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The Making of You: A Journey from Cell to Human

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It's the first great mystery: where did you come from? How did your cells know what to build? What are bones made from? When did your eyes start working, and what did they see?

Join Katharina Vestre on an adventure to relive your very first moments. From your first cell to your first breath, this is your story as you have never heard it before.
Did you know that it took three attempts to make your kidneys? Or that tiny twirling hairs on your back showed your other organs where to go? Or that hiccups are probably a legacy from our ancient, underwater ancestors?
With the help of some cutting-edge science and a wry sense of humour, Vestre reveals all this and more. Like: how sperm know which way to swim. Why sex and gender are more complicated than one might think. What you have in common with every living being, and why you are unique.
Set off on a true voyage of discovery through an inner universe whose secrets we are still unravelling. A miniature drama of cosmic significance, this is the amazing story of how you became you.

141 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

43 people are currently reading
975 people want to read

About the author

Katharina Vestre

4 books19 followers
Katharina Vestre (b. 1992) is a lecturer and science communicator at the University of Oslo. Her debut, the popular science book, The Making of You. A Journey from Cell to Human (2018), is translated into 23 languages. She has written the non-fiction children’s book, The Animal Book of Records (2020), together with her sister Linnea Vestre, who also has illustrated both titles.

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5 stars
322 (36%)
4 stars
352 (40%)
3 stars
178 (20%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Veronika Pizano.
1,088 reviews170 followers
February 8, 2022
Pozerala som na svoju rozčítanú aj nerozčítanú beletriu a nevedela som si nič vybrať, predstava ponárať sa do nejakého príbehu ma úplne odradila (môžu za to náročné dva pracovné týždne a kniha poviedok, ktorá mi vôbec nesadla). A tak som siahla po tejto útlej knihe a na jeden večer sa zahĺbila do fascinujúceho sveta buniek a toho, ako sa vyvíjame. Nielenže kniha veľmi pochopiteľne vysvetľuje celý proces a v každej kapitole pridáva zaujímavé fakty, ešte je aj vtipná a ľahko čitateľná. Predstavujem si, ako po detských knihách o narodení dieťaťa, ktoré pravidelne čítame, siahnem o pár rokov po tomto a budem to našim deťom v tínedžerskom veku predčítať.
Profile Image for Kristīne.
809 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2019
Maza, interesanta grāmatiņa par mūsu visu rašanos - no mazas šūniņas līdz tikko dzimušam bēbītim.

Vienādās devās populāra un zinātniska. It kā paviegls lasāmais, bet par gana sarežģītu tēmu.

Daudz pārsteigumu nebija, drīzāk ballītēs faktu dalīšanai. Izrādās, daudz gēnu atšifrēšanā ir palīdzējušas un varonīgi piespiedu kārtā ziedojušās mazās melnās augļu mušiņas. Te piesaukti n-tie eksperimenti, kuri rezultējušies mušiņās bez acīm, bez spārniem, ar kājām spārnu vietās, nu pilnīgi šausmene. Par to gan žēl, lai zinātne ietu uz priekšu, daudziem jācieš.
Profile Image for Sabin.
467 reviews43 followers
December 19, 2022
I've had a real fascination with magic as a kid. I've had a fascination with the paranormal and the unexplained. I wanted to hear stories about the bermuda triangle, how it rained with frogs, voodoo doctors, zombies and how you make a whole building disappear. One of the first books that I read in English, actually, was one on cartomancy: it was my hope to find cause and effect relations, find out why things happen and how to influence them; only a few steps down from planning world domination. You know, normal things a twelve year old would do.

One of my favourite shows on TV used to be one where a masked magician would show a magic trick, then after an interminable advertising break would show how he set up the trick and how he performed it. Cut a person in half, escape from a submerged barrel after having his hands tied behind his back and other such tricks were dissected, the sleight of hand revealed along with the perfect timing and the custom props.

To my mind, Katharina Vestre does something remarkably similar in this book. She reveals the magic behind the conception, birth and early development of the little humans that we all recognize and love. The book is beautiful, and the author has all the credentials required. She is thorough with her subject matter and exceptionally accessible in her writing. She takes the reader on a journey punctuated by stops on an imaginary timeline on either side of "ground zero", the moment of birth, and describes all the intricate ways in which the mother's body along with the future child's body transform to bring about this most important of events.

