Robin Choudhury

An investigation into the human heart by a distinguished cardiologist, exploring representations of the heart and how our understanding of its function has developed over 2,500 years. In The Beating Heart, Robin Choudhury explores how the heart has been represented over time and across cultures. He investigates the interplay between the heart depictions of successive eras and the prevailing cultural discourse – religious, social, philosophical – of each. In parallel, he considers how the ‘scientific’ understanding of the function of the heart has unfolded over 2,500 years, from the observations of Aristotle, through detailed anatomical descriptions beginning in the Renaissance, to the emergence of experimental physiology in the seventeenth century, culminating in the twentieth in full understanding of the molecular and cellular processes by which the heart beats autonomously. The Beating Heart is a beautifully illustrated journey of discovery across four millennia of human history, in the company of an author whose medical knowledge of the heart is matched by his fascination with the visual arts.

In The Beating Heart, Robin Choudhury explores how the heart has been represented over time and across cultures. He investigates the interplay between the heart depictions of successive eras and the prevailing cultural discourse – religious, social, philosophical – of each. In parallel, he considers how the ‘scientific’ understanding of the function of the heart has unfolded over 2,500 years, from the observations of Aristotle, through detailed anatomical descriptions beginning in the Renaissance, to the emergence of experimental physiology in the seventeenth century, culminating in the twentieth in full understanding of the molecular and cellular processes by which the heart beats autonomously. The Beating Heart is a beautifully illustrated journey of discovery across four millennia of human history, in the company of an author whose medical knowledge of the heart is matched by his fascination with the visual arts.

Cardiology Emergencies covers the presentation, investigation, and management of acute cardiac problems that require speedy diagnosis and management. Created as a resource for residents and students, as well as an easy reference guide for physicians, this handbook is organized for quick access and learning. It is divided into three sections: the first provides acute presentations for quick diagnosis, the second addresses specific conditions, and the third offers clear descriptions of how to perform common practical cardiac procedures. Packed with concisely written summaries and bullet-point information, it is the ideal guide to the practical management of cardiac emergencies.