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Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History
Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History | Florence Williams
25 posts | 16 read | 36 to read
A 2012 New York Times Notable Book A 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Award Winner in the Science & Technology category An engaging narrative about an incredible, life-giving organ and its imperiled modern fate. Did you know that breast milk contains substances similar to cannabis? Or that its sold on the Internet for 262 times the price of oil? Feted and fetishized, the breast is an evolutionary masterpiece. But in the modern world, the breast is changing. Breasts are getting bigger, arriving earlier, and attracting newfangled chemicals. Increasingly, the odds are stacked against us in the struggle with breast cancer, even among men. What makes breasts so mercurialand so vulnerable? In this informative and highly entertaining account, intrepid science reporter Florence Williams sets out to uncover the latest scientific findings from the fields of anthropology, biology, and medicine. Her investigation follows the life cycle of the breast from puberty to pregnancy to menopause, taking her from a plastic surgeons office where she learns about the importance of cup size in Texas to the laboratory where she discovers the presence of environmental toxins in her own breast milk. The result is a fascinating exploration of where breasts came from, where they have ended up, and what we can do to save them.
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keithmalek

Readers who enjoy this book might also enjoy "Butts: A Backstory" by Heather Radke. ?

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CuriousG
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"Despite the thirty-five-year existence of government regulatory agencies and their guiding laws in the United States, including the Toxic Substances Control Act, only five chemicals have ever been banned." p. 98

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I wish I could justify my job with success on average of one every 7 years! So frustrating. 3y
14 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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CuriousG
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"Funbags. Boobsters. Chumbawumbas. Dingle bobbers. Dairy pillows. Jellybonkers. Num nums."

@ShyBookOwl #firstlinefridays

jlhammar I'm not sure anything can beat that for first lines today! Hilarious. This book sounds really interesting though. 3y
RaeLovesToRead I think you've just won First Line Friday 🤣🤣🤣 3y
keithmalek That's odd. I saw this post, so I went back to see what I posted about this book after I read it two years ago. And even though I read it and posted about it, I never actually recorded it as a read book in Litsy. I guess that's what breasts do to the male brain. 🤣😛 3y
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CuriousG @keithmalek Maybe they have that effect on all brains - I've seen a few women go astray because they were distracted by them too 😄 3y
CuriousG @jlhammer It is the best opening to a book I've read in many years! I vaguely recall the book Naked At Lunch having a pretty amazing first few pages, but I don't think it 3y
CuriousG @jlhammar ...don't think it had as good of an impact in just a few lines. 3y
CuriousG @RaeLovesToRead 😄 It is a pretty good one! 3y
20 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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keithmalek
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Readers who enjoyed this book will also enjoy "Exposed" by Mark Schapiro.

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keithmalek

What if you don't want to brush your teeth with an endocrine-disrupting pesticide? What if you'd rather not moisturize with printing inks and industrial solvents? Well, unless you have a chemistry lab in your basement, you're out of luck, because most labels won't tell you anything. (In the United States, foods, drugs, and cosmetics are exempted from federal reporting requirements).

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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek

In the United States, seven hundred new chemicals come to market each year, joining the eighty-two-thousand already in use. Of these eighty-two-thousand, only a few hundred have ever been tested for health effects. Despite thirty-five years of regulatory agencies, only five chemicals have ever been banned.

Cortg This is so frustrating! 5y
12 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
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sidherinn
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carmens.library
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It's time for the hour 12 check in/challenge! The challenge is "A Whole New World". We've been challenged to post books that have changed the way we look at something, whether it's another culture, gender, a new concept, social justice issues, etc.
(Continued in comments because I have more to say!) @24in48 #24in48

