The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer is a book written by Siddhartha Mukherjee, an Indian-born American physician and oncologist. Published on 16 November 2010 by Scribner, it won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction.
Fascinating, moving explanation of where we were and are now in the battle against cancer.
No rating
Fascinating history of the battle against cancer, vividly describing not just the mysteries of cancer and their gradual unraveling, but also the politics and people involved. There's plenty of ego and professional rivalry involved, with people holding onto wrong ideas and going down wrong tracks, but they're still the heroes compared to the obvious villains (tobacco industry, how are they still in business?) and sometime hero/villains (big pharma - heroes when they fund the research and bring it to market, villains when they, eh, not enough cancer customers). The author is a cancer physician and this book channels his professional and emotional investment in the topic, but cancer affects all of us, so while there are way too many "must read" books, I consider this one of them.
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Oh boy, what a ride. "The Emperor of All Maladies" is a very big book - not that there's anything wrong with that. It's an almost-complete history of cancer research (rather than cancer itself), and it describes all the major steps towards better diagnoses and treatments for many different types of cancer. The books goes back and forth between historical events, laid out in great detail, and the author's own experiences as a cancer doctor in the US.
I certainly learned a lot while reading this book. I know quite a bit about (molecular) biology and what "cancer" means on different levels, but I was unaware of many of the historical connections, let alone the many protagonists who have contributed to making cancer less of a threat.
Now why the measly two-star rating? Let me tell you.
This book has the details. All of them. Who was the first to …
Oh boy, what a ride. "The Emperor of All Maladies" is a very big book - not that there's anything wrong with that. It's an almost-complete history of cancer research (rather than cancer itself), and it describes all the major steps towards better diagnoses and treatments for many different types of cancer. The books goes back and forth between historical events, laid out in great detail, and the author's own experiences as a cancer doctor in the US.
I certainly learned a lot while reading this book. I know quite a bit about (molecular) biology and what "cancer" means on different levels, but I was unaware of many of the historical connections, let alone the many protagonists who have contributed to making cancer less of a threat.
Now why the measly two-star rating? Let me tell you.
This book has the details. All of them. Who was the first to suggest a certain type of chemotherapy for a specific type of cancer? Where did he live? How did he get to work every day? What did his office look like? Who were his co-workers? Who of their relatives got cancer at some point? How often did they travel to meet collaborators, and did they go by plane or by car? You'll find out if you read this book. For me, it was just too much - too much of everything.
Also, too many too flowery descriptions. Every figure in this book, every person who is introduced, the doctors, the researchers, the politicians, the patients, their relatives - they're all introduced with a three-adjective description, as another reviewer pointed out. I found it just so annoying to read, the same formula for every new person, of which there are SO MANY.
So while the topic is mostly very interesting, I was put off by the way it is presented - flowery language, willfully pompous, over-the-top and verbose. This could have been cut back by about a quarter and I would have enjoyed it more. As it is, however, it felt almost like a chore reading it.
All in all, the insights into the connections between cancer pioneers over the centuries, their ways to fight cancer, and the way everything is orchestrated behind the scenes - in Congress and medical associations' meeting rooms - was intriguing, and I'm glad I learned about these things. It was the way of writing and how the content is presented that made me enjoy the book much less than many other people did.
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 …
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 smile when I see this book on my shelf. It not only helped me find a future, it helped me and my family navigate the loss of a loved one. If cancer intimidates you or peaks your curiosity, give it a read.
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.
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Surprisingly riveting read. Got me thinking about science related to literacy, thoughts here: https://languageliteracy.blog/2021/09/25/the-science-of-reading-and-cancer/
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A great book to read if you are interested in the subject. The first chapters about radical cancer surgery are stomach-turning but the author tempers the depressing subject matter with the personal stories of recovery of his patients.
While reading this book I realized that this is the first time that I have read a history of medicine. It never fails to amaze me that what we know now as facts were figured out slowly over the years by researchers and doctors and with the inevitable trial and error process that occurred many horror stories are detailed as doctors came to understand how to treat cancer with surgery and later with modern medicines.
It's good to understand how the medical profession makes progress, how drug trials are conducted, and how the understanding of how the body works has progressed through research aimed at finding a cure for cancer. Also interesting …
A great book to read if you are interested in the subject. The first chapters about radical cancer surgery are stomach-turning but the author tempers the depressing subject matter with the personal stories of recovery of his patients.
While reading this book I realized that this is the first time that I have read a history of medicine. It never fails to amaze me that what we know now as facts were figured out slowly over the years by researchers and doctors and with the inevitable trial and error process that occurred many horror stories are detailed as doctors came to understand how to treat cancer with surgery and later with modern medicines.
It's good to understand how the medical profession makes progress, how drug trials are conducted, and how the understanding of how the body works has progressed through research aimed at finding a cure for cancer. Also interesting was how society and activism play a part in moving the agenda on.
Overall I found it a hopeful book and worth reading but I don't think I need to read anymore books on this topic for a while.
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
So interesting and engaging. Very well written. Although it's a tough topic, the book never seemed hopeless or terrible. Most likely going to be one of my favourite reads 2019. And just imagine what has happened in the past decade since the book was first published. I'm looking forward to reading more of Mukherjee's work.
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Wow. TMI.
My eyes were glazing over by the time I finished this book. Once he started in on the genetic information he started to lose me. I never really did much care for genetics in school. Still, very informative if sometimes just too much all around. I'm grateful there are intelligent people in this world that help us fight our medical battles, if not down right dedicating their whole lives to the cause. God bless every one of them.
Review of 'The Emperor of All Maladies' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I found this supremely well written, balanced between the smooth telling of a suspense (who-done-it?) and just enough grounding in science history to keep both strands readable. He kept the human context alive with the patients he followed and he showed humility in the way he never presumed to be more than a learner even after he became a qualified specialist. The best science books are those that kindle the feeling of awe at life and the universe. Here there is awe at the perseverance of many to find cures and even awe at the incredible wily supreme survivor, the disease itself. The only reason I didn't give 5-stars was because there wasn't enough of the patients perspectives, but perhaps I'm being unfair, the subtitle is "a biography of Cancer" after all.
