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jennyc2323 's review for:
There is nothing more engaging than a nonfiction book about medicine that’s written with the pace and tension of a thriller and doesn’t require more than a vague memory of high school biology. Even better if I come away wishing I’d paid more attention in class! In An Elegant Defense, the battles between our immune systems and the disorders that cause our bodies to turn against us make for a riveting read. We meet four richly developed main characters, learn their heartfelt stories, and follow them through treatments for conditions such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Readers find out how the immune system sometimes overreacts, leading to autoimmune disorders, and how other times certain genes create immunity to diseases like malaria and even AIDS. I count this fascinating look at the wonders of immunology, research, and medicine among my top books of 2019.