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Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing
In the spring of 2005, cardiologist Barbara Natterson-Horowitz was called to consult on an unusual patient: an Emperor tamarin at the Los Angeles Zoo. While examining the tiny monkey’s sick heart, she learned that wild animals can die of a form of cardiac arrest brought on by extreme emotional stress. It was a syndrome identical to a human condition but one that veterinari...more
ebook, 320 pages
Published
June 12th 2012
by Vintage
(first published 2012)
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Community Reviews
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Nov 24, 2012
Luis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
animal-science,
dogs-cats-horses
Intellectually illuminating. Sensational. If you fail to read Zoobiquity, you'll miss out on understanding the most important paradigm to reemerge since the Age of Enlightenment.
I honestly cannot think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book. Natterson-Horowitz is a doctor who was asked to do cardiovascular surgery on a tamarin. While trying to "reassure" the monkey pre-surgery, she learned about the risks of a condition called capture myopathy found in animals. She's shocked to find this condition, well-studied among vets, bears a striking resemblance to an emerging heart condition in humans. This gets her thinking: What else do vets know all about that c...more
I am loving this book. I am not even half way through it and I want to buy it for ALL my veterinary friends, as well as my MD friends...as well as ANYONE who has any interest in science or animals or health or people....
It is well written, definitely written for the "non" doctor person, but enough science to appeal to the scientist as well. I'll admit there are a few things that I, as a veterinarian, have caught as questionably factual, but not enough to take issue with the author.
Will continue...more
It is well written, definitely written for the "non" doctor person, but enough science to appeal to the scientist as well. I'll admit there are a few things that I, as a veterinarian, have caught as questionably factual, but not enough to take issue with the author.
Will continue...more
A time ago I wanted to be a vet. So when I came across this book it sparked a curiosity in me. There are very few medical popular science books around, and even fewer veterinary related ones. And I have to say it was a truly illuminating book, and one anyone interested in medicine (be it animal or human) or science should read.
Although written by two authors, Zoobiquity is written from the perspective of Dr Natterson, a doctor, and her journey discovering comparative medicine. The book is very e...more
Although written by two authors, Zoobiquity is written from the perspective of Dr Natterson, a doctor, and her journey discovering comparative medicine. The book is very e...more
Feb 09, 2013
Ravenari
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biology-science-nature,
non-fiction-read
Zoobiquity is a surprisingly well-referenced, knowledgeable pop-science book (some of you will know it's hard to find these!) which deals with the concept of human animal, and other animal medicine. It essentially says that the human medical world would be vastly improved and probably a great deal more efficient in certain areas, if medical doctors trained only in the human body let go of their condescending bias towards veterinarians (which is a generalisation, but can be frankly seen throughou...more
Feb 06, 2013
Cyndi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
health,
natural-science
If you have pets or livestock or otherwise are involved in animal care, you know that vets always look to the human medical world for answers. They don't only stay with the animal world. Unfortunately, human doctors aren't as open-minded. Natterson-Horowitz is an MD who had her eyes opened by what vets and others involved with animal health can teach her. Zoobiquity talks about these collaborations then presents several chapters, each with examples from a particular field (eating disorders/weigh...more
I'm really enjoying this book. "Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing" provides a novel perspective on understanding human disease and health by looking at similarities and differences found in animals, both domestic and wild (and even dragonflies -- is that a bug?). The book also looks at the evolution of health and disease dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. Also, the authors also nicely dives into mental health issues "across species" which I foun...more
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...more
"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...more
This book is a real winner. The chapter on obesity was especially fascinating;I learned some things I would rather not know about my food.
