Ah-Choo! The Uncommon Life of Your Common Cold by Jennifer Ackerman Review and GIVEAWAY!

Some colds are like mice, timid and annoying; others like dragons, accompanied by body aches and deep misery. In AH-CHOO!, Jennifer Ackerman explains what, exactly, a cold is, how it works, and whether it's really possible to "fight one off."

Scientists call this the Golden Age of the Common Cold because Americans suffer up to a billion colds each year, resulting in 40 million days of missed work and school and 100 million doctor visits. They've also learned over the past decade much more about what cold viruses are, what they do to the human body, and how symptoms can be addressed. In this ode to the odious cold, Ackerman sifts through the chatter about treatments-what works, what doesn't, and what can't hurt. She dispels myths, such as susceptibility to colds reflects a weakened immune system. And she tracks current research, including work at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, a world-renowned center of cold research studies, where the search for a cure continues.

My comments:  This book has fascinating information, wry sense of humor, and a pretty good dose of disgusting factor.  The author subjects herself to be a willing victim of the most common cold all in the name of science.  So scientists could look in her nose and throat, etc.  Apparently, there is money in this study, although not enough to convince me to enlist.

The book addresses how the viruses are transmitted, how they work their way into the body to replicate itself, what it looks like, myths, and a whole discussion on nose picking. The television show, "Mythbusters" replicated a study using florescent dye (mentioned in book) to see where and how these germs traveled.

Fortunately, I am not a germaphobe.

If you want it, let me know with a comment including your email address.

2 copies up for grabs.  Contest ends September 9th

U.S. and Canada only.

My thanks to Hatchette Book Group for sponsoring this giveaway and providing me with a review copy.