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What Makes Me Me?

Robert Winston - Author

£9.99
Now: £7.99

Winner of the Junior Aventis Prize for Science Books 2005!

Awards

Aventis Prize :Winner 2005

Introduction

The first children's book from award-winning author and TV presenter, Professor Robert Winston. He explores how genes, experience and biology work together to make everybody unique.

Why does your mum love broccoli and your dad hate it? Why are you a marvel at maths, while your sister is terrific at tennis?

Professor Winston explains that biology isn't just science and shows how your social and emotional self is created; what makes you an individual and why. Your body's biology is explained, and information is made fun and interactive with real-life scenarios as you really discover, what makes you you!

• Packed with the fun and humorous facts that other body books leave out: Why do knuckles crack? What makes hair curl? What causes us to blush?
• Guaranteed to inspire even the most reluctant pupil
• Complements school curricula for children aged 8 plus and covers essential human anatomy from the digestive system to how blood cells work

A genetics section brings the book bang up to date and explores how genes influence the way we develop, think and act, plus interactive tests and quizzes allow readers to test their genes, their brain power, and study their personality.

Told from a child's point of view, this user-friendly fun book will be turned to time and time again!

Supports National Science Curriculum, Key Stage 2 by encouraging young readers to find out more.

"The star prize for sheer innovation goes to What Makes Me Me? Beautifully produced, it's a really relaxing read and skilfully stuffed with surprising facts - such as people being 50 per cent banana (genetically speaking). The frequently asked questions and do-try-this-at-home children's experiments are the clincher. See whether you can spot the fake smiles... Get it while it's hot" New Scientist

"We have all - adults and children alike - been tickled by Winston's book... It is brilliant, entertaining and canny. He understands that children want to know everything yet must not be bored." The Observer

Reviews

Review by: jamie, 28 April 2006

It is amazing. Good for children's revision.

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Press reviews

"We have all - adults and children alike - been tickled by Winston's book... It is brilliant, entertaining and canny. He understands that children want to know everything yet must not be bored." The Observer, June 2004

"What Makes Me Me by Robert Winston… is an inventive and compulsive book full of facts about humans." Sunday Times (Culture), June 04

"Believe me when I say this is a must have book." Burton Mail, June 04

‘In typical DK fashion, every page buzzes with vibrant imagery supported by a succinct but readable text.’ Junior Education Magazine

‘It all flows beautifully and being DK it has plenty of visual impact.’ Popular Science

'Beautifully produced, it’s a really relaxing read and skilfully stuffed with surprising facts.' New Scientist

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Interview

Is there a lot we still don't know about the human body?
Yes, indeed. We probably only know about half there is to know. Some of the most important unsolved questions are about how our brain works. Many of the biggest mysteries are concerned with learning exactly how the brain makes us think, remember, and feel. More research is now being done and science has some powerful tools for helping our understanding – like big brain scanning machines and ways of recording the electrical impulses and chemical messages inside the brain.

Do you think we will ever be able to clone humans?
I am sure it would be possible – though probably rather pointless. And at the moment quite dangerous as nearly all the animals that have been cloned have turned out to be abnormal or ill in various ways. It would be surely unthinkable to risk producing an abnormal or damaged human just because we wanted to clone somebody.

What do you think is in you that makes you a top scientist instead of a trapeze artist?
Both professions need special skills. To be a trapeze artist you need a very co-ordinated body. Perhaps to be a scientist you need a fairly co-ordinated mind. But to be good at most things you need to work hard and practise.

What advice would you give to budding scientists?
Like all jobs it may be exciting some of the time – and science can be very exciting – but there are moments when continuous effort is needed and there are moments of boredom. The best advice is to be single-minded, read as much as possible, listen to other good scientists, and get a wide education. And remember that when an experiment seems to go wrong or gives an unexpected result, this may give very important clues to what’s going on. And remember – when doing any science always keep a really careful record of what you saw and what you did. Memory is never enough. Most discoveries have needed accurate record keeping.

What's the most dangerous substance in the body?
Possibly – and surprisingly – oxygen in a way. Oxygen is essential for life and how we create energy inside our body, but oxygen also leads to ageing and changes in cells such as the formation of cancer.

In your TV shows you spend a lot of time watching people. Do you ever get bored?
Yes I do – actually I hate filming, though like preparing the programmes. Filming is essentially tedious and time-consuming and you spend an immense amount of time standing around. But I don’t mind watching people; it’s more the actual process of filming I don’t find very exciting.

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