Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease
Book Brief
BetaSurvival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2007267
Book • Nonfiction
2007
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease, Dr. Sharon Moalem explores how certain diseases may have historically provided evolutionary advantages, enhancing human survival. The book delves into genetic, environmental, and evolutionary perspectives, examining how medical conditions can play unexpected roles in the broader context of human health and evolution.
Informative
Challenging
Mysterious
Contemplative
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Survival of the Sickest is praised for its engaging exploration of the evolutionary advantages of diseases. Reviewers appreciate the intriguing perspective on how ailments like diabetes and hemochromatosis may have helped our ancestors. Some critique it for being overly speculative and not sufficiently rigorous for a scientific audience, but most find the book accessible and thought-provoking.
Who Should Read Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease?
Readers who enjoy Survival of the Sickest are curious about the evolutionary purpose of diseases and enjoy books like The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins or Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond, which blend science with intriguing insights into human history.
267
Book • Nonfiction
2007
Adult
18+ years
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