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Human Anatomy: An Illustrated Guide to the Human Body
448 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 10, 2025
As a physical therapist, I can say without a doubt this is one of the best anatomy books I have ever seen. I love that it begins with introducing basic biology at the cellular level then progresses to introducing each body system. It is incredibly detailed and thorough with excellent colorful illustrations that make the topic of anatomy interesting and engaging. I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book just to have access to for my own work in case I need to look something up, as it is so well organized. This is an exceptional, concise but thorough introduction to human anatomy that is nice to have even if you don’t work in the medical field. I highly recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley, Jane de Burgh, and Amber Books Ltd. for the gifted ARC. This is a voluntary and honest review.
September 29, 2025
I don't know how anyone could give this beautiful book anything other than 5 stars!
It's well-illustrated and written.
If you ever wondered what’s under your skin besides the stuff that turns red when you’re embarrassed, this book's got you covered, literally from head to toe, inside and out!
“Human Anatomy” by Jane de Burgh is like taking a tour of your body.
Jam-packed with more than 400 scientifically accurate artworks, you’ll finally find out why your knee makes that weird noise, or where your “funny bone” really isn’t.
You'll learn about genetics, skin, nerves, and even the mysteries of aging (spoiler: it’s still happening, sorry).
With diagrams more precise than your last x-ray and explanations more digestible than grandma’s soup, this bright hardcover not only teaches you *how you digest food* but also why you should never trust a kidney with your secrets: it’s too busy filtering messes!
In summary, this anatomy book makes you the most popular person at the dinner table (“Did you know your body blinks over 28,000 times a day?”).
DISCLOSURE: I reviewed a digital ARC. I'm sure the printed book is much better.
It's well-illustrated and written.
If you ever wondered what’s under your skin besides the stuff that turns red when you’re embarrassed, this book's got you covered, literally from head to toe, inside and out!
“Human Anatomy” by Jane de Burgh is like taking a tour of your body.
Jam-packed with more than 400 scientifically accurate artworks, you’ll finally find out why your knee makes that weird noise, or where your “funny bone” really isn’t.
You'll learn about genetics, skin, nerves, and even the mysteries of aging (spoiler: it’s still happening, sorry).
With diagrams more precise than your last x-ray and explanations more digestible than grandma’s soup, this bright hardcover not only teaches you *how you digest food* but also why you should never trust a kidney with your secrets: it’s too busy filtering messes!
In summary, this anatomy book makes you the most popular person at the dinner table (“Did you know your body blinks over 28,000 times a day?”).
DISCLOSURE: I reviewed a digital ARC. I'm sure the printed book is much better.
October 22, 2025
I love illustrated anatomy and physiology books, so much so, that I have a collection of over a hundred, including my pride of joy: the complete Ciba-Geigy collection of Dr. Frank Netter. I can’t really explain why I’m so enamored of medical illustrations but, as a medical history nerd, I still find the human body, its functions and structure to be totally fascinating and medical illustrations enhance my admiration.
When the book “Human Anatomy: An Illustrated Guide to the Structure and Function of the Body” became available as a book to review on NetGalley, I quickly sent off a request and was quickly given a PDF copy to review. I am, by no means, an expert, but as someone who owns a number of books on the subject, I knew I could give a fair review.
The book is laid out very well, where each body system was examined separately. Each section has a nice introduction to the body system being discussed. There are separate pages for each organ or organelle with a brief description of the illustrations. I really liked the grey box on the upper left-hand corner that gave a summary explanation of what was going to be discussed on the page.
The text, for the most part, was well-written, though I have a few quibbles about some of the information presented. For instance, the mammillary body of the brain may be concerned with the sense of smell but I found no evidence of this when I researched the organ; it’s mainly concerned with memory and spatial navigation. There were a few other minor textual issues that I encountered, but I strike this up to reading a work in progress and I have high hopes that any misinformation will be corrected before publication.
One notion that the book presented with which I was not familiar was the idea of the mitochondria as a battery. But the more I read about the idea—there are plenty of Internet pages on the subject—the more I realize that the analogy has some merit. Both a battery and mitochondria convert a substance into energy, but I feel the comparison breaks down because the mitochondria doesn’t really store energy as a battery does, instead makes the energy then distributed to other parts of the body. I admit it’s an interesting concept.
As for the illustrations, while I felt that most of the illustrations were what I would expect from a book on anatomy, I really liked some of the angles that the illustrators used, giving the reader a much different perspective than the usual.
There’s a lot to like about this book and I would recommend “Human Anatomy: An Illustrated Guide to the Structure and Function of the Body” for someone interested in a visual approach to learning about it.
4/5 stars
[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]
When the book “Human Anatomy: An Illustrated Guide to the Structure and Function of the Body” became available as a book to review on NetGalley, I quickly sent off a request and was quickly given a PDF copy to review. I am, by no means, an expert, but as someone who owns a number of books on the subject, I knew I could give a fair review.
The book is laid out very well, where each body system was examined separately. Each section has a nice introduction to the body system being discussed. There are separate pages for each organ or organelle with a brief description of the illustrations. I really liked the grey box on the upper left-hand corner that gave a summary explanation of what was going to be discussed on the page.
The text, for the most part, was well-written, though I have a few quibbles about some of the information presented. For instance, the mammillary body of the brain may be concerned with the sense of smell but I found no evidence of this when I researched the organ; it’s mainly concerned with memory and spatial navigation. There were a few other minor textual issues that I encountered, but I strike this up to reading a work in progress and I have high hopes that any misinformation will be corrected before publication.
