject's genitals or paint them without hair.  One famous art critic of the day was so used to seeing  hairless females on canvas that when he got married and saw his wife's on "down under" he was so horrified he never consummated the marriage.

"Is it true you should not swim for an hour after eating?" "Why did many people in the 1700's sell their teeth?" "Why has no one found a cure for the common cold?"  There are hundreds of  these questions and the answers are all fascinating.  Did you know King Henry VIII had a servant who's sole, very well paid, job was to wipe the King's butt after he went "poo"?

THE BOTTOM LINE

You aren't likely to find Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers on your kids school reading list or listed among the great literary works of well, ANY time.  It's fun and worth your time.  If you are curious about the things concerning your body no 8th grade biology teacher ever shared with you, you will enjoy this.  And the next time your favorite uncle interrupts  Grey's Anatomy by ripping a big one,  you can embarrass him to death by telling him EXACTLY what he just did and what caused him to do it.   Little nephew Billy?  Next time he goes digging for gold in that left nostril and then treats himself to a little snack with it, you will be well armed to advise him about the disgusting thing he just ate. GRADE: B+