Did you know that, when you’re driving, it’s safest to either have your windows all the way open or all the way shut? Or that neat freaks living longer? Or that TMI moments with your doctor can actually save your life?

As someone who is a perpetual “driving with the windows half down” person, I was intrigued by this book, which came out in 2008. It’s part of being human to do something really stupid once in our lives; most of us have done it.  However, most of us didn’t pay for our mistakes with our lives. In “How not to die : surprising lessons on living longer, safer, and healthier from America’s favorite medical examiner” (614 1. Garav.J), Jan Garavaglia covers some of the more interesting cases from her career. Dr. Garavaglia is also the star of “Dr. G: Medical Examiner”, which airs on the Discovery Channel.

The book is broken down into chapters with subjects such as, “Highway to the Morgue”, which details how not to die while driving, and “Code Blue”, which tells you how to get out of a hospital alive if not in one piece. Although it’s not for the squeamish, “How not to Die” is an interesting take on a wellness book and very well written. I was able to read it through in one night and came away with a new respect not only for medical examiners but also for the ways in which our smallest choices can end in the biggest results!

Oh, and why shouldn’t you drive with your car windows halfway down? Because if you get thrown from the car and the windows are in the way, the windows will win. *shudder*