Preview
  • An Elegant Defense

  • The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives
  • By: Matt Richtel
  • Narrated by: Fred Sanders
  • Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (722 ratings)

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An Elegant Defense

By: Matt Richtel
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
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Publisher's summary

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
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What listeners say about An Elegant Defense

Average customer ratings
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book of the year!

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

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1 person found this helpful

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fascinating

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

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1 person found this helpful

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Book of the year

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

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Laymen’s way to immunology

Inspiring and quite an informational book on immunology. Simplified for someone who doesn’t have a background in biology

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Good science but too much biography

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

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worth reading

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

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent

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

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1 person found this helpful

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we all need to know this information

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

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Engrossing and well told

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

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Brilliant

It’s been a while that I simply could not put a book down. Refreshing and sobbing

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2 people found this helpful