This interesting and informative book about body piercing and tattooing traces the vast cultural and social history of body modification as well as its origins, providing students with a rich foundation to help them form a more complete understanding of the art. The author provides students with a realistic overview of the health risks associated with both practices, noting recent infections that originated from equipment used by various unlicensed body artists and the potential link between tattooing and hepatitis C. Personal stories, anecdotes, and a detailed array of facts fill out the text.