The Book of the Heart

From its physical attributes to its power as a literary metaphor to its religious significance, and beyond, here is the captivating story of the role of the heart in our lives and culture.

There is a universal fascination with the human heart. Every age and civilization has developed theories and beliefs about it, which overlap, support, and sometimes undermine one another. it is celebrated as the home of faith, love and courage, the seat of the soul. No other organ has inspired so many poets, writers, painters, and religious thinkers, and references to it abound in advertising, cultural kitsch, song lyrics, and everyday language and imagery. Shedding light on the heart's many mysteries and meanings, the chapters in THE BOOK OF THE HEART explore:

• The Physical Heart: a natural history of the heart; its strengths and weaknesses; the anatomy of the human heart

• The Religious Heart: the bleeding heart; the sacrificial heart; the heart's place in cannibalism and other rituals.

• The Heart in Art: visual depictions of the heart from classical art to tatoos; fruits and other symbols of the heart

• The Written Heart: poetry and song; romantic love, myths, and legends; the novel

Filled with fascinating tidbits (for instance, a giraffe requires a heart weighing sixty-six pounds to pump blood up its neck) and graced with charming illustrations, THE BOOK OF THE HEART is a great Valentine's Day Gift and the perfect book to pick up for some heartening entertainment any time of the year.