The book is a surprisingly clear window into the intricate processes which come together to eventually result in a fully functional human being on a more or less normal path of development. Just don't go around thinking that you're now as knowledgeable as a physician. This is just the normal path of development, as in non-pathological. A physician, in addition to this straightforward linear story, would also know about all the edge cases, all the ways in which it could go wrong and all the ways that development can be brought back on track.

In all honesty, I could find nothing wrong with this book.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
4,190 reviews3,452 followers
April 16, 2019
(3.5) This is a sprightly layman’s guide to genetics and embryology, written by a University of Oslo biosciences doctoral research fellow. Addressed in the second person, as the title suggests, the book traces your development from the sperm Leeuwenhoek studied under a microscope up to labor and delivery. Vestre looks at all the major organs and the five senses and discusses what can go wrong along with the normal quirks of the body. I learned all kinds of bizarre facts. For instance, did you know that sperm have a sense of smell? And that until the 1960s pregnancy tests involved the death of a mouse or rabbit? Who knew that babies can remember flavors and sounds experienced in utero? Vestre compares human development with other creatures’, including fruit flies (with whom we share half of our DNA), fish and alligators (which have various ways of determining gender), and other primates (why is it that they stay covered in fur and we don’t?). The charming style is aimed at the curious reader; I rarely felt that things were being dumbed down. Most chapters open with a fetal illustration by the author’s sister. I’m passing this on to a pregnant friend who will enjoy marveling at everything that’s happening inside her.

A representative passage:

“This may not sound terribly impressive; I promised you dramatic changes, and all that’s happened is that a round plate has become a triple-decker cell sandwich. But you’re already infinitely more interesting than the raspberry you were a short while ago. These cells are no longer confused, needy newcomers with no idea where they are or what they’re supposed to do. They have completed a rough division of labour. The cells on the top layer will form, among other things, skin, hair, nails, eye lenses, nerves and your brain. From the bottom layer you’ll get intestines, liver, trachea and lungs. And the middle layer will become your bones, muscles, heart and blood vessels.”
Profile Image for Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga.
768 reviews323 followers
November 11, 2023
Nors ši knygelė ir visai nedidelė, tačiau savyje talpinanti tiek daug! Joje Katharina Vestre pasakoja apie pirmuosius gyvenimo mėnesius, nuo apvaisinimo pradžios iki gimimo.
Skaityti buvo tikrai labai ìdomu. Viskas parašyta aiškiai bei suprantamai. Buvo pateikta net ir šiek tiek iliustracijų, kas dar labiau pagyvino pačią knygą.
Tikrai labai informatyvi bei prasminga knyga, kurioje tikiu, jog tikrai atrasite ir Jūs nežinomų bei negirdėtų faktų.
Manau, jog ši knyga gali tapti puikia dovana tiems, kurie laukia savo mažųjų stebuklų atkeliaujant į šį margą pasaulį! 💛
Profile Image for Bent.viena.puslapi.
322 reviews58 followers
March 3, 2024
Ši knyga praeitais metais ne kartą šmėžavo mano IG knygų profilyje ir visos apžvalgos buvo tokios gražios, kad susigundžiau ją įsigyti ir perskaityti.

