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Blood Types and Groups from A to Z
Blood is the essence of life. It forms an important part of our culture. If it bleeds, it leads. Blood is thicker than water. Blood will have blood. The word carries spiritual significance. But what do you actually know about blood?
“Bloody Blood Groups!” by Hugh Graham explains blood. Graham is a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science, and a leading Biomedical Scientist in Haematology and Blood Transfusion.
Don’t let his credentials intimidate you. He discusses this topic in a conversational manner everyone can understand. He writes with humor and candor. In the process, he reveals himself as someone enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his field of study.
He starts out explaining what blood is and what the major blood groups are. The opening chapter introduced readers to the ABO blood groups, describing what makes each blood type distinctive. He includes a history of blood typing. This is followed up by a chapter on Rhesus (Rh) blood groups. He explains the difference between Rh positive and Rh negative blood and its significance.
Most know their blood type and its Rh factor. Did you know there are other blood groupings? While primarily of interest to doctors, Graham introduces readers to the nine main blood group systems, and their significance.
He then explores what your blood type means – and does not mean – to you. In one of the books more amusing passages Graham shows using blood types to reveal personality traits has about as much validity as using your zodiac sign. More seriously, he shows how your blood type might predispose you or protect you from different diseases.
Along these lines, he shows how geography can be destiny when it comes to your blood type. He spends a chapter each exploring the blood transfusion history, rare blood groups and their significance, and how cross-matching works.
Blood contains antibodies. Graham shows how these work and discusses monoclonal antibodies and the promise they hold for health. This is followed by an examination of animal blood groups and blood components that can be extracted from seeds and plants. He then dives into a lighthearted section on the blood types of famous people.
If you want to know what blood is, how it works, and what your blood group might mean for you, this book is for you. “Bloody Blood Groups!” offers every reader insight into the subject of blood, in an entertaining and informative narrative.
“Bloody Blood Groups!” by Hugh Graham, Matador, 2023, 152 pages, $15.99 (paperback), $8.99 (ebook)
This review was written by Mark Lardas who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com. It appeared in a different form in Epoch Times.
Published in Science & Technology
So, a Pastor, a Priest, and a Rabbit walk into a bar. And the bartender asks the bunny, “Hey, what blood type are you?” He responds, “I’m pretty sure I’m a Type O…”
My cousin died last week he needed a blood transfusion but we didnt know his blood type he just kept saying “b positive b positive” but its hard to be positive with him gone.
See? See moderators? We REALLY need a BOO button!
Yikes.
I’m Type Pilsner . . .
I put the link of the title into Amazon and nothing came up? I have a rare blood type and was curious what he had to say about it. Also wondering with these new MRNA injections like the Covid jab, does that change, linger or affect different and all blood types. Do you get this vax derivative if you get donated blood during a procedure from a vaxxed person?
Try: https://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Blood-Groups-Hugh-Graham-ebook/dp/B0BZQCSX43
@seawriter, Did the book have pictures or illustrations? Did you have the hardcopy or Kindle version? If Kindle, were pictures or illustrations clearly visible, or legible?
I propose that all book reviews include answers to these questions. A frequent complaint in Amazon reviews is that illustrations may be illegible in the Kindle/electronic versions.
Several years ago, there was a book that posited that many health problems came from eating the wrong foods for one’s blood type. (Eat Right for Your Type) I don’t know if it was as wrong for everyone else as it was for me, but eating the recommended foods based on that would kill me.
I read the book in e-book form on a B&W paperwhite. It had illustrations embedded in the text. They were visible and legible, but in B&W. For me, I did not feel that took away from the book.
Feel free to do that when you review books. My policy is – and will remain – that I discuss differences between e-book and printed books only when the differences materially impact the reading experience. An example of this was my review of “Black Tide Rising: The Graphic Novel, Volume One.” I will be glad to respond to a comment inquiring about a book (as I have done here), but will not routinely include that information in the reviews I write unless it is germane.
Reviews, especially those written for publications like Epoch Times are word-limited. They want 400 words. I deliver 400 words +5. Using boilerplate to describe differences between e-books and printed books takes words away from describing the book. If you disagree with this approach, let me know. If it bothers you sufficiently, I will discontinue posting reviews on Ricochet rather than upset you.
I know.
Don’t know nuthin’ about MRNA in blood transfusion. Don’t remember his discussing that in this book.
Mad Gerald provided the link earlier.
A question for the readers: Would it be useful for me to include the Amazon link as part of the title of the book? It’s easy enough to add, but I have not done it to date because Amazon is not the only source of books and I do not feel like advertising for them. However, in this case Vox populi. If readers want it, I will add it to reviews.
We should be able to manage.
This NIH site says red cell antibodies are of concern when doing massive blood transfusions. I don’t know what red cell antibodies are in comparison to antibodies that will be produced by the mRNA or other vaccinations, so I don’t know. The mRNA does its work in cells rather than blood, but it has to get to the cells, so maybe there is a brief period after vaccination when it could be in blood. I don’t really know that, either, or whether such things are part of the testing process in order to get FDA approval. Interesting question, though. It has been a long time since I last donated blood, so I don’t know if the screeners ask about any recent vaccinations.
I hear you about Amazon, but sometimes they have a feature called Look Inside and it allows you to view several pages, contents, chapters…….then you can decide and purchase from elsewhere –