carmens.library As a doula/childbirth educator/breastfeeding counselor birth and breastfeeding are big social justice issues for me. There is so much that plays a role in both of these issues, societal views, race, socioeconomic status, age... 6y
carmens.library As someone who also trains people working toward certifications in these fields it's important that I emphasize this awareness in my students. I encourage everyone to learn more about the social and political context of these issues! #24in48 @24in48 #24in48readathon #readathon #doulalife #humanrightsinchildbirth 6y
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EchoLogical I will definitely check these out! I'm currently waiting on my son to make his appearance so I'm not sure when. 😅I wanted to be a midwife long ago but am saddled with way too much debt to pursue it. I'm still extremely interested in issues related to women and children's health. 6y
EchoLogical I actually wanted to add that I'm gonna check out your blog as well. 6y
EchoLogical Feel free to tag me in other recommendations you have, especially those discussing the effects of intergenerational trauma on maternal outcomes. 6y
carmens.library @EchoLogical Ugh! My blog has not been updated in like a year! ☹️ I need to get back to it I just never get around to it. I will definitely tag you if I post any other book on the subject! 6y
EchoLogical @Books.Bottles.and.Babies No worries! I can still read your older posts. 😉 6y
13 likes11 comments
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Godmotherx5
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I wrapped up season 1 of #Booked2018 on March 28th. I was hoping for lighthearted science and humor in the vein of Mary Roach. Alas, no 😏
The author stressed environmental issues affecting breast health. We can try to improve in what seemed to be a defeatist attitude: “Even if we clean up our planet tomorrow, the industrial detritus of the last century has a created a three-generational problem.”

An interesting read, just not what I expected.

Cinfhen Congrats on finishing the first session!! This book sounds fascinating ~ unfortunately too many family members and friends of mine have been diagnosed with this cruel cancer. Praying for a cure but not sure I could read this. 7y
alisiakae Sounds very interesting. My mom just finished up chemo for breast cancer, she is the first one on her side of the family to ever be diagnosed. 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage Great review. This one is on my TBR! 7y
Godmotherx5 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft Cancer threatens so many aspects of our lives. Hugs to each of you for the stress you endure. When my aunt had cancer, it was devastating. 7y
Cinfhen Thanks so much💕 7y
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MicheleinPhilly
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Vacation Day 4. I‘ve been putting off my annual physical because I knew I was going to get my marching orders to radiology. Thanks to @4thhouseontheleft for reminding me of how important it is. I‘m going to put my big girl pants on and do it.

Ashley_Nicoletto Ughhh though. Ughhh. 7y
Notafraidofwords Yes yes yes to this !!! 7y
MicheleinPhilly @Ashley_Nicoletto My thoughts exactly. But I‘m fortunate to be in a position where this screening is not only available but COVERED so I can grin and bear it for a few minutes. 7y
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shendrix413 Good for you! Thanks for sharing and reminding others about how important this is! 7y
BookishMarginalia Big hug 💜 7y
Kalalalatja It sucks, but it is important! Good luck 💜 7y
Godmotherx5 Not the most fun, vitally important. Go you!! 7y
AmyG You do what you have to do. 7y
Rachbb3 Yes! So important. 7y
Sassy_Steph Good thing is you can read while you're waiting to get it done!! 7y
Purrfectpages Hope all is okay! 7y
Megabooks Absolutely! Proud of you 😀👍🏻 7y
Smrloomis 👍🏽 7y
alisiakae This just brought tears to my eyes. If my mom‘s experience, where she skipped last year‘s mammogram but not this year‘s makes a difference for others, it makes my 💗 happy. Last year, her cancer likely would not have spread to her lymph node yet. Luckily she went this year! It really is not so bad, and only takes a few moments. I take an ibuprofen ahead of time to help with the little bit of pack pain a mammo gives me. Protect those tata‘s! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage A little encouragement goes a long way. 👏🏻👏🏻 7y
LauraBeth Glad you went! 7y
64 likes16 comments
review
hike.read.repeat
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Pickpick

This book looks at breasts from every possible angle. Anthropology, history, breastfeeding, breast cancer, puberty, aging, and plastic surgery. #nonfiction #anthropology #audiobook #audiobooks #awesomeaudiobooks #breastcancer

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andreadmw
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Pickpick

Continuing catching up. March was an especially hard month and I threw myself into reading as you can tell by 9 books read! Breasts: A natural and unnatural history should be read by every woman I know. Since reading it, I've gifted it to 3 women already. So interesting and insightful. It will have you thinking hard about what you put in your body.

