How Life Begins: The Science of Life in the Womb

by Christopher Vaughan

From the moment of fertilization until the day of birth, the extraordinary life of a fetus is chronicled in this awe-inspiring volume drawn from the latest in pre-natal research. How Life Begins , taking advantage of the relatively recent advent of ultrasound technology and other imaging techniques, offers a month-by-month guide to what a developing baby is seeing, hearing, dreaming about, and how it is accomplishing the miracle of preparing to be human. Readers will

How a fetus's eye movements work to "boot up" the computer that is its brain
How the hands and feet commit programmed suicide to create fingers and
What role genetics plays in determining an infant's sexual identity and personality
How the baby becomes the choreographer of the mother's labor, and the director of his or her own birth

Interviews with leading researchers combine with truly remarkable photography to make How Life Begins an unforgettable journey marking the passage from single cell to bright-eyed baby.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 1996

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well written and easy for a non-science person to understand. Great use of metaphors to help someone understand the science behind the cell processes that start life.

Much better than those insipid books written for pregnant women. I was incredibly interested in the theories about morning sickness, as I sufferred from it worse than most. He made it seem like an evolutionary advantage over other women and babies, so that did make me feel better! Nothing worse than hearing about women who were never sick a day during their pregnancy.

Overall, one of my favorites. I read it one evening.

[treehugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was assigned to read this book while in an undergrad genetics/developmental biology course, and I have to say, it really made an impression. The writing is engaging and enjoyable, and if you have an interest in this stuff at all, this is a great in-depth look at the processes that form life in the womb.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a scientific journey into the forgotten realm of the womb. I learned a ton and was pleased at the approach that that the author took. He clearly outlines different stages and studies about development without bringing in unnecessary political commentary or judgements. I was amazed once again at the miracle of life and enjoyed learning more about how it starts.

[Dias Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2008, and i learned a lot about the adventure of born. Despite having a lot of technical information is easy to read and reading is very attractive.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivating, full of great information and quite wonderful!