This Pulitzer Prize-winning book, accompanied by a PBS documentary from Ken Burns, is an extraordinary exploration of cancer’s profound history. Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, researcher, and acclaimed science writer delves into cancer with the precision of a cellular biologist, the perspective of a historian, and the passion of a biographer. In this eloquent chronicle spanning over five thousand years, Mukherjee unveils the captivating narrative of humanity’s enduring battle with this enigmatic adversary.
Cancer’s story is one of human ingenuity, resilience, and determination, interwoven with hubris, paternalism, and misperceptions. Mukherjee takes us on a journey through centuries of discoveries, setbacks, victories, and losses, seen through the eyes of those who preceded him. They grappled with an adversary once believed conquerable in the “war against cancer,” a story that unfolds like a gripping literary thriller with cancer as the central character.
“The Emperor of All Maladies” is a riveting, urgent, and surprising account, offering a glimpse into the future of cancer treatment. It’s an illuminating work that provides hope and clarity for those seeking to unravel the mysteries of cancer.