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Megabooks
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I'm listening to this while I clean. I'm in the chemicals and plastics affecting estrogens chapter. It's really scary how much you'd have to avoid to make a difference in your body BPA levels. I don't think about all the chemicals in my shampoo, the chairs I sit in, the wallet I carry, etc.

BTW, this read isn't all preachy. There's a lot of fascinating history and anatomical science as well!

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BookMusings
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Listening to this! Y'all should read it! Super interesting and very eye-opening!.

37 likes3 stack adds
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Ashley_Nicoletto
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I finished this audiobook this morning on my commute. I highly recommend it. It takes an in depth look into why breasts are bigger than ever, why girls go through puberty so early, and why more women than ever are getting breast cancer. It also discusses what goes in our food, breastfeeding, and evolution. 😍

Plus the cover is perfect.

saresmoore Oh, that's fascinating! And the cover is pretty fantastic. 8y
LitHousewife Kate Reading is one of my favorites. I haven't listened to this, yet. I'm adding it to my list. 8y
kammartinez I had to kind of pause and squint at the cover for a second, because I'm pretty sure those are the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol, a popular tourist destination in my country, and I thought this was a travel guide for the Philippines. Guess not XD. Still, the book looks mighty interesting. May have to find myself a copy :D. 8y
Ashley_Nicoletto @kammartinez Oh my gosh! 😂😂😂 Thanks for sharing! I'm going to have to google these hills. 8y
SincerelyWinona I just googled it and I‘m pretty sure that‘s exactly what that cover is @kammartinez! So cool to learn where they got the photo, because those hills look beautiful (& now, rather busty! haha). 5y
45 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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Ashley_Nicoletto
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Breasts, coffee, and late breakfast. ❤️

BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
AThousandLives87 What an interesting book! 8y
Ashley_Nicoletto @AThousandLives87 I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'll keep Litsy updated. 😉 8y
45 likes3 comments
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SarahSaysRead
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"Our breasts soak up pollution like a pair of soft sponges."
As a pretty busty lady, I'm sure this is going to be a horrifying read. ?

#science #biology #currentlyreading #ourbodies

whatsheread It does sound horrifying. Now I want to read it! 8y
Jokila Oh no! 🙈 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Sounds fascinating! 8y
SarahSaysRead @BarbaraTheBibliophage It really is! I'm about 80 pages in, and it's really engaging. And she has a good sense of humor too. 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Cool - Looking forward to your full review! 8y
28 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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SarahSaysRead
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I've bought this many books and we're not even 3 weeks into November 🤐😖🙃

#afuckton #somanybooks #brlive #retailtherapy #readathon #buriedunderbooks #notimetoreadthemtho #doesntevenincludeebooks

whatthelog Omg that is such a GREAT stack. I'm quite jealous! 8y
LeahBergen 😍😍 8y
MrBook #NiceStack! @LeahBergen never comments on *my* posts anymore 😔😜. 8y
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britt_brooke 😱👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
LeahBergen Why, @MrBook ! I thought you wouldn't notice... I was playing hard to get! 😂😂😂 8y
MrBook 😂😂👏🏻👏🏻 You are a wily one, thou art! 😜😉👍🏻 8y
MrBook Wait a minute....I just realized which book you attached to your blurb and I said "nice stack" ?????????! Talk about unintended punnery ?! 8y
MrBook @LeahBergen Two comments up ☝🏻️, forgot to tag you, lol. 8y
LeahBergen That should actually be #nicerack then, @MrBook ! 😂😂 8y
Zelma Woo, lots of great options in there though! @MrBook 😂😂😂 8y
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alholstrom
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This. Is. Awesome.

Liberty Everyone should have to read it. EVERYONE. 9y
alholstrom @Liberty YES. I keep finding reasons to listen because I need ALL the information IMMEDIATELY. 9y
Amanda I just finished this and am now terrified of plastic. 8y
alholstrom @Amanda I just got to the plastic part and I wish I could go back to before I heard it so I could be blissfully ignorant of how the world is going to give me cancer. 8y
10 likes5 stack adds4 comments