The liver grows with its tasks
The liver grows with its tasks is a book by the comedian and doctor Eckart von Hirschhausen , which was published in April 2008 by Rowohlt Verlag .
content
The book is a collection of anecdotes that deals with "comicalities from medicine". Everyday phenomena are described, the solutions of which, most of which have a medical-scientific origin, are discussed in order to make fun of the same approaches from Hirschhausen's medical perspective.
It is characteristic that Hirschhausen's book, apart from the general medical context of the foolishness, has no real “red thread”. Hirschhausen himself says in the afterword: "If you have found a common thread in this book, you are welcome to keep it." And thus implies that the purpose of the book is primarily to entertain the reader. Furthermore, no claim is made to a scientifically flawless work, as can be seen in the " Erratum " in the appendix of the book, where any factual errors are subsequently corrected, i.e. only in the appendix, so as not to ruin the punch lines. In the Erratum, Hirschhausen's position as a comedian and not as a doctor is once again highlighted. “Thanks to all readers who have made the corrections, from morning latte to hair removal to virgin birth - I'm proud of you and I'm happy as a comedian to be taken seriously, that I am pointed out to mistakes ”. In spite of all this, the most frequently recurring element is the creation of myths as the overarching theme. In many areas of the book, regardless of the respective chapter, myths in everyday life and in medicine are discussed. These myths consist, for example, of ineffective medicines: “If someone sneezes at you, run to the pharmacy very quickly, buy throat spray, spray afterwards, and then nothing should happen to you. This is as medically plausible as preventing pregnancy by chewing on a pack of condoms for half an hour after unprotected sex. " Similarly, non-medical myths such as astrology, scratching a coin at the machine, the home game or the morning latte are discussed. The anecdotes are divided into 13 chapters and structured according to topic. These topics are: men and women, sex and its consequences, at night, sport, food, people and animals, health, illness, doctors, alternative medicine, soul and spirit, modern technology and madness in everyday life. The anecdote length is between one and four pages.
Illustrations
Most of the sub-chapters are accompanied by a corresponding comic, drawn by Erich Rauschenbach . For example, the subsection “Anti-Aging - Catch the Radicals!” From the “Health” section contains a comic in which two middle-aged men sit together at a table. In the first picture, one of the men says to the other: "I've been having problems getting older lately ...". In the next he adds: "... especially with my wife's". This example clearly shows that in Hirschhausen's book, everyday problems, such as getting older or marriage, are discussed.
Characteristic humor
Reverse logic
A reverse logic applied by Hirschhausen can also be identified as a repeated humorous element. In the subchapter "Sauna - Ungeheures aus Well - Ness", in which uncomfortable moments in the sauna are discussed, Hirschhausen puts forward the thesis that in the sauna, due to the general nudity, everyone would fantasize to themselves. However, contrary to expectations, he reveals as a common fantasy: “How he or she looks dressed ...?” The phenomenon of smoking doctors is treated in exactly the same way: “All dangers rebound off the white coat, just like on a Superman cape. "Between us, why should smoking tobacco be so dangerous, it is purely vegetable". With this argument, many doctors also smoke without a filter so that no vitamins stick to them. "
Puns
Furthermore, word games are often incorporated: “The esteemed sociologist should finally set up self-help groups - for the computers. For mice that just feel pushed back and forth, for traumatized high-tech keyboards that suffer from fear of commitment due to the lack of cables. A protected space where hardware finally gets to know its soft side. "
reception
The book was recognized as a "Spiegel Bestseller".
“That Harald Schmidt , probably the most prominent hypochondriac in the country, brings a doctor to his show as a permanent guest is not astonishing and could be part of the trio Schmidt, Pocher, 'Dr. med. von Hirschhausen 'can even be amusing in theory. The book 'The liver grows with its tasks' gives an idea of the physician's suitability for humor. One can hardly read this potpourri of little stories and jokes, which is almost obsessive about wit; Unless you think it's funny when hairdressers are called 'specialists for drastic experiences' - to say nothing of other, considerably more severe derailments. Occasionally, medical fringe areas are touched upon: with an orthodontist, 'the jaw stays open', with depression 'walking the bastard' helps. In the afterword you learn from the author that 'the most delightful thing about writing is when you surprise yourself'. The testimony given by the doctor himself is remarkable: the doctor and the comedian have the ability to 'observe closely and change perspective'. Next please! "
The review of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, on the other hand, which was contrary to that of the FAZ, was even printed on the spine of the book:
"You have to imagine Hirschhausen as a happy, because lucky person."
"Anyone who comes to his office is guaranteed to have a lot to laugh about."
"White coat, black humor."
Individual evidence
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks: Strange things from medicine . Rowohlt Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-499-62355-4 , p. 222 .
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks. P. 223.
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks. P. 129.
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks. P. 113.
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks. P. 145 ff.
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen: The liver grows with its tasks. P. 190.
- ↑ Ingo Schiweck: Pocket book bestseller: Laching is successful In: spiegel.de , December 28, 2009, accessed on December 6, 2017.
- ↑ a b c The liver grows with its tasks by Eckart von Hirschhausen In: buecher.de , accessed on December 6, 2017.
- ↑ Eckart von Hirschhausen, The liver grows with its tasks, book spine