I like how the author ended the chapters with something for the readers to chew on. I definitely started this book with the expectation that it would be all about the science of gross and gory things (which it is!), but I'm surprised by the amount of reflection and food for thought included. One example that I really liked is at the end of the "The World's Smallest Crime Scenes" chapter:

Examining the Nutshells isn't just about finding the right answer, after all. The point is to learn how to really see what's in front of you--to walk into a scene where something horrific has happened and to resist the urge to look away. To experience the Nutshells is to immerse oneself in uncertainty; just as in real life, you're never quite sure what's important and what's not. That uncertainty is what makes these scenes credible. And it's what will push you to test your own deductive powers against your greatest fears.

What a banger way to end a chapter about The Nutshells and finding comfort and challenge in uncertainty. This paragraph also sets the tone for the book by gently leading readers to be more open-minded about the gross and the weird, to take comfort in how these are present in our everyday lives and in the natural world. This paragraph is asking readers to be open to learning and asking weird questions rather than instantly looking away.

The ending of the "Would Your Dog Eat You If You Died?" chapter ("So if that distress leads to licking, and then eating, I guess we'll just have to accept the fact that sometimes, love bites.") is also quite interesting. I've heard about cats eating their owners after they died, and I feel a bit relieved to learn that, historically and scientifically, this wasn't as likely. To learn that it was more of essentially a panic response made me think about a couple of things. Would I be okay if my cat bit and ate me if I died (knowing that it was possibly done out of panic and possibly affection)? Why were cats catching strays when there were more cases of dogs eating their owners? What does this say about inherent bias, consuming as a form of love, people's perception of animal nature, etc.? Why does it seem monstrous for pets to give in to their instincts as animals (eating for survival) compared to eating due to some perceived "affection"? Is it better to be eaten for nourishment or a panic response? Totally out of pocket questions, but interesting to think about 😂.

The ending statements/paragraphs can be cheesy at times, but I really appreciated how they tie up the information in the chapter and give space for readers to sit and mull over what they've learned both scientifically and through reflection.

English is my second language, and holy shit, I only just realized that ‘bosoms’ means tits.