Publisher's Summary
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Emperor of All Maladies is a magnificent, profoundly humane "biography" of cancer - from its first documented appearances thousands of years ago through the epic battles in the twentieth century to cure, control, and conquer it to a radical new understanding of its essence.
Physician, researcher, and award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer with a cellular biologist's precision, a historian's perspective, and a biographer's passion. The result is an astonishingly lucid and eloquent chronicle of a disease humans have lived with - and perished from - for more than five thousand years.
The story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance, but also of hubris, paternalism, and misperception. 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 that, just three decades ago, was thought to be easily vanquished in an all-out "war against cancer."
Featured Reviews
"A Masterpiece of Medical History"
Mukherjee weaves together science, history, and humanity in a way that makes complex medical concepts accessible while never losing sight of the personal impact of cancer on patients and doctors alike. Stephen Hoye's narration perfectly captures both the scientific precision and emotional depth of the text.
"Transformative Understanding"
This audiobook changed my entire perspective on medical history and the nature of disease. The author's ability to humanize scientific progress while maintaining academic rigor is remarkable. An essential listen for anyone interested in medicine or history.