Silk

EARLY PRAISE FOR SILK: ‘Who would have thought that a book about silkworms and spiders could be so fascinating? Aarathi Prasad cross-crosses centuries and cultures to tell of the intrepid explorers, botanists, scientists and entrepreneurs who were determined to unravel the secrets of silk production. Her book captures their persistence and her own in the search for the little-told but revelatory stories of human curiosity and ingenuity’ Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life PRAISE FOR LIKE A VIRGIN ‘A hugely successful braid of reproductive biology, history of science, and politics, this is science writing that will keep you up past your bedtime’ New Scientist ‘Prasad’s first book is a fascinating, topical and hugely readable investigation’ Metro ‘Fiery and provocative’ Sunday Times ‘Aarathi Prasad has travelled far into the mysterious land of human and animal conception and come back with extraordinary stories of chimaeras and parthenogens, of cannibal sharks in the womb, of pseudosperm and the prospect of birth without pregnancy. A fascinating book’ Matt Ridley, bestselling author of The Red Queen PRAISE FOR IN THE BONESETTER’S WAITING ROOM ‘A fascinating investigation into healthcare in India…With vivid anecdotes…this is a revealing study of Indian medicine, ancient and modern’ Daily Mail ‘A fascinating book about medicine in India’ Observer ‘A focused and fascinating journey’ Nature ‘A vivid, personal and panoramic journey through the health and beliefs of one fifth of humanity. Timely, fluent and packed with inspirational characters’ Gavin Francis