"Filmed in high-definition and originally broadcast on PBS, filmmaker David Grubin's informative three-part series combines interviews with medical experts and surgeons, vivid computer-gen¬erated images of the heart's structure and function, and real-life stories of everyday people facing the challenges of life-threaten¬ing heart conditions. "Endlessly Beating" looks at the heart as a muscular pump -- beating more than 100,000 times a day, and remaining remarkably efficient under nominal conditions. But when the heart fails (as it does in three case studies examined here), artificial hearts or heart transplants are required, both of which are explored in detail. "The Spark of Life" focuses on the electrical mechanisms that keep the heart beating, detailing what occurs when the heart's normal rhythms are disrupted or shutdown. A wide range of treatments are profiled (with particular emphasis on portable and implantable defibrillators), as pa¬tients from New York to Brazil find their lives extended thanks to advancing technology. "The Silent Killer" zeroes in on atherosclerosis, the silent blockage of coronary arteries that is the leading cause of cardiac arrest, looking at risk factors (and prevention) and the prospects for long-term survival of those with heart disease. A valuable primer on an important subject, this is highly recommended."

The series, thanks to those who let their stories be told and filmed, shatters any complacency you might have developed about your heart after hearing for so long about successful transplants and seeing heart-surgery survivors like David Letterman and Bill Clinton resume high-profile lives.

The Mysterious Human Heart' is an engrossing and educational three-part PBS documentary about that central organ and all that can go wrong with it ...Indeed, the series is a paean to modern medicine, the amazing things it can do -- with unpredictable success, admittedly -- and the brilliant or simply caring professionals who wield the scalpels and work the machines.

Filmed around the world using high-definition technology, these human stories are enhanced through state-of-the-art animation illustrating the inner workings of the human heart.

"Each episode in this series provides information through real-life dramas about people with heart conditions and other heart-related problems. Endlessly Beating presents the anatomy of the heart and discusses blood flow, emphasizing that the heart is the most reliable pump. Three individuals share their stories about how the use of man-made temporary pumps prevented heart failure while they waited for a transplant. The Spark of Life explains how the heart's electrical system is responsible for the contraction of the heart and the regularity of the heart beat. The history of cardiology is discussed, focusing on two electrical mechanisms -- the defibrillator and the pacemaker -- which have helped to alleviate heart problems. From New York to Brazil, patients with similar heart symptoms, but different diagnoses, share their stories. The options used to treat these patients are astounding. The Silent Killer addresses atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease. It explains the impact of the Framingham Heart Study on the relationship between heart disease, diet, and exercise. The challenges of coping with and preventing heart disease are highlighted through the stories of patients who have recognized their risk factors and have begun to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Individual chapters allow teachers to select particular topics and segments. Spanish subtitles are available. An excellent choice for all libraries."