The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
by Jenners • 04/16/2012 • 4 Stars, Audiobook, E Titles, History, M Authors, Non-Fiction, Science • 42 Comments
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer written by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee and read by Simon Hoye
Publisher: Tantor Audio, 2010
Length: 20 hours and 49 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Science
Where I Got It: Downloaded it from Audible.com
Why I Read It: I kept hearing how amazing this book was and, despite the subject matter, decided to take it on.
My Rating: 4 stars
It is a testament to Mukherjee’s writing that I listened to 20 hours and 49 minutes of this audiobook with relatively little discomfort. Billed as “a biography of cancer,” this book is ambitious. Examining cancer from its earliest appearances in medical history to present day developments, Mukherjee takes his complex and wide-ranging subject and breaks it down into understandable pieces. He also manages to make it personal. Using the case history of one of his patients diagnosed with leukemia as a framing device for the book, Mukherjee never forgets that behind all the technological advances, clinical studies, fundraising efforts, legislation and research are real people fighting for their lives. By putting human stories front and center (just like the Jimmy Fund), Mukherjee makes what could have been a dry and incomprehensible book come alive with stories that each of us can relate to.
I was surprised how fascinating the history of cancer turned out to be. So many scientists, physicians, surgeons and researchers have struggled to understand and “cure” this elusive disease. Hearing about the various breakthroughs that led to our current understanding of cancer was almost like reading a suspense novel. Who would figure out the “cause” of cancer? When would they make a link between smoking and lung cancer? When would surgeons realize that radical mastectomies were not a cure for breast cancer? Aside from the medical issues surrounding cancer research, Mukherjee also spends a fair amount of time on the politics of cancer—from the fundraising and advocacy efforts of Mary Lasker to the radical advocacy of groups like ACT UP. One lesson repeated time and time again is that breakthroughs in cancer treatments often happen because of passionate and dedicated people who won’t take no for an answer.
One downside of reading/listening to this book is that you will come to feel that developing cancer of some form or another is an almost inevitable part of being human. If my understanding of this book is accurate, cancer is essentially a part of each and every one of us—built into our very genes and waiting only to be activated by a combination of triggers that may or may not happen in our lifetime. We can take every precaution we want (not smoking, exercising regularly, eating healthily) but might develop a type of cancer. The good news is that many types of cancer can be successfully treated (even vanquished). The bad news, however, is that a universal cure for cancer is a myth. Like people, cancer has numerous different forms and, in many ways, is adapting and evolving along with our understanding and treatment of it. As upsetting as this may sound, I still think it is best to understand the history and nature of cancer and be ready to fight if and when the time comes. And, with any luck, we’ll each have an oncologist as gifted and humane as Dr. Mukherjee heading up our treatment.
A Word About the Narration: The narrator, Simon Hoye, was certainly given a challenge in reading this book, and he did a pretty good job. However, I felt his voice was ill-suited for such a long listen. I needed a little more color and nuance and expression and often found myself longing for a different narrator.
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I’m having some issues right now so I don’t think I could read this although I’m not sure I could anyway. I tend to avoid medical books or stuff like that. It’s too easy to thnk you have something when you read about it.
I can see that this might be the best choice for you now (or ever). Sending good thoughts your way!
Hi Jenners: Thanks for stopping by, my photo of the wooden foot stumped you (now pun intended)? I have a pair of dutch shoes at the front door and a pair of antique shoe forms, so my friend thought I might like this shoe form, that she got from her shoemaker friend. I was testing some stain colours on it. It’s a conversation piece. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched Witches with your BB, but when he’s a little older maybe watch it, I don’t know why but this shoe form reminds me of that movie and I plan on painting a witchy thing on it. I always thought I would go into shoe design, and then I became a mom… nuf said.
Thanks for explaining your wooden shoe thing!
I actually read over half of this last year and never finished it even though I was really enjoying it. I even considered it one of my favorites of last year with still having a little left to read, LOL. I need to go back soon, though I hope I remember all the stuff I read. I also need closure on the case history of that one patient!
I imagine it would be hard to retain much of what you read … there is SO MUCH packed into that book. Even writing my review, I know I was forgetting tons of stuff that I was amazed to learn while listening. And you do get closure on that patient.
I had heard of this book before, but had forgotten about it. It does amaze me how varied cancer is in its attacks and causes, and how some people can smoke their entire lives and live to a ripe old age (my grandfather and his siblings – into their late 90s) while others have incredibly healthy habits and still end up with it (like a high school acquaintance of mine who died of testicular cancer). I read an article once about a set of identical twins who developed the same rare cancer in the same location at the same time – which freaked me out because I would love to think it could be avoidable by living healthily.
This book will really educate you like it did me. Cancer is a very fickle thing that is so hard to understand because it is so variable. After reading this book, I can see why doctors and researchers struggled for so long … and still continue to struggle.
Great review. It’s already on my list (and not the only title by this author, maybe that’s why I haven’t read anything yet – too many choices?).
I didn’t realize he wrote another book!! I’ll have to check it out. This book was very impressive.
