In this remarkable book, Jonathan Miller examines the functioning of the body as a matter of private experience. He explores our attitudes towards the body, our astonishing ignorance about certain parts of it, and our inability to read its signals. Starting from the experience of pain, Dr. Miller examines the complex social process of 'illness', reflects on the physical foundations of 'discomfort', and explores the types of individuals to whom humans have historically attributed the power of healing. His explanations are so understandable, so broad, and so delightful that it is hard to believe one is reading about the facts of one's own body and what can go wrong with it. His use of metaphors and suggested models, particularly when tracing the historical development of some major ideas in human physiology, is particularly encouraging. Above all, Dr. Miller's keen originality and enthusiasm for his subject make "The Body in Question" an exceptional book.