Begalo gražus knygos viršelis. Toks stebuklingas, kaip ir pats gyvybės atsiradimas 🤍
Knygoje gausu informacijos paaiškinamos gana paprastais žodžiais, todėl buvo lengva skaityti .
Manau knyga tinkama tiek būsimoms mamoms, tiek esamoms, tiek žmonėms neturintiems nieko bendro. Dėl bendro išprusimo ją galima drąsiai paskaityti kiekvienam 🤍
Profile Image for Kristin Natasha Trovik.
5 reviews
November 20, 2025
En fin liten bok, lettlest og underholdende. Til tider litt upresis og ufullstendig? Språket skifter mellom å være veldig tilgjengelig og «barnslig», til noe som mere ligner biologi for videregående…Men det er kanskje bare formatet som ikke gir plass til mere, eller meg som helsepersonell som er biased. Anyways, koste meg med den.
Profile Image for Nora|KnyguDama.
552 reviews2,424 followers
Read
July 7, 2023
Prieš pradėdama sakyti bet ką, pirmiausia privalau pagirti tokį subtilų ir tokį gražų knygos viršelį. Vos jį pamačiusi – įsimylėjau. Ir ne dėl to, kad knyga ir viskas joje man šiuo metu artima. O dėl to, kad viskas kas liečia kūdikius, visada būna rožinis, žydras ar baltas, ar pastelinis. O čia tamsus, be jokių blizgalų ir elegantiškas! Kas irgi yra retas komplimentas kūdikiškoms knygoms. Žodžiu, vršelis – dešimt balų, o ir pati knyga labai smagi. Mažytė, plonytė, o informacijos joje su kaupu. Gali perskaityt vienu prisėdimu, tačiau neišeina. Vis stabteli, susimąstai, kažką užsirašai, kažką pagooglini ir dediesi, dediesi galvon. Nes taip paprastai gyvybės užsimezgimo, formavimosi ir gimimo dar niekas niekur neaiškino.

Katharina Vestre – Oslo universiteto gyvybės mokslų instituto darbuotoja, ne vieną straipsnį jau publikavusi žinomuose leidiniuose ir nuolat besigilinanti į savo srities inovacijas. Tačiau šioje knygoje ji ne mokslininkė ir ne akademikė: čia ji paprasta tavo draugė, paprastai žodžiais aiškinanti kas ir kaip dedasi tavyje vos pastojus. Taip, taip – nuo pat gyvybės užuomazgos iki pat akimirkos, kuomet pirmą kartą laikai vaikelį rankose. Knyga suskirstyta skyriais – savaitėmis, ir kiekvienas skyrius detaliai, tačiau šmaikščiai (!!!) aiškina kūdikio pokyčius kas savaitę. Pradedant nuo aguonos grūdelio, palyginant su kitų žinduolių nėštumu, atskleidžiant keistų ir negirdėtų faktų, keliaujame ypatingiausia ir sudėtingiausia gyvenimo kelione.

Man labai labai patiko, kad autorė knygoje nenaudojo mokslinių terminų, medicininio žodyno skaitant neprireikė, guglint nesuprantamų sakinių irgi nereikėjo. Ji kalba „žmonių kalba“ kiekvienam, aiškiai, sklandžiai ir taip, kad net jokio ryšio su biologija neturintis žmogus puikiai visus procesus suprastų. Autorė pateikia ir įdomių tyrimų pavyzdžių. Man labai įstrigo du tyrimai, kuriuos pati ateityje išmėginti norėčiau. Pirmasis. Kuomet vaikutis buvo devintą mėnesį pilvelyje, mama jam du kartus į dieną skaitydavo tą pačią pasaką, ir taip iki pat jo gimimo. Gimus vaikeliui, kuomet jis būdavo itin neramus, mama uždėdavo ausines su jos pačios balsu įkalbėta ta pačia pasaka. Vaikas iškart greičiau nurimdavo! Tačiau jei ausinėse mama skaitydavo kitą pasaką – jokios įtakos vaiko ramybei tai neturėdavo... Tai rodo, kad būdamas pilvelyje vaikas atskiria ne tik mamos balsą, bet ir pasakos ritmą, intonacijas, pauzes. Kitas tyrimas. Dažna šeima ar mama turi savo mėgstamą serialą ar muziką. Pavyzdžiui, mudu su Marium kiekvieną vakarą žiūrim „Draugus“ ir niekad neprasukinėjam serijos pradžios – mums labai patinka The Rembrandts daina „I'll be there for you“. Pasirodo, ji vėliau man padės nuraminti sūnelį! Buvo atliktas tyrimas, kad jei mama kas vakarą klauso tos pačios dainos, vaikas ją taip pat pamėgsta ir gimęs su ja lengviau nusiramina.

Kaip jau supratote, knyga išties paprasta, lengvai skaitoma, bet daug galvoje paliekanti. Puikus skaitinys besilaukiančioms, planuojančioms ar jau turintiems vaikelių, bet iki galo tos visos jų kelionės ir nežinantiems. Nežinau ar įmanoma aiškiau ir įdomiau viską nupasakoti.