I diagnose myself with cancer almost daily, so this book sounds like it might feed my paranoia. Cancer scares the bejeezus out of me, but history fascinates me so maybe I’ll give this book a chance!
Well, this book will probably only feed your fears and self-diagnosis but at least you’ll be better informed. It is a really amazing piece of work. I admire what he was able to do.
It’s not the kind of book I’d want to read but I enjoyed your review nevertheless.
I’ve nominated you for the “7X7 Link Award” on my blog, it’s a fun meme and I would very much like to read your answers so I hope you’ll participate whenever you have time.
P.S. I miss Romeo, haven’t seen him around here in a while.
Oh cool … I’ll check out the 7×7 thing. Sounds like a fun and easy post to write — I love answering questions! And I just now posted a Romeo post!
Sounds like a good read in spite of the subject matter.
It truly is an amazing piece of work that would probably speak to so many people.
I couldn’t read this one. So depressing a topic and one that would have me diagnosing myself the while time!
Yeah … it was often depressing and I really felt like I was developing all different types of cancers. But there was so much I learned too … and so many inspiring stories.
I rushed to buy this one after hearing the author talk about it on a Book TV interview. I put it aside because for awhile the subject was too close at hand with my dear friend struggling with brain cancer. I just couldn’t read about cancer but I do want to read this one and should put it on the list of books that I said I would read in my friend’s honor.
I could see that it might be too painful to read while your poor friend suffered through brain cancer. What a horror. It is filled with a huge amount of information on this horrible disease that affects so many of us. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend.
Great review! I am glad that you enjoyed it for the most part. It is not something I would usually choose, but I might have to give it a try.
New to your blog!
Stephanie @ Stepping Out of the Page
It was a bit out of my comfort zone too. I had heard such raves about it that I decided to chance it. I’m glad I did. I learned an awful lot and he did a wonderful job of presenting complex information in a way that was interesting and understandable. Glad to meet you! I’ll be swinging by to pay you a visit soon.
I really liked this one as well. Both of my parents had cancer and so there’s a part of me that wants to know exactly how and why it happens.
I can imagine wanting to know that given your family history. I felt he gave some very detailed and precise answers yet I still felt like there was so much still not understood.
I have been stuck in this audio book for the past 9 months
! I think the narrator is part of the problem, but another thing is that it is just so packed with information, and so long! I think reading this one would have worked better for me, and now that I have read your review, I am considering picking this one up in print.
I also agree that the fact that Mukherjee posits that cancer is something that we all might have to deal with one day is very scary! I realize the reasons for it, but it scares the bejesus out of me. And those ultra radical mastectomies? Oh, my gosh, that was so terrible!
It was a push to get through the audio … I agree with you. I think print might be the way to go on this one. I know I could have read it quicker than listening to it. Plus the narrator just doesn’t have the right voice for such a sustained listen. It felt like work at points, and I do blame that more on the audio format and the narrator than the book. It was a book that gives you a load of information that really opened my eyes to things that are both good, bad and disturbing. I agree with you on those ultra radical mastectomies … those poor women were just disfigured beyond belief.
I like nonfiction on audio but it can be tricky for the narrator. Whenever I edit medical texts, I’m sure I have whatever disease is being described. It’s amazing how many rare and untreatable conditions I’ve survived.
I imagine that is some occupational hazard to edit medical texts!!! I pretty much convinced myself that I had leukemia while listening to this book. And I did feel sympathy for the narrator. It was a long book to begin with so much information in it.
I read the eBook and loved it. probably not the best subject matter to make for a good audio book. I felt like I learned so much.
I think I would have liked it even more as a print book. It was a loooooong listen on audio.
I was totally prepared to NOT be interested in this book at the beginning of your review, but by the end you actually made it sound compelling. Having lost both parents and one grandparent to the disease (the former at young ages, the latter in old age) I’ve always felt a bit fatalistic about the big “C”. This might cure me of that or totally put me over the edge – who knows!?
It would kind of put you over the edge, I suspect, but it might also free you as it is almost inevitable. I think it is better to know as much as you can. One lesson I learned from the book is that patients need to advocate to get the right treatments and medicines to have a chance. Plus he does a brilliant job of explaining why so many people get cancer. It is weird … I found it simultaneously disheartening and encouraging.
Gaaah, I read about 25 pages and then stopped, even though I liked it, and never went back to it. gaaah
The subject matter too intense? It does kind of get to you.
Oh I would tally be thinking I had cancer after reading this!
You sure would! I kept diagnosing myself the whole time I was listening. It gives you pause.
I didn’t think a book like this would translate well to audio, but it sure sounds like it did.
It actually did translate to audio pretty well. I was surprised. He managed to make the book quite readable and accessible, despite the odds.
This would be interesting, to read or listen to (even though you weren’t thrilled by the narrator). We know so much, and yet so little, about cancer and cancer prevention. Although many cancers are treatable if not curable, we still have a long way to go–the statistics about how many will get cancer are extremely alarming.
It was stunning to me how much they can do for some cancers and how little they can do for others. We do still have a long way to go.