After a brief introduction, the book divides itself into several chapters, each of which describes a particular part of the body or, as in the two chapters on diseases, problems that the body can be faced with. Within each chapter, Bryson describes the function of the relevant biological system, emphasizing the history of the scientific developments that led to the current understanding. Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 416-424) and index.

How to build a human -- The outside: skin and hair -- Microbial you -- The brain -- The head -- Down the hatch: the mouth and throat -- The heart and blood -- The chemistry department -- In the dissecting room : the skeleton -- On the move : bipedalism and exercise -- Equilibrium -- The immune system -- Deep breath : the lungs and breathing -- Food, glorious food -- The guts -- Sleep -- Into the nether regions -- In the beginning : conception and birth -- Nerves and pain -- When things go wrong : diseases -- When things go very wrong : cancer -- Medicine good and bad -- The end.