When you have had a chronic illness for some time, particularly if specific parts of your body are affected, you tend to become an expert on that area. Some of us end up becoming so educated about our ailment that we practically qualify for our own medical degree. But how much do you know about the workings of your body that are NOT related to your illness? Do you know, for example, the true relationship of high cholesterol to heart function, what high fructose corn syrup does to the brain, or normal signs of aging?

“You, the Owner’s Manual” is the book that put Dr. Oz on the map. Oprah Winfrey extolled its virtues on her show before he got his own spinoff. Dr. Oz is a cardiac surgeon whose self-titled talk show features plenty of lifestyle tips and easy-to-understand explanations of how the body works and how to keep it as healthy as possible. Dr. Roizen, the co-author, is a professor of medicine and anesthesiology. He came up with the “RealAge” concept of factoring your lifestyle and heredity into calculating your biological age, which may differ from your calendar age (the number of years you have lived so far).

You may be wondering why, when you already have to focus so much on your health, would you want to read a book about it? Because this one is actually fun. It breaks down complex topics, like the workings of the human heart, and puts them in terms that the non-medical community can actually understand and remember. There are humorous analogies and amusing illustrations featuring elves that make even the driest or most embarrassing subject matter far more interesting. There are recipes, exercises and other healthy suggestions. Myth is separated from fact, and there are even quizzes (don’t worry, they give you the answers too). I had thought I was fairly well-educated, but I learned a lot here.

“The Owner’s Manual” takes you on a tour of the body, including: the heart and arteries; the brain and nervous system; bones, joints and muscles; lungs; the digestive system; sensory and sexual organs; the immune system; and hormones. And there is a chapter dedicated to cancer: how it happens, different types, and the best ways to prevent it. In fact, prevention is a big theme throughout this book. I found that knowing more specifically WHY certain lifestyle habits can improve your health and longevity is a big motivating factor in doing so.

This could be considered a “gateway” book. If something in the general health knowledge contained therein particularly intrigues you, it would be a good starting off point for more specialized material. Also, Drs. Roizen and Oz have since written an entire series of “You” books, including: “You: The Smart Patient”, “You: on a Diet”, “You: Staying Young”, “You: Being Beautiful”, “You: Breathing Easy”, and “You: Having a Baby”. And you can catch the Dr. Oz daily television talk show, currently in syndication.

After all, if you’re going to have to pay attention to your health anyway, you might as well become a well-rounded expert.

Title:    You, the Owner’s Manual: An Insider’s Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger

Author: Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

IBSN: 0-06-076531-3

Article written by staff writer: Karen Brauer

Karen Brauer is a happily married woman in her forties living in a little house on the prairie. Her passions include: photography; classic and some modern literature; classic, foreign and some modern film; and music of all kinds. Her blog is called “browser life”: http://browserlife.blogspot.com/