The Curious History of the Heart - by Vincent M Figueredo (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book traces the evolution of our understanding of the heart from the dawn of civilization to the present. Vincent M. Figueredo--an accomplished cardiologist and expert on the history of the human heart--explores the role and significance of the heart in art, culture, religion, philosophy, and science across time and place.

Book Synopsis

Longlist, 2025 Hughes Prize, British Society for the History of Science

Gold Award Winner, 2024 Nonfiction Book Awards

Runner-up, 2024 History category, San Francisco Book Festival

Runner-up, 2024 General Non-Fiction, New York Book Festival

For much of recorded history, people considered the heart to be the most important organ in the body. In cultures around the world, the heart--not the brain--was believed to be the location of intelligence, memory, emotion, and the soul. Over time, views on the purpose of the heart have transformed as people sought to understand the life forces it contains. Modern medicine and science dismissed what was once the king of the organs as a mere blood pump subservient to the brain, yet the heart remains a potent symbol of love and health and an important part of our cultural iconography.

This book traces the evolution of our understanding of the heart from the dawn of civilization to the present. Vincent M. Figueredo--an accomplished cardiologist and expert on the history of the human heart--explores the role and significance of the heart in art, culture, religion, philosophy, and science across time and place. He examines how the heart really works, its many meanings in our emotional and daily lives, and what cutting-edge science is teaching us about this remarkable organ. Figueredo considers the science of heart disease, recent advancements in heart therapies, and what the future may hold. He highlights the emerging field of neurocardiology, which has found evidence of a "heart-brain connection" in mental and physical health, suggesting that ancient views hold more truth than moderns suspect.

Ranging widely and deeply throughout human history, this book sheds new light on why the heart remains so central to our sense of self.

Review Quotes

​Illuminates the profound way in which the heart resonates through various facets of human life. Figueredo successfully weaves a tapestry that integrates the richness of the heart's cultural legacy with the ever evolving body of scientific knowledge, revealing the multifaceted character of this essential organ.​-- "Essens Book Summaries"

A "20 Best Cultural History Book of All Time" selection-- "Book Authority"

This beautifully written, engaging book is full of fascinating information...Learning about the mechanics, the art, and the emotions of the heart will serve us all well -- plus, it's fun!-- "The Idea File blog"

What a wonderful reading experience. This book takes you on a fascinating historical journey of heart; from first being considered the vessel of our soul, to being a simple pump, to perhaps the heart is a bit of both. A must read to stimulate your brain and warm your heart.--Ted W. Love, president and CEO, Global Blood Therapeutics

Overall, The Curious History of the Heart was an educational and entertaining read that blended history with science in ways that kept me engaged throughout the entire book. Highly recommended if you're interested in history or medicine or both.-- "For the Novel Lovers blog"

The title is accurate: understanding of the heart from early civilization to the present has indeed followed a "curious" path, and the book provides, through its short descriptions of events enabling the current understanding, a lighthearted tour of culture and science interactions through time. Recommended.-- "Choice Reviews, American Library Association (ALA)"

As a cardiologist, I know the heart inside and out. However, I learned even more about this amazing organ by reading my colleague's book. You will, also!--Thad F. Waites, chairman, Mississippi State Board of Health

For those compelled by the mysteries of the human heart, Vincent Figueredo has written the definitive guide and done so with diligence and panache, teaching us about the heart's place in history, literature, music and science. Figueredo is a renowned cardiologist, but he's an equally gifted storyteller. The Curious History of the Heart is a gem.--Tom Barbash, New York Times bestselling author of On Top of the World and The Dakota Winters

Provocative and broad in scope, this offers much food for thought.-- "Publishers Weekly"

The Curious History of the Heart tops the nonfiction list in Book Riot's May 2023 round up of exciting titles.-- "Book Riot newsletter"

Vincent Figueredo helps us to understand the heart as a cultural symbol, biological miracle, and central theme in human history. A tour-de-force of scholarship and storytelling, The Curious History of the Heart is a great read and an important one.--Daniel Weiss, president and CEO, Metropolitan Museum of Art

About the Author

Vincent M. Figueredo has been a practicing cardiologist and physician-scientist for thirty years. His experience spans academic medicine, medical research, teaching, private practice, and senior hospital administration, including as chair of cardiology and professor of medicine. Figueredo's research interests include how the heart responds to injury, alcohol, and stress.