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The Beautiful Cure: Revealing the Immune System's Secrets and How They Will Lead to a Revolution in Health and Wellness
The immune system holds the key to human health. In The Beautiful Cure, leading immunologist Daniel M. Davis describes how the scientific quest to understand how the immune system works—and how it is affected by stress, sleep, age, and our state of mind—is now unlocking a revolutionary new approach to medicine and well-being.
The body’s ability to fight disease and heal itself is one of the great mysteries and marvels of nature. But in recent years, painstaking research has resulted in major advances in our grasp of this breathtakingly beautiful inner world: a vast and intricate network of specialist cells, regulatory proteins, and dedicated genes that are continually protecting our bodies. Far more powerful than any medicine ever invented, the immune system plays a crucial role in our daily lives. We have found ways to harness these natural defenses to create breakthrough drugs and so-called immunotherapies that help us fight cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and many age-related diseases, and we are starting to understand whether activities such as mindfulness might play a role in enhancing our physical resilience.
Written by a researcher at the forefront of this adventure, The Beautiful Cure tells a dramatic story of scientific detective work and discovery, of puzzles solved and mysteries that linger, of lives sacrificed and saved. With expertise and eloquence, Davis introduces us to this revelatory new understanding of the human body and what it takes to be healthy.
The body’s ability to fight disease and heal itself is one of the great mysteries and marvels of nature. But in recent years, painstaking research has resulted in major advances in our grasp of this breathtakingly beautiful inner world: a vast and intricate network of specialist cells, regulatory proteins, and dedicated genes that are continually protecting our bodies. Far more powerful than any medicine ever invented, the immune system plays a crucial role in our daily lives. We have found ways to harness these natural defenses to create breakthrough drugs and so-called immunotherapies that help us fight cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and many age-related diseases, and we are starting to understand whether activities such as mindfulness might play a role in enhancing our physical resilience.
Written by a researcher at the forefront of this adventure, The Beautiful Cure tells a dramatic story of scientific detective work and discovery, of puzzles solved and mysteries that linger, of lives sacrificed and saved. With expertise and eloquence, Davis introduces us to this revelatory new understanding of the human body and what it takes to be healthy.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
381 people are currently reading
2880 people want to read
About the author
Daniel M. Davis
6 books73 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
February 13, 2018
The subtitle of this book, 'Harnessing Your Body's Natural Defences' makes it sounds like a celebrity lifestyle book, or a collection of New Age nonsense. But this is a very different beast from its (dare I say it, possibly intentionally misleading) subtitle: instead its a scientific exploration of the immune system.
Despite the woo of alternative health practitioners, the immune system is not a single thing, but rather a complex collection of mechanisms that between them help us fight off invading organisms. And Daniel Davis's book is not a 'how to' manual, but rather a description of how we have gradually uncovered the workings of the many components and how it may be possible to make more of our immune system's powerful capabilities by manipulating it into doing an even better job than it does at the moment.
Professor of immunology Davis has an approachable, easy style, helped by the fact that he doesn't try to be literary. I loved the way that he comments 'It's common for science books which feature medical advances to include anecdotes of patients' stories as an emotive hook to the narrative. Encouraged by my publisher to do this, I asked my son, aged twelve at the time, what he thought of his asthma inhaler. He looked at me as if I'd just asked "Shall we go to Mars today?" and walked out of the room.' The only thing I'd add to his remark is the word 'bad', to make it 'It's common for bad science books...'
We discover a collection of detective stories as various scientists and teams in history (much of it surprisingly recent history) discover how different aspects of the immune system work. This proved an immensely complicated challenge, because of the sheer number of components involved, often interacting with each other, so that a single simple assumption like 'a foreign body triggers an immune reaction' proved far too simple. Davis brings both the effort required in this scientific work and the human nature of the researchers alive - I like that he has not covered up where there have been disputes and even legal action in pursuit of 'I got there first.'
I readily admit I am not a natural reader for this book. I hate anything medical - I'd rather not know and go on in blissful ignorance. But as this is really a book about molecular biology that happens to be oriented to the way the immune system deals with invaders and cancers I found it a lot less stressful than I had imagined.
There is only one reason I haven't given the book five stars - and that's because after a while, to the outsider it starts to get a bit samey. When you've heard of one molecule or set of molecules being tracked down through careful, repetitive work, it's quite similar to another molecule or molecules being tracked down. This is in no sense Davis's fault - he makes an excellent job of it - it's the nature of the science. As Davis has a physics background, he might forgive me for quoting Richard Feynman who, on discovering biology students had learned many esoteric names for biological components commented to them 'Then no wonder I can catch up with you so fast after you've had four years of biology.' The fact is biology is far more complex in terms of its component parts than anything in physics, and as a result it can be hard going.
'Yet another molecule' weariness only set in well through the book, and I would highly recommend it, whether you are the sort of person who thinks a 'detox drink' can reboot your immune system or just wonder why it's so difficult to provide an effective flu vaccine. Another excellent read from Daniel Davis.
Despite the woo of alternative health practitioners, the immune system is not a single thing, but rather a complex collection of mechanisms that between them help us fight off invading organisms. And Daniel Davis's book is not a 'how to' manual, but rather a description of how we have gradually uncovered the workings of the many components and how it may be possible to make more of our immune system's powerful capabilities by manipulating it into doing an even better job than it does at the moment.
Professor of immunology Davis has an approachable, easy style, helped by the fact that he doesn't try to be literary. I loved the way that he comments 'It's common for science books which feature medical advances to include anecdotes of patients' stories as an emotive hook to the narrative. Encouraged by my publisher to do this, I asked my son, aged twelve at the time, what he thought of his asthma inhaler. He looked at me as if I'd just asked "Shall we go to Mars today?" and walked out of the room.' The only thing I'd add to his remark is the word 'bad', to make it 'It's common for bad science books...'
We discover a collection of detective stories as various scientists and teams in history (much of it surprisingly recent history) discover how different aspects of the immune system work. This proved an immensely complicated challenge, because of the sheer number of components involved, often interacting with each other, so that a single simple assumption like 'a foreign body triggers an immune reaction' proved far too simple. Davis brings both the effort required in this scientific work and the human nature of the researchers alive - I like that he has not covered up where there have been disputes and even legal action in pursuit of 'I got there first.'
I readily admit I am not a natural reader for this book. I hate anything medical - I'd rather not know and go on in blissful ignorance. But as this is really a book about molecular biology that happens to be oriented to the way the immune system deals with invaders and cancers I found it a lot less stressful than I had imagined.
There is only one reason I haven't given the book five stars - and that's because after a while, to the outsider it starts to get a bit samey. When you've heard of one molecule or set of molecules being tracked down through careful, repetitive work, it's quite similar to another molecule or molecules being tracked down. This is in no sense Davis's fault - he makes an excellent job of it - it's the nature of the science. As Davis has a physics background, he might forgive me for quoting Richard Feynman who, on discovering biology students had learned many esoteric names for biological components commented to them 'Then no wonder I can catch up with you so fast after you've had four years of biology.' The fact is biology is far more complex in terms of its component parts than anything in physics, and as a result it can be hard going.
'Yet another molecule' weariness only set in well through the book, and I would highly recommend it, whether you are the sort of person who thinks a 'detox drink' can reboot your immune system or just wonder why it's so difficult to provide an effective flu vaccine. Another excellent read from Daniel Davis.
January 20, 2019
Really enjoyed this. As other reviewers have noted, the title and cover art make the book look like a Deepak Chopra-style self-help number about the effect of meditation on the immune system. In fact, it's a decidedly scientific overview of the history and future of immunology, including some of the recent exciting developments in immunotherapy and its application in the treatment of certain cancers and auto-immune diseases. Clear, well-written, and nicely pitched for a motivated beginner.
