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The Song of the Cell

The Story of Life

Siddhartha Mukherjee author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:14th Sep '23

Should be back in stock very soon

The Song of the Cell cover

This insightful work explores the significance of cells in our existence, highlighting their role in medicine and human understanding. It weaves together stories of scientists and patients, celebrating groundbreaking advancements.

The Song of the Cell explores the fundamental role of cells in the tapestry of life, highlighting how every living being is intricately connected to these essential building blocks. Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2023 and recognized as one of the best books of the year by various esteemed publications, the book delves into the profound implications of cell discovery on both medicine and our self-perception. It shifts the narrative from viewing ourselves merely as machines to understanding our existence as complex ecosystems.

The author presents a compelling narrative that intertwines the stories of pioneering scientists and dedicated doctors with the experiences of patients whose lives are transformed by their groundbreaking work. This exploration illustrates not only the scientific advancements made possible by understanding cells but also the ethical and philosophical questions they raise. The text serves as a tribute to the resilience and potential of life, framed within the context of cutting-edge research that promises to address a myriad of health challenges.

With its rich storytelling and insightful commentary, The Song of the Cell invites readers to appreciate the intricate dance of life at the cellular level. It emphasizes the optimism that comes with scientific progress and the possibilities it creates for the future of medicine. This book is a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the intersections of biology, healthcare, and the essence of what it means to be alive.

Brilliant ... medical magic ... written with compassionate warmth and humour * Daily Telegraph *
Wonderfully ambitious... Cell biology is complex and as big a topic as life itself; I'm not sure a writer could cover it better * The Times *
If you are not already in awe of biology, The Song of the Cell might get you there. It is a masterclass * Guardian *
Vast, important ... optimistic * Mail on Sunday *
Some of the writing in The Song of the Cell is so lovely that you can get caught up in its music * New York Times *
A confident, timely - and most importantly, biologically precise - exploration of what it means to be human * Observer *
Part mystery, part adventure story, The Song of the Cell is an irresistible foray into the frontiers of medical science [and] a reminder of the power of human ingenuity that is likely to leave readers both enlightened and hopeful. * Jennifer Egan, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning A Visit from the Goon Squad *
A passionate, expert guide ... Mukherjee's ambition has once again paid off, creating an encyclopaedic exploration of how we got to this point - and sketching out the questions we must ask about the future * Financial Times *
A remarkable achievement - a fascinating and highly readable crash course on the complexities of cellular physiology and of life itself * New Statesman *
For anyone who wants to understand the building blocks of their own bodies - which everyone surely should - this is an informative and entertaining introduction * Economist *
All of us will get sick at some point. All of us will have loved ones who get sick. To understand what's happening in those moments - and to feel optimistic that things will get better - it helps to know something about cells, the building blocks of life. Mukherjee's latest book will give you that knowledge ... Mukherjee, who's both an oncologist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, brings all of his skills to bear in this fantastic book * Bill Gates *
Deeply researched, The Song of the Cell is an extraordinary journey through the history of discovery to the most innovative cellular medicine practiced today and the promise of what lies ahead. -- Paul Nurse, Nobel Laureate Physiology or Medicine 2001
Audacious...mesmerizing...reliably engaging... Mukherjee enthusiastically instructs and... delights - all the while hustling us across a preposterously vast and intricate landscape * Wall Street Journal *
An extraordinarily gifted storyteller... The author's ideas about the near future of medicine are both convincing and inspiring. This is another winner from Mukherjee. * Publishers Weekly, *Starred Review* *
A lively, personal, detailed, often moving account of the cell in medical history and its promise in the present * Heromag *
A lively, thought-provoking book... Mukherjee comes across not only as a brilliant researcher but also as a deeply empathetic human being * Literary Review *
A masterclass in cell function that will leave you in awe of biology -- Suzanne O'Sullivan * Guardian *
This complex portrait illuminates cells' roles in immunity, reproduction, sentience, cognition, repair and rejuvenation * Nature *
One of the most admired doctors in the world * The Times *
A tour d'horizon of cell theory... part history lesson, part biology lesson and part reminder of how science itself actually proceeds * Economist, *Books of the Year* *
Brilliant * The Times *
This complex portrait illuminates cells' roles in immunity, reproduction, sentience, cognition, repair and rejuvination, malfunctions such as cancer, and treatments such as blood transfusions, drawing on author Siddhartha Mukherjee's varied experience as an immunologist, stem-cell scientist, cancer biologist and medical oncologist * Nature *
The book is, at root, a call for a more integrated biology ... What gives The Song of the Cell its persuasiveness in calling for that new vision is precisely that it comes from a clinician steeped in the traditions of genomic and cell biology, and who has seen both the power and limitations of those approaches to produce actual cures * Lancet *
What truly elevates the book are Mukherjee's accounts of his experiences as a clinician and the stories of the patients he has encountered. Some are moving, and all are reflective and insightful * Philip Ball, Lancet *

ISBN: 9781529111781

Dimensions: 197mm x 129mm x 33mm

Weight: 408g

496 pages