Foreword

“Science.” If the word brings to mind dreary lessons, mumbo-jumbo jargon, and bookish bores who are no fun at a party, then this book is for you. All too often we think that science means distilling our world into dry numbers and equations. In reality, science gives richness, meaning, and depth to our daily lives. In seven years in medicine, not only did I learn the intricacies of the human body and the diseases that afflict it, but I was molded into the role of a doctor and taught to skillfully hide behind a cloak of jargon and science-speak. Only after stepping back from the profession did I discover how truly alienated we academic types can make others feel. Much of this highbrow babble does nothing but separate us from others. This book seeks to set the record straight and show that you do not need letters after your name to understand life’s little mysteries.

Every day brings with it countless questions. Not just the philosophical ones but also momentary wonderings—should I drink a coffee first thing in the morning or wait awhile? Why are there so many bad drivers on the road? Why do I feel so sluggish after lunch? Newspaper columns and clickbait websites are filled with pithy answers to such questions. Many of these explanations leave us wanting. They may sound reasonable, but sometimes they’re misleading or just plain wrong.

Dozens of specialists and experts from around the world helped me craft this book, which represents the most up-to-date science and research that answers these questions. Rather than serve you up feel-good self-help fluff with every answer, I hope to explain the science in a way that everybody will understand and so be empowered to make better decisions.

I take you through a typical day—morning, afternoon, evening, and night—answering those “I wonder why?” questions when they are most likely to crop up. Of course, not everything fits neatly into a time slot, and you may do things at different times; for example, some prefer to exercise at the crack of dawn, others in the evening. I hope this helps you navigate through your day. I have also tried to make the book relevant, regardless of your age, gender, race, creed, and culture.

Above all, this book is a celebration of life. It is the most precious thing we have. Life deserves to be filled with laughter, love, kindness, and passion. Yet it is desperately fragile. I think that we only really appreciate just how wonderful life is when we go face-to-face with the reality that ours will one day come to an end. It is only when we realize that our existence is but a grain of sand in the infinity of time that we learn to truly relish every day we have on planet Earth. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this uncomfortable truth into sharp focus to all of us. During the writing of this book, I have endured surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for what has now become an aggressive brain cancer. It is with the steadfast love and support of family and friends that I have learned to love life. Writing this book has helped me live life to its fullest. I hope that in reading it, it helps you live yours to the fullest, too.

Stuart Farrimond