August 9, 2021
This was one of my favorite popular science books of the year. At first, the title, which included "Harnessing Your Body's Natural Defenses," made me wonder if this book contained pseudoscience. It is indeed rigorous science, in its most pure and beautiful form. Oddly, an author on goodreads was able to package their book, which is pseudoscience and is in no way related to Davis' book, with Davis' book. They made a page for both books. I tried to figure out how to alert goodreads about it, but I honestly have no idea how to do so. I hope that page does not stop people from reading this book, because it's filled with incredibly detailed descriptions of how the immune system works. Author Daniel Davis' credentials are impressive and his book is deeply researched and eloquently written. Davis is co-discoverer of the immunological synapse and membrane nanotubes, was professor at Imperial College London, director of research at the University of Manchester's collaborative center for inflammation research, and is a professor at Manchester.
The primary reason this was one of my favorite books of the year is because Davis wrote of the body's immune response as an artful dance of activation and suppression in response to stimuli and in Chapter Two, called Alarm Cells, he wrote about dendritic cells in a way that made me feel like I was taking an animal behavior class and reading about bees. I am a serious awe junkie always looking for a fix and hoping to find it in each science book or paper I read. There is simply nothing more thrilling that uncovering the secrets of nature and Davis' description of dendritic cells was like crack to me.
Let me first summarize what worker bees do and then I will explain what immune cells (and specifically dendritic cells) do, and you decide if they seem to be doing very similar things. Some worker honeybees leave the hive to explore and find food. The rest of their sister bees remain in the colony and await instructions. The explorer honeybee flies around, taking in the patterns of her environment. She samples possible food sources and when she ingests a good source of food, she flies back to the hive and communicates to her sisters about this rich food source. She wiggles her butt in a very specific pattern that draws a map of angles and distances. For example, "Fly out of the nest, after you fly 100 feet, turn 40 degrees, then turn left 30 degrees...... and then you will find a delicious flower with some awesome nectar and pollen to collect." Once the sisters bees have these instructions, they fly out of the nest and successfully home in on the food source.
Immune cells that primarily exist inside the spleen and lymph nodes , remind me of the bees that wait inside the hive. Immature dendritic cells remind me of scout bees because they explore and patrol almost all of our organs and tissues, especially places exposed to the outside environment, such as skin, stomach, and lungs. Instead of eating pollen and nectar, they use their pattern receptors to sense and ingest foreign substances, such as bacteria, virus particles and fragments of infected dead cells. Once it ingests and destroys the germ, it switches to a new state or "mature dendritic cell," and makes a beeline to a nearby lymph node or spleen, which have colonies of immune cells and presents to these immune cells fragments of the germ. Instead of a waggle dance, the dendritic cell gives samples of the germ to the immune cells to see which cells have the correct pattern receptors to go and find the germs. The hungry immune cells that are lucky enough to have the correct pattern recognition receptor, rush out of the lymph node or spleen (their hive) in search of their meal, the tasty germ! Your body remains healthy only because immune cells have such a huge appetite for germs. One body's garbage is an immune cell's delight. The whole time I was reading, I could envision the cells just as I envision bees when they forage for food. It was pretty thrilling.
In addition to the exceptional Chapter Two, Davis presented so many aspects of the history of immunology that I was unfamiliar with. As an undergrad, I bought Janeway's immunobiology for a graduate course, for which I was underprepared, in which we read papers and tried to understand how the immune system worked. It was an incredible course. I survived it, even though I had wished I had taken the appropriate prereqs. So I knew about all the immune cells, what they did, how they interacted, but so much of the history and so much of the inner workings of these cells was fairly new to me. For example, I knew a lot about the history of the smallpox vaccine-- the milkmaids, the vaccine, the royal family, etc. Yet, I didn't make the connection that back in the 1700s we knew that the vaccine worked, but we didn't begin to really know *why* it worked until 1989 when Janeway finally found a way to distinguish self from nonself. Of course we talked about self and non self in my course, but I clearly had not thought deeply enough about what this meant or how scientists went about defining it. It's not enough to say that a substance is foreign and therefore harmful, because we ingest foreign substances all the time in the form of food. We don't want our immune system to mistake food as something to attack. To work properly our immune systems must detect nonself *and* germ. It seems so simple, but that simple difference was huge for our understanding of how immune cells keep our bodies free from invaders, while at the same time they allow us to eat and not attack our own cells. After Janeway, our scientific tools advanced enough to discover how cells communicate and what happens after that communication, such as how they move, how they use their receptors to do the best job they can to attack a target cell. I thought about how my own brain tried to learn about combinatorics and how my brain often uses that combinatorics without me even realizing it. Reading about immune cells, I was really fascinated by how immune cell receptors try different variations of combinatorics to see which combination fits. I laughed at how an immune cell is probably better than most humans at that process. There was a beautiful story about the discovery of phagocytes while studying starfish and really interesting tidbits about how cells behave in response to stress, old age, cancer, autoimmune disorders, viruses, and (most interesting) rhythms of time and light cycles. I listened to an audio version of this book while I walked around under the shade of big glorious trees. It worked out great because I was able to spend all of my time just visualizing the ways in which the immune cells work inside a human body. I just finished a book that included the difference between metabolism in humans and in snakes (huge difference) and it made me curious about whether there are significant differences between human immune systems and the immune systems in other animal bodies. So, I will probably be researching that next.
After I finished this book, I looked up a Wikipedia page on, "tunneling nanotube". After reading it, I realized how lucky I was to have read this book. Otherwise, I probably would not have looked up tunneling nanotube in the first place and, secondly, I would not have likely read through the entire page, since I am not in the field. It's funny to realize how much awe exists in the same information when it's packaged differently (in a less technical and more conversational manner). Each discovery in immunology came with a nice mesh of history of the scientists who made the discoveries and what they discovered. In each step, the reader can understand a new layer of how the immune system works in general.
One other notable thing about this book is that Davis was able to discuss study methods by weaving them in each section. He had a real gift for educating the reader about the importance of understanding study methods while at the same time making that aspect of learning easy. It's usually a chore for people to examine the methods. They skip over that section in papers and too often just take it all at face value. If an author takes time to question the methods, they run the risk of losing the reader to boredom. Davis was skilled at including all of that information in a way that the reader doesn't even realize they are analyzing the methods section of a paper. I enjoyed everything about this book. Highly recommend!
The primary reason this was one of my favorite books of the year is because Davis wrote of the body's immune response as an artful dance of activation and suppression in response to stimuli and in Chapter Two, called Alarm Cells, he wrote about dendritic cells in a way that made me feel like I was taking an animal behavior class and reading about bees. I am a serious awe junkie always looking for a fix and hoping to find it in each science book or paper I read. There is simply nothing more thrilling that uncovering the secrets of nature and Davis' description of dendritic cells was like crack to me.
Let me first summarize what worker bees do and then I will explain what immune cells (and specifically dendritic cells) do, and you decide if they seem to be doing very similar things. Some worker honeybees leave the hive to explore and find food. The rest of their sister bees remain in the colony and await instructions. The explorer honeybee flies around, taking in the patterns of her environment. She samples possible food sources and when she ingests a good source of food, she flies back to the hive and communicates to her sisters about this rich food source. She wiggles her butt in a very specific pattern that draws a map of angles and distances. For example, "Fly out of the nest, after you fly 100 feet, turn 40 degrees, then turn left 30 degrees...... and then you will find a delicious flower with some awesome nectar and pollen to collect." Once the sisters bees have these instructions, they fly out of the nest and successfully home in on the food source.
Immune cells that primarily exist inside the spleen and lymph nodes , remind me of the bees that wait inside the hive. Immature dendritic cells remind me of scout bees because they explore and patrol almost all of our organs and tissues, especially places exposed to the outside environment, such as skin, stomach, and lungs. Instead of eating pollen and nectar, they use their pattern receptors to sense and ingest foreign substances, such as bacteria, virus particles and fragments of infected dead cells. Once it ingests and destroys the germ, it switches to a new state or "mature dendritic cell," and makes a beeline to a nearby lymph node or spleen, which have colonies of immune cells and presents to these immune cells fragments of the germ. Instead of a waggle dance, the dendritic cell gives samples of the germ to the immune cells to see which cells have the correct pattern receptors to go and find the germs. The hungry immune cells that are lucky enough to have the correct pattern recognition receptor, rush out of the lymph node or spleen (their hive) in search of their meal, the tasty germ! Your body remains healthy only because immune cells have such a huge appetite for germs. One body's garbage is an immune cell's delight. The whole time I was reading, I could envision the cells just as I envision bees when they forage for food. It was pretty thrilling.
