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A review by tbr_the_unconquered
Why Aren't We Dead Yet?: The Survivor's Guide to the Immune System by Idan Ben-Barak
3.0
Why aren’t we dead yet ? - while you can cite a hundred thousand reasons as to why not, the focus here narrows down just to diseases through microbes or pathogens. Why are we really still alive in a world teeming with microbes, some of which are incredibly lethal to us ? Before we look for a book length answer to this question, it would be worthwhile to take a moment to appreciate how your internal body mechanics have been tirelessly working to keep you breathing. The immune system and its capabilities is something we take for granted. There is not much thought given to this factor much like the function of your ears, eyes and motor functions (unless you are an immunologist, an immunobiologist or a doctor in which case it becomes part of your job). The earlier question about our being still alive is explained in book length detail here.
If this book is any indication then immunology is quite a vast and incredibly complex subject. You can easily summarize the functioning of the immune system in human beings as a being an impregnable fortress against the never-ending onslaught of pathogens but answers to questions about the impregnability of the system and nuances of it are filled with jargon. If you had even an inkling of how mind-bogglingly intricate the efforts of this system is, you would certainly have a newfound respect for your health and wellbeing.
The advantage that the author has is that he is able to break down his subject matter into very accessible language and terms. Even if you are someone (like me) whose only medical acquaintance is with a doctor when you fall sick, there is enough material here to act as direction boards that help you get acquainted with human immunity. Some of the recent developments in the field of immune research, the history of immunology are all topics that get covered in concise detail in the span of a few chapters.
A witty and accessible overview of the immune system. There was nothing ground breaking or perspective shifting that I found and yet it gave a fuller understanding of immunity as a topic. Recommended !
If this book is any indication then immunology is quite a vast and incredibly complex subject. You can easily summarize the functioning of the immune system in human beings as a being an impregnable fortress against the never-ending onslaught of pathogens but answers to questions about the impregnability of the system and nuances of it are filled with jargon. If you had even an inkling of how mind-bogglingly intricate the efforts of this system is, you would certainly have a newfound respect for your health and wellbeing.
The advantage that the author has is that he is able to break down his subject matter into very accessible language and terms. Even if you are someone (like me) whose only medical acquaintance is with a doctor when you fall sick, there is enough material here to act as direction boards that help you get acquainted with human immunity. Some of the recent developments in the field of immune research, the history of immunology are all topics that get covered in concise detail in the span of a few chapters.
A witty and accessible overview of the immune system. There was nothing ground breaking or perspective shifting that I found and yet it gave a fuller understanding of immunity as a topic. Recommended !