“This body—and bawdy—Baedeker should inspire readers to do some navel-gazing of their own.” —Entertainment Weekly
“A truly eclectic mix of cultural, scientific and literary perspectives on the bits and pieces that make up a human body.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
Adam’s NavelIntroduction: The Form Complete
Neanderthals Yawned · The Mystery of the Visible
Part One: Headquarters
1. The Not-Quite-Naked Ape
The Hair of the Prophet · The Mark of the Beast · Burn It or Bury It · Samson’s Hair · A Metaphysical Operation · The Etiquette of Deciduousness
2. Face-to-Face
The Family Face · The Face on Mars
3. The Vigilant Eye
Flesh Becomes a Mirror · Supercilious · The Blink of an Eye · The Dreaming Eye · Close Your Eyes
4. Houdini’s Wiggle
The Ear of a Thousand Li · Darwin’s Points and Houdini’s Wiggle · Nor the Ear Filled with Hearing
5. A Ridiculous Organ
6. The Archaic Smile
Louis Armstrong’s Lips · The Badge of a Harlot · A Kiss Is Just a Kiss · The Necessary and Ambivalent Tongue · Don’t Read My Lips
Part Two: The Weight of the World
7. Arms and the Man
8. The Monkey’s Paw
A Free Hand · Finger Math · Rule of Thumb · Our Natal Autograph · Tobin’s Palm · On the Other Hand · Playing Chess with Death
9. Madonna del Latte
Breasts and “the Breast” · Via Lactia · The She-Devil from Hooter City · Topless · The Pillow of Paradise Versus the Millstone of History
10. Adam’s Navel
Untying the Knot · A Brief History of Navel-Gazing
Part Three: A Leg to Stand on
11. Privy Members
The Commotion · Vagina Dialogues · Leonardo’s Intelligent Organ · Boswell’s Johnson · The Senator’s Body Hair
12. Our Steed the Leg
Two Legs Good and Bad · The Scarecrow Learns to Dance · The Goddess with Beautiful Buttocks · Toes with Special Properties · Pedestrian Crossing
Acknowledgments
Selected Bibliography and Further Reading
Index
