The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

Paperback

English language

Published July 29, 2011 by Fourth Estate.

ISBN:
978-0-00-725092-9
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OCLC Number:
765526104

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5 stars (4 reviews)

The story of cancer is a human one - a tale of chance discoveries, seized opportunities and human endurance. From innovative but brutal early surgical treatments to the Curies' ultimately tragic work with radiation; from Sidney Farber's hugely risky discovery of chemotherapy to the author's treatment of his own patients, this riveting book recounts a centuries-long conflict.

Now, as cancer becomes an ever more universal experience, the need to understand it, and its treatment, has never been more compelling. In this groundbreaking account Siddhartha Mukherjee, bestselling author of The Gene, reveals how far we have come in solving one of science's great mysteries and offers a facinating glimpse of our future progress. (back cover)

21 editions

The Perfect Guide to your Altered Self

5 stars

This is the book that made me realize I wanted to practice medicine.

I was handed this book in my senior year of high school by the veterinarian I shadowed at the time after expressing interest into the pathology of cancer. He had told me that this book would change the way I see the body, and he was absolutely correct. Mukherjee covers the difficult concept of cancer with dignity and a vast respect for those who have suffered under its weight. It was the ways in which he described his interaction with his patients that made me realize clinical medicine was the future I desired.

Mukherjee has an excellent talent for breaking intricate topics in to digestible concepts for all to understand. You do not need a vast array of previous information to understand this book.

Years later, as I'm preparing to head off to medical school, I still …

Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I very much enjoyed reading this book as it was informative both on the level of science and the pain that cancer patients go through. I appreciated the pains the author took to track down the historical details of cancer treatment. I also liked that he does not lose sight of human suffering and hope when talking about exciting developments in science.

I can talk about minor issues with the book, like how some sections are too US-centric, and how sometimes the author tries a bit too hard to spice up the descriptions of the science and scientist. But none of the above reduces the value of the book, so I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

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