The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee journeys into the “mind” and “personality” of cancer. It helps us understand this multifaceted disease from the point of view of medicine, culture, history, literature and politics. The author explores cancer’s past through the stories of men and women who have battled the disease for 4000 years, from ancient Persia to modern times, and offers an insightful look into its future.
This book is also the author’s personal journey as an oncologist; throughout the pages, he weaves stories of patients who have taught and inspired him. It is a fascinating read as well as an important medico-social commentary.
The end matter includes extensive notes, a glossary, selected bibliography and index. It was listed in the 10 Best Books of the NYT Book Review in 2010.
Mukherjee is a cancer physician, researcher and assistant professor at Columbia University, New York.
