Exquisite Machine

Sian E. Harding, a recognized authority in cardiac science, is Emeritus Professor of Cardiac Pharmacology in the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, where she led the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences and the BHF Centre for Cardiac Regeneration.

• 1 Introduction 12 Threats to the Heart: A Thousand Natural Shocks 93 The Science of the Really Small 294 Big Data--Many Hearts that Beat as One? 455 The Plastic Heart 696 The Responsive Heart--Emotion in Motion 837 Can You (Not) Die of a Broken Heart? 998 The Gendered Heart 1199 The Mechanical Heart 13510 Can Stem Cells Help Us Grow a New Heart? 15111 When Will the Future be Here? 173Acknowledgments 193Notes 195Index 215

"The idea of the heart as a red cartoon bubble holding our emotions is one we generally let go of in childhood. We learn that the heart is just a bloody machine. The mind is where we feel things. But there’s truth in that elementary-school version of the heart, too, says Sian Harding, an emeritus professor of cardiac pharmacology at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London. In her new book, The Exquisite Machine: The New Science of the Heart, the heart researcher argues that this organ is deeply linked to our emotions. That connection can kill you. It can also help keep you alive...Harding wrote her book because she wants people to know that our blood-pumping organ and its impressive tricks deserve all our cartoon-heart emoji."—The Boston Globe“Sian Harding, a leading authority on cardiac pharmacology, introduces readers to our precious heart in a whole new way . . . Harding dexterously uses metaphors and sparse but clear illustrations by Matt Holford, along with more than 40 years of experience in the field, to make this a surprisingly approachable read . . . This is a book you’ll find yourself scribbling and highlighting all over.”—Scientific American“The Exquisite Machine by Sian Harding is a great way to learn everything you need to know about your own heart from a leading cardiac scientist . . . This one is a must-read.” —Scientific American“A lovely book.” –Xand van Tulleken