An Elegant Defense Audiobook By Matt Richtel cover art

An Elegant Defense

The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives

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An Elegant Defense

By: Matt Richtel
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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A magnificently reported and soulfully crafted exploration of the human immune system - the key to health and wellness, life and death. An epic, first-of-its-kind audiobook, entwining leading-edge scientific discovery with the intimate stories of four individual lives, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist.

“An Elegant Defense by Matt Richtel is one of those rare nonfiction books that transcends the genre. On one level it is a fascinating and engrossing account of the latest, and quite astonishing, discoveries involving the human immune system and how it works. But it is also a story about people facing mortality, about the passion of scientists searching for truth, and a meditation on death and how all of us struggle with the ultimate mystery. Heartfelt and moving, full of compassion, love, and the human drama, this is the work of a writer of high ethical character who is grappling with big issues and deep humanistic problems. What an inspiring and wonderful read. I highly recommend this extraordinary book.” (Douglas Preston, number-one best-selling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God)

©2019 Matt Richtel (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Biological Sciences Biology History History & Philosophy Physical Illness & Disease Science Medicine Immune System Science
Compelling Storytelling • Engaging Narratives • Emotional Stories • Relatable Accounts • Captivating Case Histories
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Inspiring and quite an informational book on immunology. Simplified for someone who doesn’t have a background in biology

Laymen’s way to immunology

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Very good discussion of the immune system. Could have done without the personal accounts. M

Good science but too much biography

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interesting but could have done without the politicalization of the immune response. good reading and interesting information.

worth reading

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Loved this book. I think everyone should read it! He did an amazing job of explaining a complicated subject.

Excellent

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made me pay more attention to what I was eating and how to handle my everyday actions

we all need to know this information

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This is one of the most well written books I’ve heard. The narration was patient and well done. The book is not just an explanation of science - but an added perspective that, I think, made the book more relatable and important. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Engrossing and well told

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a fascinating story
a great narration
an accurate science
a must for anyone who wants to learn about immunotherapy

fascinating

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a story of life intermingled with the latest knowledge of the immune system: a book for those with no prior knowledge of medicine

book of the year!

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The best science and health book I have ever read, with story, emotional sometimes, funny other times, very interesting. A must read for everybody

Book of the year

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So much detail about cells- hard to keep track. If I had been reading it I would have skipped parts.

I learned so much!

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