The Spark in the Machine

How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine

By: Daniel Keown

Narrated by: Gavin Osborn

Why can salamanders grow new legs, and young children grow new fingertips, but adult humans can't regenerate? What is the electricity that flows through the human body? Is it the same thing that the Chinese call Qi? If so, what does Chinese medicine know that Western medicine ignores?

Dan Keown's highly accessible, witty, and original book shows how Western medicine validates the theories of Chinese medicine and how Chinese medicine explains the mysteries of the body that Western medicine largely ignores. He explains the generative force of embryology, how the hearts of two people in love (or in scientific terms 'quantum entanglement') truly beat as one, how a cheating heart is also an ill heart (which is why men are twice as likely to die of a sudden heart attack with their mistresses than with their wives), how neural crest cells determine our lifespan, and why Proust's madeleines evoked the memories they did.

The book shows how the theories of Western and Chinese medicine support each other and how the integrated theory enlarges our understanding of how bodies work on every level. Full of good stories and surprising details, Dan Keown's book is essential listening for anyone who has ever wanted to know how the body really works.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Daniel Keown (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

interesting and fun ...

for a lay text. The embryological basis for of the book is fascinating, and Osborne reads it in an entertaining fashion

must read for anyone curious about acupuncture

I would love a sequel with more current reasearch someday. but this is a must for anyone wanting to learn about TCM and Acupuncture from a reductionist or out to disprove it source. Fantastic. This should be a required reading for western med students in integrative medicine.

My favorite book

I love this book. It is incredibly informative, useful and funny. So glad to finally have it on Audible as well!

A must listen text for students of acupuncture

Dr Keown brilliantly bridges the ancient healing practice of acupuncture with modern Western-based medical understanding. It's written succinctly and expertly. The performance is perfect and makes listening enjoyable.

Excellent

This is a very necessary book. It explains things that have been ignored by western medicine! Loved the entire thing.

loved it!

I am an acupuncturist and I so enjoyed learning about embryology and how TCM weaves in.

Brilliant merging of fields and beautifully written!

I can’t say enough about this book. I’ve been looking for a book that would help me understand acupuncture from my Western view , and was so grateful to have found this. I believe his and Dr Shang’s theory is worthy of a Nobel prize!! Plus it was an absolutely delightful read! It’s the only book I’ve ever read twice in a row, and I bought the hard copy to better study the material. The performance by Gavin Osborn also added a new level of professionalism, and yet perfectly timed humor. I’m officially a huge fan and will be buying Dr Keown’s other book ! Thank you Dr Keown for your brilliant insights, your teaching skills, your fun drawings, your sense of humor, and your depth of wisdom! Bravo bravo ! Please keep writing and teaching!

Invaluable resource for every acupuncturist

Invaluable resource for every acupuncturist! He expertly connects Western & Cinesee medicine concepts. So much valuable information

Best Acupuncture Book I've ever read!

I wish it had been the first... it would be a great introduction to Chinese medicine for any Westerner attempting to learn the intricacies of acupuncture

Amazing book!

This has been my favorite listen in a long time. So brilliantly explained, with humor as well. Amazing connections between embryology and the meridians. I will definitely listen to it more than once.