The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

De: Siddhartha Mukherjee

Narrado por: Fred Sanders

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE * A NEW YORK TIMES TOP 100 BOOK OF THE CENTURY * A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A TIME ALL-TIME 100 NONFICTION BOOK

Updated with FOUR NEW MAJOR CHAPTERS illuminating the new developments in cancer detection, prevention, treatment, and understanding in the fifteen years since the book’s first publication, this New York Times bestseller is “an extraordinary achievement” (The New Yorker)—a magnificent, profoundly humane “biography” of cancer.

Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies became an instant classic when it was published in 2010. A magnificent, humane “biography” of cancer—from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic 20th century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence—The Emperor of All Maladies is one of the most highly acclaimed books of its time.

In the years since Mukherjee dazzled readers with The Emperor of All Maladies, much has changed in the universe of cancer—in our understanding of its causes; in our attempts to prevent it; and in the revolutionary new treatments. In four profound and revelatory new chapters—essentially a new book about cancer—he illuminates this disease with both a bird’s eye view of the landscape and an acute focus on the role of the cell. He also looks at imminent new studies—and to the future.

Riveting, audacious, and now more urgent than ever in this vast update, The Emperor of All Maladies is a masterpiece.

Great but not as good as his other book

I got this book because I read his other book The Gene: An Intimate History. That book is an unqualified masterpiece. This book is also great, but having read the other, it covers some familiar territory and so maybe was overshadowed. If you're only going to read one Siddhartha Mukergee book, read The Gene. That's my recommendation.

All in any part of medicine human or animal should read

The author writes with such simple explanation of very complicated scientific research and medical issues that will help everyone in the medical and medical to biological research fields understand where and how man had moved forward in understanding the complicated issues of life. Not only the bare bones research but it's interaction between science and our fellow human beings. Scientists reading this book will understand better how important human interaction is so very important and in the end we all know that no one has all the answers this book is very helpful in helping us understand how to approach patients, family and friends with disease and how the science of medicine is working. The author has a very deep love for his patients and for all of us in the practice of medicine and research. One of the best written books that I have ever read. I think that everyone who is in school pursuing a medical, veterinary or medical research path must read this book. It is so good that it should be required reading

Excellent

A spellbinding story beautifully narrated, all audio books should be like this. Who knows that a story about cancer could be told in such an interesting manner?

Gripping and informative

Surprisingly gripping given the subject matter. This is one of those aspirational books I meant to read for years and never did. But driving to northern Montana with spotty cell service I started listening to it on Audible and the story of a cancer patient and the author’s journey into oncology and the performance of the reader sucked me in.

As a child I lost an aunt and a classmate to cancer and it’s amazing how treatment has progress since even they died in the 80’s and 90’s. But even with the amazing advances described in the book, my takeaway was that this war against cancer is one of hubris. What is with our obsession with immortality? Why can’t we accept death gracefully? Descriptions of certain treatments made me super uncomfortable and queasy. I don’t understand why some people sacrifice so much for any tiny hope of prolonging their lives just a few days, weeks or months. In the book there is only passing discussion of palliative care (dismissed) and quality of life of cancer patients fighting the disease (intense suffering). If we have discovered cancer is programmed into our DNA and is a disease associated with aging (accumulation of mutations), there can be no “cure” for cancer, as conceded by the author toward the end of the book when he says we have to redefine success as prolonging life.

The book invites examination of Western Medicine and our cultural obsession with “cures”.

Brilliantly written and most inspiring !!!

A treasure for all of us dedicated to the search for effective treatment for patients with cancer.
Poetically written, Siddhartha walks us through the history of cancer and it’s warriors - unveiling a most inspiring , striking pattern.

Thank you Siddhartha for this Gift!