In addition to the exceptional Chapter Two, Davis presented so many aspects of the history of immunology that I was unfamiliar with. As an undergrad, I bought Janeway's immunobiology for a graduate course, for which I was underprepared, in which we read papers and tried to understand how the immune system worked. It was an incredible course. I survived it, even though I had wished I had taken the appropriate prereqs. So I knew about all the immune cells, what they did, how they interacted, but so much of the history and so much of the inner workings of these cells was fairly new to me. For example, I knew a lot about the history of the smallpox vaccine-- the milkmaids, the vaccine, the royal family, etc. Yet, I didn't make the connection that back in the 1700s we knew that the vaccine worked, but we didn't begin to really know *why* it worked until 1989 when Janeway finally found a way to distinguish self from nonself. Of course we talked about self and non self in my course, but I clearly had not thought deeply enough about what this meant or how scientists went about defining it. It's not enough to say that a substance is foreign and therefore harmful, because we ingest foreign substances all the time in the form of food. We don't want our immune system to mistake food as something to attack. To work properly our immune systems must detect nonself *and* germ. It seems so simple, but that simple difference was huge for our understanding of how immune cells keep our bodies free from invaders, while at the same time they allow us to eat and not attack our own cells. After Janeway, our scientific tools advanced enough to discover how cells communicate and what happens after that communication, such as how they move, how they use their receptors to do the best job they can to attack a target cell. I thought about how my own brain tried to learn about combinatorics and how my brain often uses that combinatorics without me even realizing it. Reading about immune cells, I was really fascinated by how immune cell receptors try different variations of combinatorics to see which combination fits. I laughed at how an immune cell is probably better than most humans at that process. There was a beautiful story about the discovery of phagocytes while studying starfish and really interesting tidbits about how cells behave in response to stress, old age, cancer, autoimmune disorders, viruses, and (most interesting) rhythms of time and light cycles. I listened to an audio version of this book while I walked around under the shade of big glorious trees. It worked out great because I was able to spend all of my time just visualizing the ways in which the immune cells work inside a human body. I just finished a book that included the difference between metabolism in humans and in snakes (huge difference) and it made me curious about whether there are significant differences between human immune systems and the immune systems in other animal bodies. So, I will probably be researching that next.
After I finished this book, I looked up a Wikipedia page on, "tunneling nanotube". After reading it, I realized how lucky I was to have read this book. Otherwise, I probably would not have looked up tunneling nanotube in the first place and, secondly, I would not have likely read through the entire page, since I am not in the field. It's funny to realize how much awe exists in the same information when it's packaged differently (in a less technical and more conversational manner). Each discovery in immunology came with a nice mesh of history of the scientists who made the discoveries and what they discovered. In each step, the reader can understand a new layer of how the immune system works in general.
One other notable thing about this book is that Davis was able to discuss study methods by weaving them in each section. He had a real gift for educating the reader about the importance of understanding study methods while at the same time making that aspect of learning easy. It's usually a chore for people to examine the methods. They skip over that section in papers and too often just take it all at face value. If an author takes time to question the methods, they run the risk of losing the reader to boredom. Davis was skilled at including all of that information in a way that the reader doesn't even realize they are analyzing the methods section of a paper. I enjoyed everything about this book. Highly recommend!
September 7, 2020
The Beautiful Cure explains all the research that has been done so that the reader can understand how the human immune system works. Daniel M. Davis is Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester, so it is great to get accurate information rather than old wives tales.
I found this to be a very informative and interesting book. It covered in tremendous detail how the immune system works and also how scientists work with all their conflicts, so bad that many can’t stand to be in the same room together.
Daniel leads the reader steadily through the research undertaken through the years in a delicate way so that you learn in a similar way to the scientists of the day. This was a great way for Daniel to write his book because it is accessible to everyone. You do not need to be a medical or scientific person to enjoy and understand this book. I left school at 16 and have nothing to do with health or science. My usual reading genre is crime/mystery/thriller. So why did I buy this book? Okay, it was featured on the Kindle Daily Deal, reduced from £4.99p down to just 99p. With the current coronavirus pandemic I wondered how the human immune system actually worked, having heard so much about herd immunity.
This book blew me away, really firing my imagination. I eat, drink and walk around totally unaware of the internal universe inside my body. Daniel explained all about the many different cells, triggers and balances and how they deal with disease, germs and viruses. The human immune system is complex and even leading edge science does NOT understand it all. But just knowing a little blows your mind away. How can such a powerful immune system happen when we were conceived from 2 microscopic organisms? An immune system that runs like a very powerful computer network. An immune system that works in the background with the person unaware of the changes taking place within their cells.
I liked how Daniel explained the differences between innate and adaptive immunity. I also liked learning about different cells, the genes within them and how immune responses were turned on and off. The Beautiful Cure is a very thought provoking book that I wish some of my germophobic workmates would read. There was lovely discussion of things that readers can do which will increase or reduce their immune system.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Beautiful Cure and took a lot away from this book. Daniel does not shy away from the realities of laboratory research. He was very frank and open about the HUGE number of mice bred and killed so that we can understand how biology works. I found this an OUTSTANDING book, so it gets 5 stars from me.
I found this to be a very informative and interesting book. It covered in tremendous detail how the immune system works and also how scientists work with all their conflicts, so bad that many can’t stand to be in the same room together.
Daniel leads the reader steadily through the research undertaken through the years in a delicate way so that you learn in a similar way to the scientists of the day. This was a great way for Daniel to write his book because it is accessible to everyone. You do not need to be a medical or scientific person to enjoy and understand this book. I left school at 16 and have nothing to do with health or science. My usual reading genre is crime/mystery/thriller. So why did I buy this book? Okay, it was featured on the Kindle Daily Deal, reduced from £4.99p down to just 99p. With the current coronavirus pandemic I wondered how the human immune system actually worked, having heard so much about herd immunity.
This book blew me away, really firing my imagination. I eat, drink and walk around totally unaware of the internal universe inside my body. Daniel explained all about the many different cells, triggers and balances and how they deal with disease, germs and viruses. The human immune system is complex and even leading edge science does NOT understand it all. But just knowing a little blows your mind away. How can such a powerful immune system happen when we were conceived from 2 microscopic organisms? An immune system that runs like a very powerful computer network. An immune system that works in the background with the person unaware of the changes taking place within their cells.
I liked how Daniel explained the differences between innate and adaptive immunity. I also liked learning about different cells, the genes within them and how immune responses were turned on and off. The Beautiful Cure is a very thought provoking book that I wish some of my germophobic workmates would read. There was lovely discussion of things that readers can do which will increase or reduce their immune system.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Beautiful Cure and took a lot away from this book. Daniel does not shy away from the realities of laboratory research. He was very frank and open about the HUGE number of mice bred and killed so that we can understand how biology works. I found this an OUTSTANDING book, so it gets 5 stars from me.
March 10, 2021
4.5/5 (Bản dịch tiếng Việt “Hệ miễn dịch: khám phá cơ chế tự phòng chữa bệnh của cơ thể người”)
Một hành trình đọc sách đầy thú vị và rất nhiều cảm xúc!
Một quyển sách về chủ đề khoa học rất thực tế (đôi chỗ còn trần trụi đến đau lòng) nhưng vẫn giàu chất thơ, chất thiền, và chạm đến nhiều khía cạnh nhân văn. Highly recommend cho các bạn đọc muốn hiểu hơn về cơ thể, tìm hiểu những câu chuyện khoa học, và lịch sử Miễn Dịch Học.
Mình nghĩ các bạn đọc quyển này nếu có kiến thức cơ bản về các khái niệm miễn dịch và tế bào miễn dịch sẽ dễ theo dõi hơn. Rất thích hợp với các bạn yêu thích nghiên cứu khoa học; các bạn chuyên ngành Y Dược, Công Nghệ Sinh Học, Kỹ Thuật Y Sinh đều nên nghía qua quyển này. Nguyên bản Tiếng Anh khá dễ đọc!
