James Hamblin stopped taking showers five years ago. And he didn't keep it a secret (maybe he didn't have to, ha, ha). No, listen, James is a serious dermatologist who studies skin and has written a best-selling book about what he believes is true regarding our largest organ: our skin. The book is CLEAN (Riverhead Books).
Hamblin believes we are all nuts to be making a ritual of daily scrubbing off the precious bodily fluids our bodies are courageously producing for us to protect our remarkable outer wrapping. And if you're a fan of long words that are hard to pronounce, Hamblin has a seemingly endless supply as he instructs us about the composition of human skin. He tells us a lot about our skin that we probably could get along fine without knowing. Such as mites in our face.
Yes, Susan, your face is a veritable zoo of various microscopic organisms that includes mites who burrow into your pores and feast on your past-their-shelf-life skin flakes. What would we do without those little rascals in there eating for us 24/7?
James has a light writing style that deals with a lot of complex science in a truly easy to understand flow. Early on he removes an elephant in the room regarding personal hygiene: it is OK, he tells us, to take soap and water to what he refers to as the "bits"-- that is, under arms, groin and feet. Thanks for that, James.
It's a good read that will give you a great supply of material to brighten your conversation vault. Keep a watch to see if there is a reduction in your water bill.
