Magic mushrooms?
The title of
this blog can be correctly interpreted in two ways: either an ambivalent review of a
book, or a review of an ambivalent book.
Both are accurate. After several
somewhat unpleasant days wading through this book, I am ambivalent about whether or not
to recommend it. But also – the book itself is ambivalent about what it wants
to be. Is it a book about the immune
system, or about the author’s buddy Jason – or is it merely an excuse for the
author to publicize s his ideas about the human condition? Darned if I know. My bottom line is: read this book only for
its occasional insights about how the immune system works. And if you do read it, get it from your local
library, or wait until abebooks has it for sale for $3.79.
The book I’m
on about here is An Elegant Defense, by
Matt Richtal. Richtal is a free-lance
writer with connections to the NYTimes, and has authored several other books – none of which I
plan to read. I bought
this book retail, hoping to learn more about the immune system and how it affects
our lives. I did learn some stuff, or at
least I was exposed to it – but it came in such randomly placed driblets that I
was unable to form even a vestige of a coherent picture. Maybe I could, but I’m not going to try – An Elegant Defense is straight on its
way to the local bookstore. Sorry, Matt:
I know you loved Jason, and I know you tried.
If you want
to read a serious cancer or bio-book, click on
and take
your pick.
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