Một hành trình đọc sách đầy thú vị và rất nhiều cảm xúc!
Một quyển sách về chủ đề khoa học rất thực tế (đôi chỗ còn trần trụi đến đau lòng) nhưng vẫn giàu chất thơ, chất thiền, và chạm đến nhiều khía cạnh nhân văn. Highly recommend cho các bạn đọc muốn hiểu hơn về cơ thể, tìm hiểu những câu chuyện khoa học, và lịch sử Miễn Dịch Học.
Mình nghĩ các bạn đọc quyển này nếu có kiến thức cơ bản về các khái niệm miễn dịch và tế bào miễn dịch sẽ dễ theo dõi hơn. Rất thích hợp với các bạn yêu thích nghiên cứu khoa học; các bạn chuyên ngành Y Dược, Công Nghệ Sinh Học, Kỹ Thuật Y Sinh đều nên nghía qua quyển này. Nguyên bản Tiếng Anh khá dễ đọc!
March 16, 2020
ÁP DỤNG QUY LUẬT 80/20 KHI ĐỌC QUYỂN "HỆ MIỄN DỊCH" CỦA DANIEL M.DAVIS (80% nội dung chính trong 20% trang sách)
Sách vở hiện giờ đầy trên thị trường nên mình chọn mua 1 quyển sách thường dựa vào 2 tiêu chí:
- Tác giả mình đã biết trước đó
- Phản hồi của 1 số người đáng tin cậy (theo tiêu chí của mình).
Do vậy, trong tình hình thời sự và bị ảnh hưởng trực tiếp của Covid-19, và lại thấy 1 số phản hồi tích cực từ những người bên y khoa cho quyển "Hệ miễn dịch", mình đặt tiki Now giao hàng trong vòng 2h, đọc luôn, dù danh sách "sách chờ đọc" của mình ở nhà là nguyên 1 kệ.
Mới vô trang đầu tiên là thấy ngờ ngợ rồi 😂, tác giả dùng 1 so sánh bên nghệ thuật để dẫn vô 1 vấn đề của khoa học, chả liên quan 🤣. Thì thôi, đọc tiếp, sách vở phương Tây nhiều quyển hay viết nghĩa bóng kiểu đó. Nhưng rồi 10 trang, 30 trang, 90 trang, mình chìm trong 1 mới bòng bong các thuật ngữ RẤT chuyên sâu về 1 ngách của y khoa và không hiểu ổng muốn nói gì. Nguyên 137 trang đầu của phần 1, dù đúng như tựa đề là "Các cuộc cách mạng trong khoa học", nhưng thông tin về những kết quả rõ ràng của khoa học thì ít, mà thông tin về quánh nhau vì giải Nobel, đời tư, chồng vợ, bình luận về các nhà khoa học thì nhiều (xem các status trước). Nếu không phải vì tò mò để ráng đi đến cùng xem cuối cùng mình đọc được gì về hệ miễn dịch để có thể hiểu 1 chút nguyên lý mang tính cơ bản, rồi áp dụng vào chính bản thân thì mình đã quăng quyển sách đi.
Chắt lọc trong cả trăm trang sách đó, có thể tóm lại 1 dòng về nguyên lý hoạt động của hệ miễn dịch như sau: hệ miễn dịch của cơ thể vốn là tập hợp các tế bào, ký hiệu là B và T, được sinh ra từ tuỷ sống. Một hệ miễn dịch bình thường là các tế bào này chỉ được cho vào cơ thể nếu nó có khả năng phát hiện ra những tế bào không thuộc về cơ thể con người (để diệt nó), còn những tế bào nào mà diệt được tế bào của cơ thể thì bị chết đi. Và đó là chỗ mà người ta định nghĩa về "bệnh tự miễn": là 1 bệnh mà trong đó các tế bào miễn dịch cơ thể hiểu sai và diệt luôn những tế bào trong cơ thể mình, ví dụ dẫn đến bệnh tiểu đường, viêm khớp dạng thấp,... Khi cơ thể bị nhiễm trùng, các tế bào miễn dịch được huy động sản sinh ra. Có nghiên cứu cho thấy khi nhiệt độ cơ thể tăng, giúp tăng sản xuất tế bào miễn dịch. Có lẽ vì vậy mà mỗi lần chúng ta bệnh, chúng ta bị sốt. Điều này ghép vào với những chia sẻ Patient Education mà 1 bác sĩ của con mình từng nói, là không nên cho trẻ uống hạ sốt vô tội vạ (và không cần thiết), đó là lúc cơ thể đang sản sinh là kháng thể, giúp cơ thể chống lại bệnh.
Kiên trì hơn 100 trang, thì từ trang 123 đến trang 212, bắt đầu có những thông tin hữu ích. Xoay ngược 180 độ về văn phong, nguyên các bài này, tác giả lại viết khá hời hợt về khoa học, ghi các thông tin kiểu con nít cũng biết như: stress làm giảm miễn dịch, ngủ ko đủ làm giảm miễn dịch. Ai mà không biết. Cái mà 1 người dân đã cầm 1 cuốn non-fiction khác chuyên ngành cần là đọc 1 cái gì ở giữa giữa chương 1 và chương 2.
Dù sao thì ít ra mấy trang này mình lọc được 1 chút thông tin hữu ích có thể áp dụng trong cuộc sống:
- Stress làm giảm miễn dịch, bởi vì stress làm não tiết ra cortisol cao, mà cortisol có tác dụng ức chế miễn dịch nên stress sẽ làm tăng ức chế miễn dịch, nghĩa là hệ miễn dịch hoạt động kém. Dù chưa thực sự cho rằng có ý nghĩa khoa học 1 cách chặt chẽ, tập Thái cực quyền và thực hành chánh niệm giúp giảm stress, từ đó tăng hệ miễn dịch.
- Các tế bào miễn dịch được sản xuất với mật độ khác nhau trong ngày, do đó với mỗi người, khả năng miễn dịch trong ngày cũng khác nhau (điều đó có nghĩa là nếu chúng ta bị 1 vết thương hay bị bệnh vào 1 thời điểm nào đó trong ngày cũng sẽ khác biệt về khả năng chúng ta lành bệnh). Do đó, với những ai thuờng xuyên thay đổi nhịp độ sinh học so với 1 người bình thường sẽ làm tín hiệu về khung giờ 24h 1 ngày đến với hệ miễn dịch rối loạn, từ đó làm rối loạn chức năng miễn dịch của mình. Những phi hành gia, với nơi sinh sống có số thời gian chiếu sáng mặt trời khác với con người sống trên mặt đất đã được ghi nhận: các virus đã từng được chữa trị bị kích hoạt trở lại, họ cũng dễ bị dị ứng luôn. Cho nên, với phi hành gia, thuốc ngủ là số 1, nhì là thuốc dị ứng. Việc này cũng cho chúng ta 1 lưu ý về giờ uống thuốc. Nếu chúng ta uống thuốc đúng giờ (được bổ sung nhịp nhàng với giờ kháng thể trong cơ thể sản xuất ra mạnh) sẽ giúp chúng ta chống chọi bệnh tốt hơn.
- Dù chưa rõ ràng, nhưng kết quả sơ bộ cho thấy có vẻ tiêm vaccine vào buổi sáng đáp ứng miễn dịch tốt hơn là buổi chiều.
- Người ta nhận ra rằng, khi 1 nguời bị bệnh này thì tự nhiên bệnh khác giảm, kiểu như 2 bệnh không thể sống chung với nhau trên 1 vật chủ là chúng ta. Điều này được giải thích là: các tế bào T và B cùng tiếp cận 2 mầm bệnh cùng 1 lúc thì nó sẽ chọn 1 cái để thích ứng và tiêu diệt. Nó cũng giải thích cho việc người ta phải dùng thuật toán để tính xem trong 1 đống chủng loại cúm mùa thì năm tới đứa nào sẽ lên ngôi, từ đó sản xuất vaccine tương ứng (và nếu chúng ta đoán trật, thì khả năng chúng ta có tiêm phòng cũng mắc bệnh như thường).
