Far-reaching, sometimes surprising ... Khamsi’s emphasis on the beneficial aspects of somatic mutations is one of the most striking elements of her book.
Accessible if disquieting ... The author seems almost apologetic for the decidedly dismal message she carries ... Perhaps to spare readers even more dismay, she reserves her critical scrutiny for cells, chronicling their nasty competitive struggles in vivid detail, while largely overlooking these same inconvenient realities in science. Here, she tends to describe a largely peaceable kingdom populated by earnest researchers thoughtfully pursuing nature’s questions in a collaborative environment of inquiry and wonder. Like Virchow’s vision of a cellular republic, it’s a charming ideal.
I do have some quibbles about the way this book is written and structured ... But the message here matters far more than the writing style. This is an important book, bringing together a lot of disparate research from different fields to paint a picture that I think everyone should be aware of – especially those working in healthcare.
