The Human Machine - by R McNeill Alexander (Hardcover)

About the Book

As Alexander himself states, "This book views the human body and its movements as an engineer might view a structure or a machine." Drawing on timely research and original material, it is an accessible and very comprehensive examination of human movement, exploring the mechanical principles on which this movement -- from facial expressions to athletic activity -- is based. Alexander's easy-going, descriptive style describes the science of biomechanics so that it becomes both relevant and intuitively reasonable.

Book Synopsis

Uses engineering principles to explain the mechanical workings of the human body.

From the Back Cover

How do we walk, chew, speak, or use our hands? How does a pitcher wind up? Why does arthritis inhibit motion? No robot could ever duplicate exactly the delicate and complex mechanisms of human movement, so unique is the operation of the body. In The Human Machine, R. McNeill Alexander explains the mechanical workings of the human body by using engineering principles. This fascinating book analyzes the full range of body motion and all aspects of human movement from everyday activities such as writing to sporting techniques such as weightlifting. The book accurately explains the mechanical principles involved, detailing such activities as swimming and cycling. Alexander also discusses mechanical faults and accidents - medical problems that might disturb the working of the body - including sprains, bone fractures, arthritis and heart attacks. While there are other books on athletic movement, they attempt to describe only rudimentary mechanics and do not draw on recent findings. The Human Machine presents current theories and the latest experiments, and offers a completely detailed and interdisciplinary analysis of human locomotion needed for those in physical education, sports science, physiotherapy, nursing, human biology, kinesiology, or biomechanics. Whether scientists or laypersons with little background in science, people interested in how their own bodies work will find The Human Machine engrossing.

About the Author

R. McNeill Alexander is an internationally known scientist in his field and holder of the Linnean Medal in Zoology. He is a fellow in the Royal Society, and has a Ph.D. from Cambridge and a D.Sc. from Wales. He is the author/editor of eleven books, and he has published more than 150 scientific articles. Currently he is Professor of Zoology at the University of Leeds in England.