- Một thông tin làm mình chú ý là về khả năng miễn dịch của người già và người trẻ. Tuyến ức là nơi các tế bào miễn dịch T phát triển trước khi ra tuần tra cơ thể. Tuy nhiên, tuyến này chỉ phát triển mạnh mẽ từ khi sinh ra đến tuổi dậy thì, sau đó thì nó giảm dần đến già. Điều này có nghĩa là với trẻ con trước tuổi dậy thì, khả năng cơ thể sản sinh ra 1 miễn dịch đáp ứng với 1 bệnh mới cao hơn so với trẻ từ tuổi dậy thì trở đi kéo dài đến tuổi già. Thông tin này có nên dùng để giải thích cho các con số về tỉ lệ hồi phục và tử vong của Covis-19 không? Khi cho đến nay, tỉ lệ tử vong của trẻ dưới 9 tuổi là 0% tuyệt đối, nhóm trẻ vị thành niên là thấp nhất và nhóm người già là cao nhất?
- Hệ miễn dịch có tính ghi nhớ, nghĩa là khi 1 tế bào miễn dịch T hay B đã xử lý thành công 1 mầm bệnh, nó sẽ được giữ lại trong cơ thể. Vì vậy mà lần sau bệnh vô cơ thể chúng ta thì đã có sẵn vũ khí để tiêu diệt nó. Điều này có nghĩa là người già - đã nhiễm quá chừng bệnh thì có nhiều kháng thể với các bệnh trong quá khứ, nhưng cũng là 1 người dễ tổn thương nếu xuất hiện mầm bệnh mới, bởi vì số lượng tế bào miễn dịch trong cơ thể chỉ nhiêu đó, mà đa số là tế bào được giữ lại với các bệnh cũ, cơ thể ko đủ tế bào miễn dịch mới cho cuộc chiến chống một bệnh mới.
- Đó cũng là lí do các tế bào miễn dịch hình thành từ việc chúng ta sống và nuôi dưỡng chứ không phải từ di truyền. Kết hợp với việc phát triển tuyến ức trước tuổi dậy thì phía trên thì để giúp trẻ con tăng sức đề kháng, chúng ta phải chủ động cho chúng "sống dơ" 1 chút trước khi bước vào tuổi dậy thì (hãy cho chúng nó "vật lộn sớm với đời" 🤣). Người ta đã chỉ ra việc tăng cường vệ sinh trong lối sống văn minh đã làm tăng cường luôn bệnh dị ứng.
- Nghiên cứu cũng chỉ ra hệ vi sinh đuờng ruột giúp tăng hệ miễn dịch, mà cái này chúng ta biết rồi.
Và để tăng sự kịch tính, sau bài viết dễ hiểu 1 chút thì bài cuối cùng kết thúc quyển sách, tác giả lại quay về văn phong và ngôn ngữ toàn như thế này $@^*% của chương 1. Thật là 1 kết thúc quyển sách ấn tượng.
Lời khuyên của mình: ra nhà sách coi cọp khúc cần coi, khỏi mua 😂😂😂😂😂.
Sách vở hiện giờ đầy trên thị trường nên mình chọn mua 1 quyển sách thường dựa vào 2 tiêu chí:
- Tác giả mình đã biết trước đó
- Phản hồi của 1 số người đáng tin cậy (theo tiêu chí của mình).
Do vậy, trong tình hình thời sự và bị ảnh hưởng trực tiếp của Covid-19, và lại thấy 1 số phản hồi tích cực từ những người bên y khoa cho quyển "Hệ miễn dịch", mình đặt tiki Now giao hàng trong vòng 2h, đọc luôn, dù danh sách "sách chờ đọc" của mình ở nhà là nguyên 1 kệ.
Mới vô trang đầu tiên là thấy ngờ ngợ rồi 😂, tác giả dùng 1 so sánh bên nghệ thuật để dẫn vô 1 vấn đề của khoa học, chả liên quan 🤣. Thì thôi, đọc tiếp, sách vở phương Tây nhiều quyển hay viết nghĩa bóng kiểu đó. Nhưng rồi 10 trang, 30 trang, 90 trang, mình chìm trong 1 mới bòng bong các thuật ngữ RẤT chuyên sâu về 1 ngách của y khoa và không hiểu ổng muốn nói gì. Nguyên 137 trang đầu của phần 1, dù đúng như tựa đề là "Các cuộc cách mạng trong khoa học", nhưng thông tin về những kết quả rõ ràng của khoa học thì ít, mà thông tin về quánh nhau vì giải Nobel, đời tư, chồng vợ, bình luận về các nhà khoa học thì nhiều (xem các status trước). Nếu không phải vì tò mò để ráng đi đến cùng xem cuối cùng mình đọc được gì về hệ miễn dịch để có thể hiểu 1 chút nguyên lý mang tính cơ bản, rồi áp dụng vào chính bản thân thì mình đã quăng quyển sách đi.
Chắt lọc trong cả trăm trang sách đó, có thể tóm lại 1 dòng về nguyên lý hoạt động của hệ miễn dịch như sau: hệ miễn dịch của cơ thể vốn là tập hợp các tế bào, ký hiệu là B và T, được sinh ra từ tuỷ sống. Một hệ miễn dịch bình thường là các tế bào này chỉ được cho vào cơ thể nếu nó có khả năng phát hiện ra những tế bào không thuộc về cơ thể con người (để diệt nó), còn những tế bào nào mà diệt được tế bào của cơ thể thì bị chết đi. Và đó là chỗ mà người ta định nghĩa về "bệnh tự miễn": là 1 bệnh mà trong đó các tế bào miễn dịch cơ thể hiểu sai và diệt luôn những tế bào trong cơ thể mình, ví dụ dẫn đến bệnh tiểu đường, viêm khớp dạng thấp,... Khi cơ thể bị nhiễm trùng, các tế bào miễn dịch được huy động sản sinh ra. Có nghiên cứu cho thấy khi nhiệt độ cơ thể tăng, giúp tăng sản xuất tế bào miễn dịch. Có lẽ vì vậy mà mỗi lần chúng ta bệnh, chúng ta bị sốt. Điều này ghép vào với những chia sẻ Patient Education mà 1 bác sĩ của con mình từng nói, là không nên cho trẻ uống hạ sốt vô tội vạ (và không cần thiết), đó là lúc cơ thể đang sản sinh là kháng thể, giúp cơ thể chống lại bệnh.
Kiên trì hơn 100 trang, thì từ trang 123 đến trang 212, bắt đầu có những thông tin hữu ích. Xoay ngược 180 độ về văn phong, nguyên các bài này, tác giả lại viết khá hời hợt về khoa học, ghi các thông tin kiểu con nít cũng biết như: stress làm giảm miễn dịch, ngủ ko đủ làm giảm miễn dịch. Ai mà không biết. Cái mà 1 người dân đã cầm 1 cuốn non-fiction khác chuyên ngành cần là đọc 1 cái gì ở giữa giữa chương 1 và chương 2.
Dù sao thì ít ra mấy trang này mình lọc được 1 chút thông tin hữu ích có thể áp dụng trong cuộc sống:
- Stress làm giảm miễn dịch, bởi vì stress làm não tiết ra cortisol cao, mà cortisol có tác dụng ức chế miễn dịch nên stress sẽ làm tăng ức chế miễn dịch, nghĩa là hệ miễn dịch hoạt động kém. Dù chưa thực sự cho rằng có ý nghĩa khoa học 1 cách chặt chẽ, tập Thái cực quyền và thực hành chánh niệm giúp giảm stress, từ đó tăng hệ miễn dịch.
