The Body cover art

The Body

A Guide for Occupants

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Body

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £15.99

Buy Now for £15.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.’

In the best-selling, prize-winning A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson achieved the seemingly impossible by making the science of our world both understandable and entertaining to millions of people around the globe.

Now he turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological makeup.

©2019 Bill Bryson (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
Biology Thought-Provoking Funny Inspiring
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listen to clips from the audiobook

<i>The Body</i> by Bill Bryson
Discover what makes human tears unique
<i>The Body</i> by Bill Bryson
Learn how the vestibular system functions
<i>The Body</i> by Bill Bryson
Explore the biology of teen sleep
  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Discover what makes human tears unique
  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Learn how the vestibular system functions
  • The Body by Bill Bryson
  • Explore the biology of teen sleep

Listeners also enjoyed...

A Crack in Creation cover art
The Lost Continent cover art
Made in America cover art
The Selfish Gene cover art
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry cover art
The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England cover art
Cosmos cover art
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World cover art
The Immune Mystery cover art
How to Remove a Brain cover art
The Story of the Human Body cover art
The Invisible Rainbow cover art
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers cover art
Gulp cover art
Stiff cover art
Humanology cover art

Behind the scenes

Watch our exclusive interview with the best-selling author as he reveals the inspiration behind The Body.
0:00

Editor reviews

“Between the mysterious, the unexpected, the unknown and the undiscovered The Body: A Guide for Occupants takes us through all the weird and wonderful parts of the human body with humour, historical anecdotes and some truly jaw-dropping facts. Somehow, with all that jam packed in, listening to it still feels like an entertaining coffee with an old friend. I have loved many of Bill Bryson’s books but I think this one may have just jostled its way to the top of my list of favourites. Definitely take a listen if you’ve ever wondered why or how your body does what it does, or, if not, take a listen for the multitude of amazing facts you can pull out at your next awkward dinner party.” (Alex, Audible Editor)

“In this illuminating history of the human form, Bill Bryson presents scientific research in an accessible way, introducing a host of individuals including the world’s first kidney transplant recipient and the Nobel Prize-winning Peter Medawar. Covering everything from sleep to immunity, I came away from listening to the audiobook with a newfound appreciation and respect for my body. A perfect listen for new and existing Bill Bryson fans alike.” (Jess, Audible Editor)

The life and times of Bill Bryson


Born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951, Bill Bryson now resides in the UK. His best-selling, wry-humoured books cover travel, the English language, history and popular science.
In 1972, longing to experience the wider world, Bryson left his home state and toured Europe, delighting in its strangeness. Returning the following year, he took a job at a psychiatric hospital before embarking on a career in journalism. His first published book, The Lost Continent (1989), recounts a tour of America, though he’s claimed this wasn’t a travel book. “It was more sociological” he says. “I was looking at this country that I’d grown up in and seeing how it had changed – and how I had changed.”

What listeners say about The Body

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,054
  • 4 Stars
    737
  • 3 Stars
    146
  • 2 Stars
    46
  • 1 Stars
    39
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,541
  • 4 Stars
    577
  • 3 Stars
    170
  • 2 Stars
    47
  • 1 Stars
    42
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,557
  • 4 Stars
    608
  • 3 Stars
    116
  • 2 Stars
    28
  • 1 Stars
    34

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing. Loved it.

Amazing narration and read so you completely understand everything he's saying. A fantastic listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The audio equivalent of one you can't put down!

I'd read a couple of dismissive reviews of this, mostly relating to Bill's self-narration. He reads with a certain underrated style, that is true, but that just adds the this book's addictive qualities in my view. The content is interesting, and includes social and historical commentaries as well as the actual physiology, all of which is explained easily. A joy to listen to, and one I looked forward to going to bed early for as I quickly realised this wasn't want that was going to lull me to a swift slumber. I am sad that I've finished it now but will no doubt return to it again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bill Bryson does it again!

Wonderful book, enchantingly narrated by the author..Full of information, insight, wisdom, humour and many recondite facts. Youre left wishing it was longer! Full marks, Bill!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Insight and Beautifully Explained

Bill has a wonderful way of explaining how our bodies work, move and function that is insightful, even to the listener that might not know a lot about anatomy. I learned so much from this audible book. I highly recommend it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I Like Bill's Voice!

I find it very soothing & easy to listen to. He manages to make the subject matter very interesting, I only wish I could remember all the information, although I'm sure some of it will stick. I also liked the extra bit at the end about sound-thought provoking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

explore your inner workings

extremely enlightening book, a total breakdown of how your anatomy works , also preventive remedies

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very informative and interesting

the body .. bill bryson

this is a return to form from bill .. very enjoyable and informative ..learned a lot and unlearn many things i thought were fact were in fact wrong . highly recommended if your in any way interested in medicine and science

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting read.

Bryson takes an interesting subject and adds wit and warmth. Makes an interesting subject very accessible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

An addictive read, both fascinating and disturbing in equal measure in terms of the barbaric historical medical practises and our understanding of the body today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, so much interesting information.

I listened to the audio book twice & enjoyed it all on both occasions. Very interesting & easy to understand.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!