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dracoj 's review for:
Survival of the Sickest: The Surprising Connections Between Disease and Longevity
by Sharon Moalem, Jonathan Prince
Another landmark in my attempt to read all the books I optimistically bought during high school then stuck on my shelf to collect dust for years. Survival of the Sickest was a fun, quick read, and I can see why my high schools assigned it to give students a greater appreciation of biology. Moalem's prose was very approachable and competent, pretty standard fare for science books aimed at a non-scientist audience. At times, I found the copious metaphors he used to elucidate biological processes tedious and the writing style a bit too, um, tryhard; although, that might just be my pretentious asshole complex rearing its head. Also, although the notes section is extensive there are points where personal speculation and researched/peer-reviewed results aren't clearly differentiated. Dangerous, to say the least.
All that aside, this is a fantastic introduction to evolutionary biology as a framework, and the amazing insights about our history as a species that can be gleaned from re-examining our medical preconceptions in a new light. Granted, it's not exactly a rigorous survey of the field, but it's not trying to be. I think the case study chapters for a particular genetic condition or disease were the strongest, but my favorite by far was the chapter on jumping genes. What a pleasure it is to fill in the gaps of a dim memory of DNA transpositions in high school. Despite some flaws, a lovely primer on some balls-to-the-wall insane findings I (mostly) didn't learn in AP Bio.
Verdict: 3.5/5. Freakonomics but make it medicine; read if that description appeals to you.
All that aside, this is a fantastic introduction to evolutionary biology as a framework, and the amazing insights about our history as a species that can be gleaned from re-examining our medical preconceptions in a new light. Granted, it's not exactly a rigorous survey of the field, but it's not trying to be. I think the case study chapters for a particular genetic condition or disease were the strongest, but my favorite by far was the chapter on jumping genes. What a pleasure it is to fill in the gaps of a dim memory of DNA transpositions in high school. Despite some flaws, a lovely primer on some balls-to-the-wall insane findings I (mostly) didn't learn in AP Bio.
Verdict: 3.5/5. Freakonomics but make it medicine; read if that description appeals to you.