- Các tế bào miễn dịch được sản xuất với mật độ khác nhau trong ngày, do đó với mỗi người, khả năng miễn dịch trong ngày cũng khác nhau (điều đó có nghĩa là nếu chúng ta bị 1 vết thương hay bị bệnh vào 1 thời điểm nào đó trong ngày cũng sẽ khác biệt về khả năng chúng ta lành bệnh). Do đó, với những ai thuờng xuyên thay đổi nhịp độ sinh học so với 1 người bình thường sẽ làm tín hiệu về khung giờ 24h 1 ngày đến với hệ miễn dịch rối loạn, từ đó làm rối loạn chức năng miễn dịch của mình. Những phi hành gia, với nơi sinh sống có số thời gian chiếu sáng mặt trời khác với con người sống trên mặt đất đã được ghi nhận: các virus đã từng được chữa trị bị kích hoạt trở lại, họ cũng dễ bị dị ứng luôn. Cho nên, với phi hành gia, thuốc ngủ là số 1, nhì là thuốc dị ứng. Việc này cũng cho chúng ta 1 lưu ý về giờ uống thuốc. Nếu chúng ta uống thuốc đúng giờ (được bổ sung nhịp nhàng với giờ kháng thể trong cơ thể sản xuất ra mạnh) sẽ giúp chúng ta chống chọi bệnh tốt hơn.
- Dù chưa rõ ràng, nhưng kết quả sơ bộ cho thấy có vẻ tiêm vaccine vào buổi sáng đáp ứng miễn dịch tốt hơn là buổi chiều.
- Người ta nhận ra rằng, khi 1 nguời bị bệnh này thì tự nhiên bệnh khác giảm, kiểu như 2 bệnh không thể sống chung với nhau trên 1 vật chủ là chúng ta. Điều này được giải thích là: các tế bào T và B cùng tiếp cận 2 mầm bệnh cùng 1 lúc thì nó sẽ chọn 1 cái để thích ứng và tiêu diệt. Nó cũng giải thích cho việc người ta phải dùng thuật toán để tính xem trong 1 đống chủng loại cúm mùa thì năm tới đứa nào sẽ lên ngôi, từ đó sản xuất vaccine tương ứng (và nếu chúng ta đoán trật, thì khả năng chúng ta có tiêm phòng cũng mắc bệnh như thường).
- Một thông tin làm mình chú ý là về khả năng miễn dịch của người già và người trẻ. Tuyến ức là nơi các tế bào miễn dịch T phát triển trước khi ra tuần tra cơ thể. Tuy nhiên, tuyến này chỉ phát triển mạnh mẽ từ khi sinh ra đến tuổi dậy thì, sau đó thì nó giảm dần đến già. Điều này có nghĩa là với trẻ con trước tuổi dậy thì, khả năng cơ thể sản sinh ra 1 miễn dịch đáp ứng với 1 bệnh mới cao hơn so với trẻ từ tuổi dậy thì trở đi kéo dài đến tuổi già. Thông tin này có nên dùng để giải thích cho các con số về tỉ lệ hồi phục và tử vong của Covis-19 không? Khi cho đến nay, tỉ lệ tử vong của trẻ dưới 9 tuổi là 0% tuyệt đối, nhóm trẻ vị thành niên là thấp nhất và nhóm người già là cao nhất?
- Hệ miễn dịch có tính ghi nhớ, nghĩa là khi 1 tế bào miễn dịch T hay B đã xử lý thành công 1 mầm bệnh, nó sẽ được giữ lại trong cơ thể. Vì vậy mà lần sau bệnh vô cơ thể chúng ta thì đã có sẵn vũ khí để tiêu diệt nó. Điều này có nghĩa là người già - đã nhiễm quá chừng bệnh thì có nhiều kháng thể với các bệnh trong quá khứ, nhưng cũng là 1 người dễ tổn thương nếu xuất hiện mầm bệnh mới, bởi vì số lượng tế bào miễn dịch trong cơ thể chỉ nhiêu đó, mà đa số là tế bào được giữ lại với các bệnh cũ, cơ thể ko đủ tế bào miễn dịch mới cho cuộc chiến chống một bệnh mới.
- Đó cũng là lí do các tế bào miễn dịch hình thành từ việc chúng ta sống và nuôi dưỡng chứ không phải từ di truyền. Kết hợp với việc phát triển tuyến ức trước tuổi dậy thì phía trên thì để giúp trẻ con tăng sức đề kháng, chúng ta phải chủ động cho chúng "sống dơ" 1 chút trước khi bước vào tuổi dậy thì (hãy cho chúng nó "vật lộn sớm với đời" 🤣). Người ta đã chỉ ra việc tăng cường vệ sinh trong lối sống văn minh đã làm tăng cường luôn bệnh dị ứng.
- Nghiên cứu cũng chỉ ra hệ vi sinh đuờng ruột giúp tăng hệ miễn dịch, mà cái này chúng ta biết rồi.
Và để tăng sự kịch tính, sau bài viết dễ hiểu 1 chút thì bài cuối cùng kết thúc quyển sách, tác giả lại quay về văn phong và ngôn ngữ toàn như thế này $@^*% của chương 1. Thật là 1 kết thúc quyển sách ấn tượng.
Lời khuyên của mình: ra nhà sách coi cọp khúc cần coi, khỏi mua 😂😂😂😂😂.
December 17, 2020
Great overview of the development in medicine and the unraveling of the mysteries of the human immune system. It leaves you with a great respect for the human body, forever locked in battle against virusses and bacteria. An interesting book, especially in these times (December 2020).
Read in Dutch
Read in Dutch
December 20, 2018
I’d give this book ten stars if I could. One of the most fascinating and mind bending books about the universe that is inside us, our immune system. I will never look at my body the same way again. Reading this book was almost like reading a spiritual text about our own selves.
Simply amazing, and Davis is an incredibly talented writer with an uncanny ability to communicate something so complex and complicated in such an elegant way. Definitely buying this book to add to my “notable science books” collection.
Simply amazing, and Davis is an incredibly talented writer with an uncanny ability to communicate something so complex and complicated in such an elegant way. Definitely buying this book to add to my “notable science books” collection.
September 25, 2021
Về mặt nội dung thì mình chỉ hiểu được các ý chính, có nhiều kiến thức chuyên môn nên mình không nắm bắt được hết các chi tiết, đặc biệt nghe sách nói cũng khó take note. Nhưng mình rất thích cách diễn đạt tổng quát, có cả bức tranh lớn lẫn chi tiết nhỏ, các câu chuyện trong đời sống khoa học, và các thí nghiệm dẫn dắt các nhà nghiên cứu đi tới phát hiện. Nếu mình có thêm kiến thức nền tảng về sinh học thì cuốn sách này sẽ còn lý thú hơn nữa. Con đường khám phá sự phức tạp bên trong cơ thể con người cũng quan trọng và hấp dẫn như hành trình tìm hiểu thế giới bên ngoài con người vậy!
January 4, 2019
Just being alive is a fight, but it is often a fight that you are unaware of until you feel a few degrees under and have a temperature. That is the thing that keeps you alive working, your immune system. It is a complex marvel of nature and is something that scientist have really started getting to grips with, with painstaking research and a few lucky and intuitive breakthroughs. This new understanding of our immune system is now unlocking the keys to dramatically different approaches to our health and well being.
Daniel Davis is an expert in this field, and it shows in this book which is an in-depth look at the way that our bodies work in keeping us safe. He covers the history of our understanding of how they think it all works and brings us right up to date with the very latest discoveries. These are not only details on the very latest drug trials, but how lifestyle and mindfulness can play their part in our health and resilience against diseases. There is a long way to go, and there will no doubt be many more revelations as scientists delve deeper. It does have a strong narrative and Davis does mix the complex science with real-life stories. Even though most of it was clear, I did feel it got a bit too technical at times for me but the majority was straightforward to read.
Daniel Davis is an expert in this field, and it shows in this book which is an in-depth look at the way that our bodies work in keeping us safe. He covers the history of our understanding of how they think it all works and brings us right up to date with the very latest discoveries. These are not only details on the very latest drug trials, but how lifestyle and mindfulness can play their part in our health and resilience against diseases. There is a long way to go, and there will no doubt be many more revelations as scientists delve deeper. It does have a strong narrative and Davis does mix the complex science with real-life stories. Even though most of it was clear, I did feel it got a bit too technical at times for me but the majority was straightforward to read.
June 17, 2021
I have always been so fascinated with immunology, especially with the current advances of using the bodies own defense system to fight diseases such as cancer. This books does a great job of describing the complex system of the immune system without being overwhelming.
November 18, 2025
Our immune system is fascinating and complex. This is both a story of discovery and a science lesson.
