An Elegant Defense

The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives

By: Matt Richtel

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

A magnificently reported and soulfully crafted exploration of the human immune system–the key to health and wellness, life and death. An epic, first-of-its-kind book, entwining leading-edge scientific discovery with the intimate stories of four individual lives, by the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times journalist.

“An Elegant Defense by Matt Richtel is one of those rare nonfiction books that transcends the genre. On one level it is a fascinating and engrossing account of the latest, and quite astonishing, discoveries involving the human immune system and how it works. But it is also a story about people facing mortality, about the passion of scientists searching for truth, and a meditation on death and how all of us struggle with the ultimate mystery. Heartfelt and moving, full of compassion, love, and the human drama, this is the work of a writer of high ethical character who is grappling with big issues and deep humanistic problems. What an inspiring and wonderful read. I highly recommend this extraordinary book.” —DOUGLAS PRESTON, #1 bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God

Laymen’s way to immunology

Inspiring and quite an informational book on immunology. Simplified for someone who doesn’t have a background in biology

Good science but too much biography

Very good discussion of the immune system. Could have done without the personal accounts. M

fascinating

a fascinating story
a great narration
an accurate science
a must for anyone who wants to learn about immunotherapy

book of the year!

a story of life intermingled with the latest knowledge of the immune system: a book for those with no prior knowledge of medicine

Book of the year

The best science and health book I have ever read, with story, emotional sometimes, funny other times, very interesting. A must read for everybody

I learned so much!

So much detail about cells- hard to keep track. If I had been reading it I would have skipped parts.

Brilliant

It’s been a while that I simply could not put a book down. Refreshing and sobbing

Great... if you can retain information

I loved this book! It had so much information that I didn't even know I had questions for. If you are like me, and you tend to doze off when things go slow, then I recommend listening at 1.4x speed... the narrator is a little bit slow and it's easy to miss a few minutes of material, which results in the next few minutes of you wondering what was just said. Overall, a great listen!

Great book, great writing

Very few people can make a book on microbiology read like a gripping narrative. Richtel does. It’s fascinating and important.
And the narrator is superb.

worth reading

interesting but could have done without the politicalization of the immune response. good reading and interesting information.