Jan Bondeson’s The Two-Headed Boy is an affecting book about
anomalies of human development. You may find yourself feeling horror, pity,
incredulity and wonder, in quick succession. The historical parade includes
women with the faces of hogs, giants and cases of extreme dwarfism. And
tragically, many of the people cited here were forced to make a living out of
their deformities. Published by Cornell University Press, £18.50, ISBN
0801437679.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Comment
New Scientist recommends a vital look at the science of fatherhood
Culture

Humans
This book is essential reading before watching the new Odyssey film
Culture

Comment
Why Schrödinger's 1944 classic What Is Life? still feels prescient
Culture

Comment
The best new popular science books of July 2026
Culture
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Resuscitated human retinas respond to light 10 hours after death
2
Mathematics of thermodynamics is being rewritten after 200 years
3
Mathematicians put AI to work on Fermat's last theorem
4
The sneaky maths trick for solving problems without answering them
5
Salt batteries are about to shake up EVs and grid storage
6
The 4 best science-fiction shows of 2026 so far
7
Special relativity can warp chemical bonds – now we've seen it happen
8
UN space database aimed at easing global tensions is mysteriously down
9
How healthy is your brain? We now know how to find out
10
This book is essential reading before watching the new Odyssey film