November 14, 2023
Davis gives us histories of scientists and their experiments. Is that because immunology lacks overarching theories?
August 2, 2020
The cover is deceiving, this was not the crunchy granola pseudomedical book I was worried it might be. Instead, it's a fascinating account of the advances that have radically changed our understanding of the immune system. Davis somehow cuts through the intimidating acronyms and pathways and "jigsaw puzzle with an infinite number of pieces" that have always turned me off studying immunology. New immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease are explained in precise yet accessible language while telling stories of the patients and scientists that led to them. Refreshing read in the COVID era!
February 23, 2018
A comprehensive and accessible history and current update on immunology. The book is divided into two parts. The first part outlines the historical discoveries that underpin some of the most fundamental aspects of research in this area, whilst simultaneously capturing the human side of being a research scientist. The second half of the book details the understanding and advancement of immunology with exercise like tai chi, and mindfulness. Immunological alterations in space (ISS), and the interrelated roles of gut bacteria and the immune system.
The book wasn't initially what I expected from the synopsis. I thought there would be a brief overview of key concepts before going into more interesting questions like, how does sleep and diet affect out immune system. Instead over half the book relates to the research discoveries in immunology. Ofttimes the writer goes into too much detail on the background and life of researchers, and somewhat distracts from the read. Unfortunately, the second half of the book was what I was waiting for, but it lacked in details. Being a true scientist, the writer didn't want to deviate from publications towards speculation and hypothesis. This meant that discussions on mediation and immunology were sparse (despite being heavily mentioned in the dust-jacket).
The book is too technically dense to be truly accessible to a wide market. But, works, if you already have a scientific background. At which point I may recommend this as a book if you are a scientist with an interest in immunology.
Overall. Well-written, engrossing, and a good read for any interested scientist.
The book wasn't initially what I expected from the synopsis. I thought there would be a brief overview of key concepts before going into more interesting questions like, how does sleep and diet affect out immune system. Instead over half the book relates to the research discoveries in immunology. Ofttimes the writer goes into too much detail on the background and life of researchers, and somewhat distracts from the read. Unfortunately, the second half of the book was what I was waiting for, but it lacked in details. Being a true scientist, the writer didn't want to deviate from publications towards speculation and hypothesis. This meant that discussions on mediation and immunology were sparse (despite being heavily mentioned in the dust-jacket).
The book is too technically dense to be truly accessible to a wide market. But, works, if you already have a scientific background. At which point I may recommend this as a book if you are a scientist with an interest in immunology.
Overall. Well-written, engrossing, and a good read for any interested scientist.
April 27, 2019
This is an absolute gem of a book. It takes the reader on a tour of the human immune system, the origins of our understanding of it, and recent developments and breakthroughs that promise new cures for diseases such as cancer and autoimmune conditions.
One of the things that makes this book special is that the author is an expert in his field (and a very accomplished scientist by the sounds of it) yet it's extremely well written, in a manner that is easy to understand for the lay person (e.g. me!). In fact, it's a real page turner, and reads like a thriller! The author really manages to get across his enthusiasm for the subject, sharing his fascination with the immune system and how it works.
It's also very exciting to read about a field where new discoveries are being made right now. In fact, while the book covers early discoveries such as the invention of vaccines, the main action starts around 1990. The age of discovery is most certinaly not over!
Highly recommended for anyone with a curiosity about how the human body works, or just with an interesting in science in general. It also provides a useful source of information about the science behind vaccines, a topic that's (sadly) relevant in today's world.
Note: I read the paperback edition which has the subtitle "The New Science of Human Health" - a much more apt description than "Harnessing your body's natural defences", as this is a popular science book, not a self help book!
One of the things that makes this book special is that the author is an expert in his field (and a very accomplished scientist by the sounds of it) yet it's extremely well written, in a manner that is easy to understand for the lay person (e.g. me!). In fact, it's a real page turner, and reads like a thriller! The author really manages to get across his enthusiasm for the subject, sharing his fascination with the immune system and how it works.
It's also very exciting to read about a field where new discoveries are being made right now. In fact, while the book covers early discoveries such as the invention of vaccines, the main action starts around 1990. The age of discovery is most certinaly not over!
Highly recommended for anyone with a curiosity about how the human body works, or just with an interesting in science in general. It also provides a useful source of information about the science behind vaccines, a topic that's (sadly) relevant in today's world.
Note: I read the paperback edition which has the subtitle "The New Science of Human Health" - a much more apt description than "Harnessing your body's natural defences", as this is a popular science book, not a self help book!
December 22, 2019
Disclosure: I would like to thank Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This edition is an "uncorrected proof" and not the "finished book" which is due for sale in March 2018.
This book should be rated at 4.5 stars; the only thing preventing it from a 5 star rating is the lack of a glossary of terms, which would be incredibly beneficial to the reader. The extensive end notes are amazing and informative.
Davis' ability as a story teller lends a certain eloquence to this book. Much like science educators such as Billy Nye, Davis clearly has mastered the art of making science accessible to the masses. Davis masterfully presents to the reader the humanity and drama behind scientific research as he educates us on the history and current state of immunology research.
I really loved this book, not because it was free, but because Davis has a way of keeping you engaged without alienating those of us who possess a mediocre understanding of science.
This book should be rated at 4.5 stars; the only thing preventing it from a 5 star rating is the lack of a glossary of terms, which would be incredibly beneficial to the reader. The extensive end notes are amazing and informative.
Davis' ability as a story teller lends a certain eloquence to this book. Much like science educators such as Billy Nye, Davis clearly has mastered the art of making science accessible to the masses. Davis masterfully presents to the reader the humanity and drama behind scientific research as he educates us on the history and current state of immunology research.
I really loved this book, not because it was free, but because Davis has a way of keeping you engaged without alienating those of us who possess a mediocre understanding of science.
March 23, 2018
Daniel Davis has done for immunology what Brian Cox has done for physics. The Beautiful Cure is a fascinating account of the developments in modern immunology. Davis introduces us to the scientists involved and tells us about their struggles, rivalries and determination to uncover the nature of our complex immune system and how it can be manipulated to prevent disease. This book is written for the lay reader but there were some passages which did require my intense concentration to follow the science and all the more rewarding for that. Like many reviewers have said this is not a self-help book as the title suggests. The Beautiful Cure – Harnessing your Natural Defences is however a very rewarding read that has taught me a lot about what has been uncovered recently by scientists working on the immune system. Unfortunately, a lot of laboratory of mice appear to have been sacrificed long the way!
August 14, 2018
This is an excellent book mainly focusing on the crucial role of our immune system in protecting us from diseases, how it works. It also illustrates seminal contribution of a number of scientists during the past century.
For me as a person with mathematics background, this was a very invaluable source information and science history, providing me how we know what we now know about the immunology and fundamental challenges ahead of us.
I strongly recommend this book to whoever interested in how complex and fascinating the immune system is!
For me as a person with mathematics background, this was a very invaluable source information and science history, providing me how we know what we now know about the immunology and fundamental challenges ahead of us.
I strongly recommend this book to whoever interested in how complex and fascinating the immune system is!
November 9, 2018
A fascinating read, just make sure you're feeling awake when you pick it up :)
October 25, 2024
Quite technical but very interesting
June 11, 2023
Wie iets wil leren over de geschiedenis van het nog jonge vakgebied van de immunologie kan slechtere keuzes maken dan dit boek van Davis te lezen. Aan de hand van enkele belangrijke ontdekkingen en sleutelpersonen die instrumenteel geweest zijn in het in kaart brengen van de mechanismen van het immuunsysteem neemt Davies je mee van de nederige bron in bescheiden laboratoria begin vorige eeuw tot de machtige stroom van de multi-miljarden industrie die de immunologie heden ten dage voortstuwt. Als er iets is wat akelig duidelijk wordt uit dit relaas is dat we gestuit zijn op een complex systeem dat zijn weerga niet kent en waar wij met alle voortgang nog niet meer dan de oppervlakte van in kaart hebben gebracht.