My only regret is that, not surprisingly given the author's profession as a physician (From the book: What do you call a physician? A veterinarian who can only treat one species.), the emphasis is on how what we learn about animals can help us with human health. I would have liked to see more about how we can use human medicine to improve animal health. All to...more
My only regret is that, not surprisingly given the author's profession as a physician (From the book: What do you call a physician? A veterinarian who can only treat one species.), the emphasis is on how what we learn about animals can help us with human health. I would have liked to see more about how we can use human medicine to improve animal health. All to...more
I had never thought about the fact that at one time doctors tended to the medical needs of both humans and animals. The chapter on obesity was fascinating too. Who could imagine that there would exist animals in the wild with weight problems. Also didn't realize that psychiatric problems are found in animals around the globe. Natterson-Horowitz notices many curious parallels between animal and human illnesses and behaviors. Her examination of this cross-over was impressively wide-ranging. She is...more
I don't give many five star ratings! This was the most interesting book I've read in years! It should be required reading in EVERY medical school. Written by a cardiologist and a science writer, carefully documented, and informed by veterinarians and wildlife biologists, this book brings it all together - and encourages a One Health approach, where physicians for ALL species can learn from each other, to the benefit of all. WHO KNEW that animals had similar problems with addictions, mental healt...more
Oct 16, 2012
Carrie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
misc-non-fiction,
ar-stuff
I probably wouldn't have read this if it wasn't a selection for my book club, but I'm glad I did. Like most 'pop science' books, I found it a pretty straightforward, easy read, that made me say "huh, isn't that interesting" quite a few times.
Essentially the author walks the reader through a selection of comparative biology topics. Nothing is discussed too in-depth, but there is an extensive references section in the back of the book if you want to do some further reading.
Although I enjoyed the...more
Essentially the author walks the reader through a selection of comparative biology topics. Nothing is discussed too in-depth, but there is an extensive references section in the back of the book if you want to do some further reading.
Although I enjoyed the...more
I highly enjoyed this book on looking at human and animal health as a whole, instead of separate issues (humans are animals, after all). As a scientist I was familiar with many of the examples used and they were used well. The book does a great job of linking a variety of issues into an organized whole.
A few stray observations: I appreciated the mention that the food we eat bears no relation to its wild counterpart, because we've bread them for centuries if not longer to suit our purposes. It i...more
Zoobiquity is a fascinating book that shows us just how much humans and animals are alike. The author Dr. Barbara Natterson- Horowitz demonstrates that so many of conditions that people are activities for; such as shyness, sexual promiscuity, drug addictions, obesity, self injuring, anorexia/bulimia, and juvenile delinquency are conditions that a wide variety animals also experience. While she doesn't give people a free ride for indulging in these acts she does stress that we should realize that...more
You know when you think you have a good idea and your spouse says, "oh that's great. You should write a book."? What they really mean is "I have no idea what you are talking about, I just want you to leave me alone so I can finish my show." I found this book full of odd and often humorous facts about animals that rarely related to a human population, and likewise in reverse. Sure questions and coincidences were raised, but what was the practical application? What is the take home at the end of t...more
Zoobiquity is a term coined by the author(s)to describe the comparative study of animal and human diseases. Each chapter looks at a major disease - heart problems, cancer, etc. and discusses what occurs in both groups and how vets and docs can learn from one another. There are lots of fascinating pieces of information that are discussed in the search for commonality and new methods of treatment. I only wish I could remember what they were! I do remember that they think cancer goes back to the ag...more
A fascinating investigation into the shared experiences of human and animal lives. The authors make a compelling case for integration and cooperation in health care and healing, and one is left with a profound sense of connectedness. I would have appreciated more examples of how animal thriving could inform greater human flourishing (the compound effect of thorough and graphic analyses of disease can make for some slogging moments), but I guess an intensely focused clinician such as Dr. Natterso...more
What can veterinarians teach non-vet doctors about medicine? I love this question. This book examines: obesity, cancer, circadian rhythms, sudden infant death, and more. The connections and overlaps are as interesting, as the blind spots that the human medical field has developed are disturbing.
Love the writing on obesity. As our pets, and the wild creatures around us suffer from more obesity and cardiovascular problems, perhaps the conversation can be about the environment and the food chain a...more
Love the writing on obesity. As our pets, and the wild creatures around us suffer from more obesity and cardiovascular problems, perhaps the conversation can be about the environment and the food chain a...more
Do animals get cancer in the wild? Do they show signs we would associate with depression and other mental illness? Zoobiquity is an eye-opening look at the links between human and animal health most of us have never considered. While human medicine has a long history of experimenting on animals, in this book the tables are turned, showing what veterinarians know and what they can teach MDs. The book is written for animal lovers, certainly, but it also paints a bracing vision of MDs and veterinar...more
Very interesting book about the parallels between medical conditions in animals and in humans. Covers topics such as food (anxiety disorders, animals urge to flee the predator), self-mutilation (cutting in humans, birds that pull out their feathers). Discussion of why it is important for vets and human doctors to communicate (one example related to infectious disease vectors--how West Nile was discovered). Very interesting book, perhaps the chapters could be a little more tightly edited (hence,...more
The author, a (human) cardiologist and consultant for a zoo, takes us into the new world of Zoobiquity: trying to learn about humans by looking at other animals (and vice versa). While we have a history of using animals in our research (medical, pharmacological, beauty), doctors have not tended to be open to veterinarian medicine and animal studies as a way to learn about or gain insight into human biology.