Profile Image for AlinaG.
201 reviews52 followers
April 12, 2020
Pe lângă toate detaliile de genetica, cartea chiar mi-a plăcut. A fost știința pe înțelesul oricui.
Mi-a plăcut felul de a povesti, de a explica chestii complexe într-o maniera amuzanta, accesibila și ușor de înțeles.
Profile Image for Douglas.
682 reviews30 followers
December 4, 2019
What a mind blowing, clearly written book revealing the incredible genius and complexity of you. That's right, you who is reading this. You are a collection of millions of highly specialized cells that create networks, systems, complex movements and chemistry. And is even self replicating.

One must pause and reflect every few pages.

This isn't a book about being pro-life, or against intelligent design. It's not about reproduction. It's you.

I still want to buy a dozen copies of this book and give them to everyone I care about.
61 reviews
April 2, 2025
Très intéressant de connaître le côté scientifique de la grossesse et du développement du fœtus.
Profile Image for Катерина Гончар.
28 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2023
Читається легко, на одному диханні, дізналася багато нового про зародження і розвиток життя в організмі матері )

Особливо вдячна автору за те, що вона наприкінці книги вказала посилання на всі згадані наукові дослідження.
Profile Image for Ramona Boldizsar.
Author 6 books562 followers
March 15, 2024
Povestea de care nu știam că am nevoie într-o zi de vineri. E scrisă ușor, ca o poveste și te ghidează prin toate etapele de concepție/creștere/dezvoltare ale unei ființe umane. Cu niște fun facts despre alte specii și o frumusețe de traseu & explicații despre ce/ cum fac celulele lucruri. Mi-a plăcut mult, poate și unde nu aveam așteptări de niciun fel și m-a ținut acolo până am terminat-o. ^^ A fost interesant să citesc despre etapele dezvoltării bebelușului și retrospectiv, la 7 ani după ce am devenit mamă. E interesant că pusă față în față cu fapte biologice & lucruri concrete despre existența umană, totuși am găsit un pic de loc de magie. Care magie vine tocmai din statistică, dacă vrei, cât puteam la fel de bine să nu fim ceea ce suntem dacă un alt spermatozoid era mai rapid sau dacă comunicarea dintre celule nu era corectă și nu ne mai dezvoltam deloc. Fain.
Profile Image for Hannah Cairns.
14 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2019
I love babies and children I think they are the most entertaining creatures on the planet! I still remember the stories told in the book This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay, he is a doctor who specialises in childbirth. So many horrendous and beautiful stories were told in that book and I was drawn to The Making of You to learn more in depth about baby development.

This book dumbs down complicated, scientific processes of the reproductive system, fertilisation and baby development and forms them into a story. It’s not your typical baby book, it gives really cool side notes and comparisons about how cells, receptors and DNA work, and makes it really easy to understand. Really enjoyable, would recommend!
Profile Image for Tone.
32 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2019
Veldig interessant og lettlesen, og forfattaren har ei god stemme. Imellom blir det så lettlese og munnleg at eg lurer på om boka eigentleg er for barn. Den er òg veldig kort, og mange av kapitla er så korte at dei ikkje kjennest fullstendige. Eg sit igjen med veldig mange spørsmål, men det er heller på grunn av mangel på informasjon enn at det er utfordrande å lese. Skulle òg ønske at mangfaldet til menneska hadde fått plass: berre éin intersex-tilstand kjem opp i kjønnskapittelet, og det er til dømes aldri nemnt at ikkje alle livmorer sit i kvinner. Hadde boka berre hatt meir kjøt på beinet ville eg elska den, men eg lærte nokre nye ting og hadde ein fin ettermiddag med den.
Profile Image for Siim Kala.
19 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2021
Kas teadsite näiteks, et naissoost ühemunakaksikutel ei ole iial identne DNA? Kuigi koolis õpetatakse siiani, et on. Sellest ja paljust muust huvitavast pajatav raamat.

Kõige lühemalt öeldes loote varases staadiumis tüdrukutel inaktiveeritakse üks X kromosoom ja naisoost lootel on neid teatavasti kaks. Üks isalt ja üks emalt. Mitteaktiivseks muutumine prarguste teadmiste järgi toimub täiesti juhuslikult ja igas rakus toimub see erinevalt, ehk nagu kirjanduses on öeldud, eranditult iga naine on geneetiline lapitekk. Mõnes rakus on ema X kromosoom ja mõnes isa X kromosoom.