Davies brengt in dit boek niet alleen de kale feiten maar blijkt ook een goed gevoel te hebben voor het menselijke drama dat medisch onderzoek, nobelprijzen en dwarse persoonlijkheden oplevert. Zodanig zelfs dat ik mijzelf afvroeg tijdens lezing of hij ook schreef om het publiek van de Story aangehaakt te houden. Het werkt niet altijd even lekker voor mij, om te weten of iemand depressief werd wegens het wegvallen van zijn hond en zijn subsidie, maar zijn poging om de droge feiten een menselijk gezicht te geven vind ik zeer te waarderen. Het boek blijkt daardoor ook prima leesbaar voor mensen die normaal niet zoveel met een zuiver feitelijk relaas hebben.
Als je de feiten verder zou willen checken of voor jezelf uitzoeken, wordt je verwend met een enorme overdaad aan voetnoten, referenties en literatuurverwijzingen. Dus is dit boek ook prima te gebruiken als een gids voor ingangen in wat rap een zeer taaie materie blijkt te zijn. Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met een lijviger werk over de immunologie en startpunt voor dieper onderzoek, want ik moet bekennen dat Daniel er toch in geslaagd is zijn enthousiasme voor een deel op mij over te dragen.
Davies brengt in dit boek niet alleen de kale feiten maar blijkt ook een goed gevoel te hebben voor het menselijke drama dat medisch onderzoek, nobelprijzen en dwarse persoonlijkheden oplevert. Zodanig zelfs dat ik mijzelf afvroeg tijdens lezing of hij ook schreef om het publiek van de Story aangehaakt te houden. Het werkt niet altijd even lekker voor mij, om te weten of iemand depressief werd wegens het wegvallen van zijn hond en zijn subsidie, maar zijn poging om de droge feiten een menselijk gezicht te geven vind ik zeer te waarderen. Het boek blijkt daardoor ook prima leesbaar voor mensen die normaal niet zoveel met een zuiver feitelijk relaas hebben.
Als je de feiten verder zou willen checken of voor jezelf uitzoeken, wordt je verwend met een enorme overdaad aan voetnoten, referenties en literatuurverwijzingen. Dus is dit boek ook prima te gebruiken als een gids voor ingangen in wat rap een zeer taaie materie blijkt te zijn. Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met een lijviger werk over de immunologie en startpunt voor dieper onderzoek, want ik moet bekennen dat Daniel er toch in geslaagd is zijn enthousiasme voor een deel op mij over te dragen.
December 15, 2021
The immune system is fabulously complex - it is almost like an orchestra without a conductor, which still works so well, in an almost decentralised manner (apologies for mixing my metaphors). As Charles Janeway famously put it, the immune system has the challenging task of separating the infectious non-self from the non-infectious self, to allow immune responses against pathogens, while preventing the immune system from attacking the body.
Davis does a really spectacular job of reviewing the history of immunology as a field, devoting the first few chapters to explaining the fundamentals in terms of the basic scientific research that led to their discovery. It's a wonderfully comprehensive overview of the field's history, laying out what we know and how we got to know it - it's like if How the Immune System Works was written as a popular science book instead of a textbook.
He also deals with cancer immunotherapy quite elegantly, acknowledging the hype, but evaluates it fairly, considering how the inherent complexity and heterogeneity in tumours can affect responses to this form of therapy. It's a nice balance to the (almost entirely) optimistic tone struck in The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer.
I'd have to say that this book is a must-read for medical students when they start learning about immunology - it could be an excellent primer or reinforcement tool, packaged in what is a very readable book.
Davis does a really spectacular job of reviewing the history of immunology as a field, devoting the first few chapters to explaining the fundamentals in terms of the basic scientific research that led to their discovery. It's a wonderfully comprehensive overview of the field's history, laying out what we know and how we got to know it - it's like if How the Immune System Works was written as a popular science book instead of a textbook.
He also deals with cancer immunotherapy quite elegantly, acknowledging the hype, but evaluates it fairly, considering how the inherent complexity and heterogeneity in tumours can affect responses to this form of therapy. It's a nice balance to the (almost entirely) optimistic tone struck in The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer.
I'd have to say that this book is a must-read for medical students when they start learning about immunology - it could be an excellent primer or reinforcement tool, packaged in what is a very readable book.
July 4, 2024
Knyga apie imunitetą, apie įvairius bandymus bandant suprasti kaip jis veikia, apie Steinmano atrastas dendritines ląsteles, kurios praneša apie pavojų, apie interferono paieškas, apie Velčeko anti-TNF antikūną, kuris stabdo citokinų gamybą, apie kortizolį, kuris daro didelę įtaką imuninei sistemai mažindamas imuninių ląstelių veiksmingumą ryti mikrobus, gaminti citokinus ar naikinti ligotas ląsteles, apie laiko ir erdvės poveikį imuninei sistemai ir dar daugiau. Knyga įdomi savo klaidų ir bandymų perprasti imunitetą pasakojimu ir tuo pačiu atskleidžianti, kad farmacijos pramonė visų pirma yra verslas ir nustatant mokslinių tyrimų prioritetus, lemiamas veiksnys yra pelnas. Autorius knygą užbaigia teigdamas, kad verkiant reikia naujų tarptautinių institutų ir kitokių medicininių tyrimų bei vaistų finansavimo būdų, kurie pirmiausia atsižvelgtų į žmonijos gerovę ir nesikoncentruotų į finansinį pelną.
April 15, 2020
Looks at recent developments in immunology and the scientists involved in these discoveries. Many of the concepts – the innate vs adaptive immune systems, the role of adjuvants, dendritic cells, interferon, cytokines, autoimmune diseases, B cells, monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint therapy – are fascinating and well explained. Some very interesting ideas – the genes that vary the most from person to person are related to the immune system; both warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals raise their core body temperatures during infections; the potential for stress-reducing interventions to improve health; mice in which senescent cells were cleared showed slower signs of aging; the body produces fewer immune cells as we age and those cells are poorer at detecting signs of disease and respond less efficiently (especially to new infections); the activity of the thymus is much reduced after puberty; regulatory T cells are especially abundant in the gut; many of the molecules produced when the body breaks down fiber stimulate the production of regulatory T cells. More might have been said about potential future developments or policy implications (Davis does note that “we sorely need new international institutes and different ways of funding medical research and medicines”). There are no diagrams in the book, which seems a grave oversight. Good diagrams would have made it easier to grasp some of the ideas being presented.
June 5, 2025
The Beautiful Cure is a thoughtful and well-written dive into the world of immunology. Davis explains complex science in a way that’s both accessible and engaging, making the inner workings of the immune system feel almost magical at times.
I especially appreciated the balance between scientific insight and personal stories. While a few sections were a bit dense, overall it’s a fascinating read that deepens your appreciation for how our bodies protect us every day.
A solid recommendation for anyone curious about health, biology, or the future of functional medicine.
I especially appreciated the balance between scientific insight and personal stories. While a few sections were a bit dense, overall it’s a fascinating read that deepens your appreciation for how our bodies protect us every day.
A solid recommendation for anyone curious about health, biology, or the future of functional medicine.
April 30, 2025
More a 3.5, the book is really interesting but very technical if biology is not your forte like me. I believe though, the author did his best to translate the matter to a non expert audience, and I appreciated the couple of industry gossips in the book ( as well as learning how maybe the cure of many ailments is on our immune system ), if was fun.
May 4, 2019
An interesting read through the breakthroughs in immunology. Science lovers will find it more stimulating than casual readers, but if you read it knowing little about how the immune system works you will learn quite a lot.
April 24, 2022
innovatsioon ja põnevad leiud immunsuse uurimisel. antikehade ja tsütokiinide uskumatult erinevad reaktsioonid. uued ravimid.
Kuidas juhused mängivad avastuste teel rolli. Kui oluline on näha laia pilti.
Kuidas juhused mängivad avastuste teel rolli. Kui oluline on näha laia pilti.
August 30, 2021
Bản dịch cho một cuốn sách khoa học rất tệ do có một số từ chuyên ngành, từ chuyên ngành thật khó giải thích nếu người đọc không biết trước vì những từ mô tả trong sách thật khó hiểu và buồn cười
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