Structure

The Body: A Guide for Occupants is divided into 23 chapters starting with, “How to Build a Human” and ending with “The End,” a chapter that discusses death. In the book, Bryson gives a tour of the human body, dedicating each chapter to an important part. For example, Chapter 2 is called “The Outside: Skin and Hair,” Chapter 4 covers the brain, Chapter 12 covers the immune system and so on. A few chapters in the book diverge from the parts of the body to explain important functions such as Chapter 10, called “On the Move: Bipedalism and Exercise.” The middle of the book includes photographs depicting many of the eccentric scientists Bryson discusses within its pages.

Bryson uses a similar structure for almost every chapter in the book. He begins most chapters with hooks such as interesting facts or anecdotes and then gives an overview of the part he plans to...