Horowitz et al are looking to change that. She goes into various animal situations/conditi...more
Horowitz et al are looking to change that. She goes into various animal situations/conditi...more
Wonderful! Overweight Dragonfly's, Ticklish Rats, Animals that cut and mutilate themselves, wild animals that are overweight,anorexic, STD rampant and have OCD? Awesome! We are all the same! This breaks down a lot of the preconceived notions about our unique "humanness" and brings us all back to the animal level. It also points out quite well the flawed approach to elevating M.D.'s into orbit status while ignoring their veterinarian counterparts who often have a lot to teach us about ourselves a...more
As a veterinary student it is utterly refreshing to see recognition of the importance of my profession in One Health. The author is not wrong about the rift between physicians and veterinarians. We are routinely looked down upon by physicians despite it being harder to get into vet school and a curriculum that is just as hard if not harder to stay in. To see a physician acknowledge the wealth of information we have to share is a delight. Her comparisons between human and animal diseases are illu...more
For years, veterinarians have been taking care of multiple species, while medical doctors have been taking care of only one. This book explores the universality between all types of animals and how professionals in these different fields can learn from each other to improve medicine for all species.
As a veterinarian, I appreciate the awareness (finally) by some in the human medical community that we are "real doctors" and have knowledge to share: We meet Dr. Tracey McNamara at the Bronx Zoo who...more
As a veterinarian, I appreciate the awareness (finally) by some in the human medical community that we are "real doctors" and have knowledge to share: We meet Dr. Tracey McNamara at the Bronx Zoo who...more
As a veterinarian, I found myself thinking, 'It's about time!' quite frequently while reading this book. Contrary to what the authors state, veterinarians have been trying to promote a 'one health' culture all along. We have encountered a tremendous amount of resistance from the human physicians who don't see vets as 'real doctors.' I hope this book opens a lot of eyes and minds. Meticulously researched, this is a fascinating read for anyone interested in animals, medicine, psychology, parenting...more
A great read. I found this book to extremely fascinating. Granted, my field of choice is Veterinary Medicine, so your mileage may vary. That being said, if you have any interest in biology and/or medicine, it's well worth looking into. Humans are animals. Humans and wildlife get many of the same diseases. This book tells about many different ways we can look to the animal world in order to help and treat humans. It covers many topics, from cancer, to eating disorders, to STD's, and even self-har...more
Outstanding treatment of the subject of the need for and success of cooperation between human medical and veterinary medical professionals. We have so much to share and teach one another, there is great value in the knowledge we share and learn together. An incredible book I feel every veterinarian, like myself, needs to read, study and think about. We can add so much to the health of the animals and people of the world working in concert.
Fascinating and engrossing! Though written by a world-renowned cardiologist and a top-notch science writer, this book is written in a thoroughly engaging, personable style. I found it utterly fascinating how the fields and veterinary and human medicine were once intertwined, then diverged. The authors make a compelling case for why vets and MDs should collaborate more -- for the good of humans and animals. Highly recommended!
I thought this was a great book. As a vet, I feel we got this message often throughout veterinary school, so the topic is not as ingenious and revolutionary as the author makes it seem. It was taught as a theme called "One Health" and we were encouraged to pursue multidisciplinary education including public health degrees and research fields. I do think the examples she uses are interesting, especially when they apply more to behavior than biology. It does not seem counterintuitive to me that an...more
Great book. The main argument is that medical researchers need to consider colaborating with research veterinarians, since so many diseases attack both humans and animals. Written with wit, humor, and a great clear style. I was delighted,but never confused as I read it. And look out for those sweet wallabies. . . .
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Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, M.D., earned her degrees at Harvard and the University of California, San Francisco. She is a cardiology professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and serves on the medical advisory board of the Los Angeles. Zoo as a cardiovascular consultant. Her writing has appeared in many scientific and medical publications.
More about Barbara Natterson-Horowitz...
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Sep 10, 2012 10:28pm
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