The Emperor of All Maladies

A Biography of Cancer

By: Siddhartha Mukherjee

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 22 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A magnificent, beautifully written "biography" of cancer - from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence.

The Emperor of All Maladies reveals the many faces of an iconic, shape-shifting disease that is the defining plague of our generation. The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance but also of hubris, arrogance, paternalism, and misperception, all leveraged against a disease that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out "war against cancer". Mukherjee recounts centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories, and deaths, told through the eyes of his predecessors and peers, training their wits against an infinitely resourceful adversary. The audiobook is like a literary thriller with cancer as the central character.

From the Persian Queen Atossa, whose Greek slave may have cut off her diseased breast, to the 19th-century recipients of primitive radiation and chemotherapy to Mukherjee's own leukemia patient, Carla, The Emperor of All Maladies is about the people who have soldiered through toxic, bruising, and draining regimens in order to survive - and to increase the store of human knowledge.

©2010 Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

One of the best books EVER

In a class by itself. Extraordinary overview of cancer. Highest recommendation. Tough disease, tougher treatments.

easy to listen

If you could sum up The Emperor of All Maladies in three words, what would they be?

good story

What about Fred Sanders’s performance did you like?

generall narration, tone of voice.

Any additional comments?

I thought first it is a scientific book. However, I nicely found out that it is actually a history book with an interesting story, which I can relate to several aspects of my life.

Fascinating history and beautiffuly written

I am a cancer nurse so had a great interest in this book, but anyone would learn and enjoy learning about this disease and the history of the search for a cure. Writing AND performing were excellent!

Many Strengths, A Few Weaknesses

Occasionally gets bogged down in relating the early history of medicine, omitting some of the great contributions of Leonardo Da Vinci to human anatomy, but otherwise a very informative history of oncology and the deeply personal stories of patience who fought so bravely against this awful disease.

Great Compilation

Tells the history and present of Cancer told thorugh interesting anecdotes.
I recommed it specially for medical doctors.

fascinating

Excellent history and commentary on this mist viscious and intelligent disease. I was afraid it would be depressing but the stories were balanced and the description of new targeted therapies raise ones hopes that cancer will become a survivable chronic condition like HIV in our lifetime

Great book!

This book was all that and a bag of chips! I’m a Pharma scientist with many years of experience in oncology, so maybe overly harsh on the reader, but many terms are mispronounced and the reading seemed a bit flat to me. But picking at nits here. Awesome book!

OUTSTANDING

I loved this book. I understand so much more
This was so well written and made so easy to understand.

Great Book!

Great book with great information on cancer. It is told in a chronological order starting with Egyptians to current times, making the story interesting and easy to digest all along the way!

Profoundly moving.

One of the most amazing books I have read. I never thought that a book on cancer would capture my attention like it did. Thank you Dr. Mukhergie!