The Emperor of All Maladies

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 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.

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.