Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

The authors define ZOOBIQUITY as a connecting species spanning approach to the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic puzzles of clinical medicine.

Just a few of the many interesting inter-species connections discussed include that:

1. Rhinos get leukemia
2. Melanoma occurs in many animals from penguins to buffaloes
3. Koalas contract chlamydia - in fact, it is decimating them
4. Like humans, animals binge-eat, hoard food, and eat in secret at night
5. Octopi and stallions among other species engage in self mutilation
6. Chimpanzees in the wild suffer can suffer from depression
7. Many different species use plants to self medicate, including hallucinogens to feel better mentally
8. Animals do commit suicide, especially those with terminal parasitic infections
9. There was even evidence of dinosaurs having developed brain cancer

As an animal lover, especially of dogs and horses, I was pleased to find out that in 2012 the Canine Lifetime Health Project was begun to study the health and especially cancer in the 3000 Golden Retrievers signed up by their owners. This is the doggy equivalent of the famous Framingham Health Study for humans. An interesting side note to this area is that Beagles and Dachshunds were the least likely canine breeds to develop cancer, while unfortunately Boxers lead the list in developing mast cell tumors, which are quite rare in humans, and Chow Chows commonly get gastric carcinomas and melanomas.

In the chapter titled ROAR-GASM the author informs us that "[Sex in animals as in humans] is not always linked to reproduction. In fact, it could be argued that the vast majority of sexual activity in animals does not have procreation as a goal."

In a later chapter titled ZOOPHORIA the author informs us that some animals as the Tasmanian Wallabies, who often gorge on poppy plants, become addicted to drugs.

There are simply too many interesting and wonderful facts to learn how mankind has so much in common with other species than one ever imagined possible.

Simply a wonderful and informative read.

Just got my copy today and had enough time to read a few chapters on the subway rides to and from home. I'm finding it to be a fascinating read. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a veterinarian and don't have any fancy titles behind my name. Just love to read and Zoobiquity (I love the word) is very well-written for a lay audience member like myself. Clever chapter titles. Interesting details about health in humans and animals and cross-similarities between the two. Good humor injected here and there. It's not something I expected in a non-fiction book about health and medicine. Whether you are human, love animals, work in healthcare or simply love a good book, there's something in here for you. Eagerly looking for the next break to finish up this gem. A must read.

Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers

"Zoobiquity" is the outstanding book that introduces a new approach on how to improve the health of both human and animal patients. This is a beautifully written book that captures the love of science, the advantages of cooperation with the ultimate purpose of serving all living kind. Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and staff editor Kathryn Bowers will take the reader on a wonderful and enlightening scientific journey through the animal kingdom with a focus on health. This excellent 320-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Dr. House, Meet Doctor Dolittle, 2. The Feint of Heart, 4. Jews, Jaguars, and Jurassic Cancer, 4. Rour-gasm, 5. Zoophoria, 6. Scared to Death, 7. Fat Planet, 8. Grooming Gone Wild, 9. Fear of Feeding, 10. The Koala and the Clap, 11. Leaving the Nest and 12. Zoobiquity.

Positives:
1. What a fun and enlightening book this was!
2. Extensively researched and well executed book.
3. Great accessible science writing. Engaging, educational and humorous. The authors treated this topic with the utmost respect and care.
4. A fascinating topic, learning about our relatives in the animal kingdom helps bring light to all species including ours.
5. Establishes early on the new approach to health that will benefit both human and all animal kind, Zoobiquity.
6. It's a journey through the animal kingdom. What makes this book great is the number of interesting medical stories in the animal kingdom and how it relates to humans. Bravo!
7. How bringing knowledge from converging scientific fields like: medicine, evolution, anthropology, genetics, neuroscience and zoology come together to form a sound approach in health.
8. Great facts and fascinating scientific tidbits throughout this book.
9. Wonderful job of making this book accessible to the masses. Terms that I never quite grasped in the past like how cancer really forms are no longer obscure to me.
10. Educational. You will learn something of value. There are many topics of interest and many are bound to touch you. Furthermore, the authors name drop which like it or not further enhances the reading experience.
11. Interesting defense mechanisms in the animal kingdom.
12. It's amazing how close we truly are to other species. Evolution...it does a specie good.
13. The always interesting topic of sex...oh my. Homosexuality in the animal kingdom. Sexual diseases.
14. The world of addictions and the interesting evolutionary basis for it.
15. The biological basis for "emotions".
16. Takotsubo...what it means.
17. An interesting discussion on Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
18. Eye-opening information on weight control. Who knew?
19. The zoobiquitous notion of self-injury. Insightful.
20. The ecology of fear.
21. The link between risk taking and adolescence.
22. The serious topic of suicide.
23. Public health scares.
24. Links to notes worked great and works consulted.

Negatives:

1. This book is what I consider high-class pop culture so if you are looking for deep scientific depth you will be disappointed.
2. Photos of the different animals and insects would have added value.
3. Charts and illustrations would have added value.

In summary, this is a fantastic book. A joy to read while learning a lot about the medical field as it relates to humans and animals. The authors did a wonderful job of providing so much valuable information while doing so with panache. The approach of cooperation between animal and human doctors is a very sound one that will and has already benefitted the health of all the species. What a wonderful treat, a well-deserved five-star effort, I highly recommend it!

Further suggestions: "Why Evolution Is True" by Jerry A. Coyne, "Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body" by Neil Shubin, "Before the Dawn" by Nicholas Wade, "The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution" by Richard Dawkins, "The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature" by Matt Ridley, "The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution" by Gregory Cochran, "The Penguin and the Leviathan" by Yochai Benkler, "The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So Good" by David J. Linden, "Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior" by Leonard Mlodinow, "Human: The Science Behind What Makes Your Brain Unique" by Michael S. Gazzaniga, "The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code" by Sam Kean, "The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature" by Steven Pinker, "Braintrust: What Neuroscience Tells Us about Morality" by Patricia S. Churchland and "The Universe Inside You" by Brian Clegg. I've reviewed all of the aforementioned books, look under the tag, "book shark review".