Vähemalt ühes uuringus tuuakse välja, et see mõjutab ka tõenäoliselt käitumist. Ühemuna kaksikutest naised on erinevama käitumisega kui ühemuna kaksikutest mehed.
Profile Image for Erika.
833 reviews71 followers
April 26, 2020
Oerhört fascinerade och relativt lättillgänglig läsning om människans utveckling från cell till nyfödd. Fint att författaren i stället för att skriva en bok riktad till blivande mammor (och pappor) i stället riktar sig till alla – eftersom vi alla fått vår början i en cell som delar sig, eftersom vi alla vuxit i en livmoder.
12 reviews
March 22, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author does an excellent job of writing in a way that the interested layman can understand the subject matter. It’s a fascinating read and I ended up finishing it in a day and half! Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
1 review
June 29, 2019
Absolutely brilliant! Love her style of writing and bringing in evolutionary reasons as why parts of the body forms.
54 reviews
June 21, 2019
Een leuk boek! Niet alleen van toepassing voor zwangere vrouwen die meer willen weten over hun ongeboren kind, maar ook voor iedereen die al klein beetje interesse heeft in embryologie.
102 reviews
April 20, 2020
Amazing summary of the journey from conception to birth. Goes into detail but not to the point where someone lacking a biological background would be totally lost. Easy, informative read.
Profile Image for Hanna.
30 reviews
March 21, 2019
I read my copy in Russian. It is such fun and informative book. I did learn a little bit of cool information that I can use in the future. I am going to recommend this book to all of my friends. I read it in a day and might read it again soon. Easy reading for people who want to know how do humans form from the very first day until the official first day.
Profile Image for Candice.
249 reviews
November 23, 2019
This could also be named Human Embryology for People in a Hurry. WhatNeil deGrasse Tyson has done for astrophysics, Katharina Vestre has done for human embryology. The Making of You: The Incredible Journey from Cell to Human is a clearly written, chronological story of our development in the womb. Katharina Vestre does include several revenant experiments on other species that have taught us about our own journey. Throughout the book we learn the biology of human embryology along with the evolutionary connections to other species.
14 reviews
May 16, 2021
Krásna kniha pre všetkých, ktorí sa radi dozvedajú nové informácie. Ľudské telo je hotový vesmír a potvrdzuje to aj táto publikácia. Autorka píše zaujímavo a aj zložité fakty sa snaží priblížiť a podať čitateľovi jednoduchšie. Popritom sú do obsahu zakomponované aj mnohé zaujímavosti z ríše zvierat, ktoré majú s nami väčší súvis ako si vôbec myslíme. (Chválim aj slovenský preklad.) Veľmi odporúčam na prečítanie všetkým zvedavým, ktorí sa o sebe radi dozvedia niečo nové, ale aj budúcim mamičkám, v ktorých nový život práve rastie.
310 reviews
February 22, 2022
J'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, il n'était ni trop long ni trop court. Il ne tire pas en longueur ni dérive sur des faits qui n'ont rien à voir ou trop complexes. Et j'ai apprécié que l'auteur de raconte pas sa vie dans ce livre comme c'est le cas avec certains auteurs qui écrient des non fictions.
Profile Image for Preili Pipar.
650 reviews18 followers
January 4, 2019
Hea lugemine, aga samas kohati ikkagi liiga keeruline. Kuigi autor püüdis teemat edasi anda võimalikult lihtsalt ja paljude näidetega.
Igatahes on ühe inimelu areng ülimega keeruline ja müstiline.
Profile Image for Svenja.
38 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2020
Interessant und informativ , dazu noch witzig und charmant geschrieben.
Auch wenn ich nicht immer alles verstanden habe, hat es mich gut unterhalten.
Profile Image for Kyle Kassen.
12 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2021
This little book is a rare gem. A quick, easy, informative, and fascinating read.
My wife and I will be having a daughter in May, but anyone could appreciate this book.
Profile Image for Svitlana Tereshchenko.
15 reviews
July 26, 2021
Познавательнная и лёгкая книга. После неё знаешь чуть больше о человеческом организме.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews

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