One notion that the book presented with which I was not familiar was the idea of the mitochondria as a battery. But the more I read about the idea—there are plenty of Internet pages on the subject—the more I realize that the analogy has some merit. Both a battery and mitochondria convert a substance into energy, but I feel the comparison breaks down because the mitochondria doesn’t really store energy as a battery does, instead makes the energy then distributed to other parts of the body. I admit it’s an interesting concept.
As for the illustrations, while I felt that most of the illustrations were what I would expect from a book on anatomy, I really liked some of the angles that the illustrators used, giving the reader a much different perspective than the usual.
There’s a lot to like about this book and I would recommend “Human Anatomy: An Illustrated Guide to the Structure and Function of the Body” for someone interested in a visual approach to learning about it.
4/5 stars
[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]
December 22, 2025
Human Anatomy by Jane De Burgh is an accessible introduction to the structure of the human body, covering major systems, organs, and anatomical relationships. The book is designed to help readers understand how the body is organized, using clear explanations and visual support to make anatomy less intimidating.
One of the book’s strongest points is its clarity. The writing is straightforward, and the illustrations are clean and helpful, making it easier to visualize complex structures. It works well as a reference for beginners or anyone who wants a solid refresher without getting lost in overly technical language.
Where the book could improve is in depth. Readers looking for highly detailed clinical correlations or advanced anatomical discussion may find it a bit basic. Some sections move quickly, which might leave more curious readers wanting additional context.
Overall, Human Anatomy is a good starting point for learning anatomy. It’s a practical, easy-to-follow resource that’s especially useful for newcomers who want a clear foundation before moving on to more advanced texts.
One of the book’s strongest points is its clarity. The writing is straightforward, and the illustrations are clean and helpful, making it easier to visualize complex structures. It works well as a reference for beginners or anyone who wants a solid refresher without getting lost in overly technical language.
Where the book could improve is in depth. Readers looking for highly detailed clinical correlations or advanced anatomical discussion may find it a bit basic. Some sections move quickly, which might leave more curious readers wanting additional context.
Overall, Human Anatomy is a good starting point for learning anatomy. It’s a practical, easy-to-follow resource that’s especially useful for newcomers who want a clear foundation before moving on to more advanced texts.
September 27, 2025
As a healthcare professional, I am fascinated with all things anatomy and physiology. This book, Human Anatomy an illustrated guide to the structure and function of the body, is captivating. It truly starts at the beginning and gradually progresses through the complexity of the body. Each section provides a descriptive account that can be understood and appreciated, even if you have no medical background or training. Those that have will likely appreciate the basic refresher. The pictures and graphics are well done, illustrating and depicting processes and structures. Images are in color and are either illustrations, high-definition photos, or medical scans. This is perfect for those who just want a crash course, human body 101 lesson, in a way that is respectful and appreciative of the beautiful intricacy of the human body.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
September 30, 2025
Great illustrations, complete text descriptions and details.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much female health was present in this book, I haven't read a general anatomy book that details so much. Pelvic floor, fascia and general reproductive organ health is often overlooked but there were multiple pages giving detailed information (I wish there were actual pictures because diagrams can only do so much).
My only issue was the layout, there was a lot of white space on a good sum of pages and the block text was odd for an ebook format (hoping this was just a NetGalley thing).
My kid even enjoyed looking at the pictures (they're just learning to read) and information was clear enough I could answer questions after reading the section.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much female health was present in this book, I haven't read a general anatomy book that details so much. Pelvic floor, fascia and general reproductive organ health is often overlooked but there were multiple pages giving detailed information (I wish there were actual pictures because diagrams can only do so much).
My only issue was the layout, there was a lot of white space on a good sum of pages and the block text was odd for an ebook format (hoping this was just a NetGalley thing).
My kid even enjoyed looking at the pictures (they're just learning to read) and information was clear enough I could answer questions after reading the section.
November 6, 2025
An elaborate and technical book that illustrates every aspect of the body in very descriptive drawings and descriptions of each part. When I was a student, this came in handy studying anatomy and physiology in high school and then again for my certified nursing assistant exam. I have always been fascinated by the way our bodies and anatomies function and at one time was considering going to school to become a nurse. However that dream has faded into existence but I still remember all of my studies thanks to books like this one!
If you're a student or someone who is also fascinated by the human anatomy, check out this book! It is a fantastic resource!
I received this ARC book complimentary from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If you're a student or someone who is also fascinated by the human anatomy, check out this book! It is a fantastic resource!
I received this ARC book complimentary from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2025
Netgalley ARC-Reminds me of the DK books I read as a kid. Minute detail and lots of general knowledge are crammed into chapters on each of the major systems. Each is easy to read considering that you could easily get mired in medical and technical jargon. This will be a good reference for anyone interested in their inner workings. Diagrams, drawings even MRI and X-rays are all carefully labeled to show the concepts. My only criticism was that the chapters on aging and death seemed like an afterthought because they contained less in-depth material than the preceding chapters.
October 7, 2025
This is a great reference book for anyone interested in human anatomy. The introductions to each section and the bold summaries are very helpful. But as informative as the book is, and it is very informative, the highlights of the book are the fabulous visuals. While the contents of the visuals are clearly described, I just spent most of my time staring at the images. The content is very thorough and I consider this book to be a great atlas of anatomy. Thank you to Netgalley and Amber Books for the advance reader copy.
October 14, 2025
This was just for interest sake, but it was good(even though I’m now having war flashbacks to university anatomy)
October 20, 2025
Sound book covering human anatomy. Contains mix of drawings and X rays. Useful. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews