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A Commotion in the Blood: Life, Death, and the Immune System
A New York Times Notable Book, 1997
Library Journal, Best Book of 1997
Beginning with the "occasional miracles" of a mysterious turn-of-the-century cancer vaccine called Coley's toxins, Stephen S. Hall traces the story of how doctors have learned to harness the immune system and its "commotions" to develop a wide array of cutting-edge therapies. Moving deftly between laboratory and bedside, Hall's absorbing narrative navigates the politics of discovery and elucidates the dazzling complexities of the microscope slide, tracking the curiously potent cells and molecules at the heart of the immune response. From the author of "the best book written about the new age of biology" (Nobel laureate Philip Sharp), who "succeeds marvelously in making science accessible to the general reader," (New York Times), this fast-paced account of medicine in the making is part of the Sloan Foundation Technology Book series.
Library Journal, Best Book of 1997
Beginning with the "occasional miracles" of a mysterious turn-of-the-century cancer vaccine called Coley's toxins, Stephen S. Hall traces the story of how doctors have learned to harness the immune system and its "commotions" to develop a wide array of cutting-edge therapies. Moving deftly between laboratory and bedside, Hall's absorbing narrative navigates the politics of discovery and elucidates the dazzling complexities of the microscope slide, tracking the curiously potent cells and molecules at the heart of the immune response. From the author of "the best book written about the new age of biology" (Nobel laureate Philip Sharp), who "succeeds marvelously in making science accessible to the general reader," (New York Times), this fast-paced account of medicine in the making is part of the Sloan Foundation Technology Book series.
500 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
11 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Stephen S. Hall
10 books31 followersFor nearly three decades, Stephen S. Hall has written about the intersection of science and society in books, magazine articles, and essays. He is the author, most recently, of Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience (2010), which grew out of a 2007 cover article in The New York Times Magazine.
His previous books include Size Matters: How Height Affects the Health, Happiness, and Success of Boys—and the Men They Become (2006), Merchants of Immortality: Chasing the Dream of Human Life Extension (2003), A Commotion in the Blood: Life, Death, and the Immune System (1997), Mapping the Next Millennium: How Computer-Driven Cartography Is Revolutionizing the Face of Science (1992), and Invisible Frontiers: The Race to Synthesize a Human Gene (1987). Most titles were acknowledged as a “Notable Book of the Year” by the New York Times Book Review.
Hall has received numerous awards, including the “Science in Society Award” in 2004 for book writing from the National Association of Science Writers for Merchants of Immortality, which was also a finalist for a Los Angeles Times Book Award, and the William B. Coley Award in 1998 from the Cancer Research Institute for A Commotion in the Blood. His work has also been widely anthologized, including in Best American Science Writing (2000, 2001, 2008, 2009), A Literary Companion to Science (1990), and The Beholder’s Eye (2005).
Between 1997 and 2000, Hall served as an editor of the New York Times Magazine as well as a Contributing Writer, and has published numerous cover stories for the Magazine. In addition to the New York Times, his journalism has appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, National Geographic, New York, Science, The New Yorker, Technology Review, Scientific American, Discover, Smithsonian, and many other national publications. His essays and criticism have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Orion, and the Hastings Center Report.
In addition to writing, Hall teaches science journalism and explanatory journalism at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, and also conducts writing workshops for scientists-in-training at New York University’s Carter Institute of Journalism. His many public appearances include a keynote address at the Keystone Symposium, grand rounds at university medical centers, lectures at the Hastings Center, and readings that have been featured on “Book TV.”
Hall graduated as an honors student in English literature from Beloit College in 1973, and lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and two children.
His previous books include Size Matters: How Height Affects the Health, Happiness, and Success of Boys—and the Men They Become (2006), Merchants of Immortality: Chasing the Dream of Human Life Extension (2003), A Commotion in the Blood: Life, Death, and the Immune System (1997), Mapping the Next Millennium: How Computer-Driven Cartography Is Revolutionizing the Face of Science (1992), and Invisible Frontiers: The Race to Synthesize a Human Gene (1987). Most titles were acknowledged as a “Notable Book of the Year” by the New York Times Book Review.
Hall has received numerous awards, including the “Science in Society Award” in 2004 for book writing from the National Association of Science Writers for Merchants of Immortality, which was also a finalist for a Los Angeles Times Book Award, and the William B. Coley Award in 1998 from the Cancer Research Institute for A Commotion in the Blood. His work has also been widely anthologized, including in Best American Science Writing (2000, 2001, 2008, 2009), A Literary Companion to Science (1990), and The Beholder’s Eye (2005).
Between 1997 and 2000, Hall served as an editor of the New York Times Magazine as well as a Contributing Writer, and has published numerous cover stories for the Magazine. In addition to the New York Times, his journalism has appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, National Geographic, New York, Science, The New Yorker, Technology Review, Scientific American, Discover, Smithsonian, and many other national publications. His essays and criticism have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Orion, and the Hastings Center Report.
In addition to writing, Hall teaches science journalism and explanatory journalism at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, and also conducts writing workshops for scientists-in-training at New York University’s Carter Institute of Journalism. His many public appearances include a keynote address at the Keystone Symposium, grand rounds at university medical centers, lectures at the Hastings Center, and readings that have been featured on “Book TV.”
Hall graduated as an honors student in English literature from Beloit College in 1973, and lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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March 31, 2021A fascinating survey of the history of anti-cancer research. It’s good to know some of these names and the stories associated with those who have tried to either cure cancer or at least just slow it down a bit. One of the more frustrating and sometimes terrifying aspects of the whole story is the extent to which market economics affects how research is carried out; so many avenues seem to have been closed off mostly because they cost too much to pursue. Whether humanity might have benefitted from the pursuit no matter how much it cost remains undecided.
August 25, 2021
I’ve been interested in learning more about the story of the immune system - not just a textbook recitation of how (we think) it works, but the human stories of how scientists have figured that out over time.
After googling, a bit, this book came up recommended enough that I gave it a shot.
I didn’t start out interested in cancer immunotherapy, in particular, but it made a fine frame on which to hang the stories, and was interesting, in a “wonder what’s happened in the 25 years since this was published” kind of way.
It’s a bit dense, and rather out of date, but the stories from the late 1800s through the time of publication haven’t changed much, and they were told in an interesting enough way to pull me through in the end.
After googling, a bit, this book came up recommended enough that I gave it a shot.
I didn’t start out interested in cancer immunotherapy, in particular, but it made a fine frame on which to hang the stories, and was interesting, in a “wonder what’s happened in the 25 years since this was published” kind of way.
It’s a bit dense, and rather out of date, but the stories from the late 1800s through the time of publication haven’t changed much, and they were told in an interesting enough way to pull me through in the end.
May 27, 2019
A truly exceptional book. Not only was in tirelessly researched and accurate, but it was written with such beauty that it should be considered literature. Fascinating stories, superb writing, and masterfully composed.
April 24, 2023
Great historical road map of the field of immunology with a very imaginative/creative writing sytle. Hoping for an updated addendum (?)
January 11, 2012
I read this book years ago, in fact over a decade ago, but revisit it time to time to once again enjoy and learn from some of the finest science journalism I've ever read. It was one of the books that made me firmly believe I wanted to be involved in biomedical research in some capacity and one, along with The Coming Plague, that represents amazingly in-depth medical writing that can connect with the lay reader yet offers ample insights also to the professional.
This book tells of a search, a quest if you will, and it is the search for interferons that can enable our bodies' immune systems to better combat cancer. Along the way, we find out about Coley's Toxins, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin, and last-ditch, wing-and-prayer surgical efforts at treating cancer. Through it all, we are provided clear prose but also detailed sketches of the scientists and physicians who made these advances in medicine possible—at points the book nearly reads like a novel.
Certainly, there are points in this narrative that are depressing, but the hope that is more common is a true hope and one that portends further triumphs against cancer. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, not only for its powerful writing but because aside from medical texts, you will not find a better explanation of how the immune system and interferons work against cancer.
This book tells of a search, a quest if you will, and it is the search for interferons that can enable our bodies' immune systems to better combat cancer. Along the way, we find out about Coley's Toxins, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin, and last-ditch, wing-and-prayer surgical efforts at treating cancer. Through it all, we are provided clear prose but also detailed sketches of the scientists and physicians who made these advances in medicine possible—at points the book nearly reads like a novel.
Certainly, there are points in this narrative that are depressing, but the hope that is more common is a true hope and one that portends further triumphs against cancer. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, not only for its powerful writing but because aside from medical texts, you will not find a better explanation of how the immune system and interferons work against cancer.
September 13, 2015
This was a very lengthy tome, redundant I know, about the history of immunology, who the scientists of note were and where we are with immunotherapy and fighting cancer and disease as of 1997, which was the publication date of this book. Fast forward almost 20 years and I'm sure there have been advances and setbacks as this book recounts. I thoroughly enjoyed the history-it was laid out very well even for laymen. I took notes as I do with all my medical and history readings and appreciated learning about the early pioneers in the field along with the egocentric scientists and competition in the field at large. Medicine is a mix of art and science and this book makes the case. It is no different from other fields of discovery-with your combination of egos, government regulators, biotech companies, pharma, cancer institutes, etal - the human condition at play as I often repeat myself.
I learned about Coley's toxins, interferon, interleukin 2 and 12, T cells, B cells, factors, killer cells, TNF,lab mice, and more. The anecdotes and stories of real life cancer patients were key to really grasping experimental clinical trials as it were. My favorites were Dr. William B Coley and patient "Frau H" -truly remarkable.
I may have to find out if there's a follow-up book or where we are now in 2015 with immunotherapy.
I learned about Coley's toxins, interferon, interleukin 2 and 12, T cells, B cells, factors, killer cells, TNF,lab mice, and more. The anecdotes and stories of real life cancer patients were key to really grasping experimental clinical trials as it were. My favorites were Dr. William B Coley and patient "Frau H" -truly remarkable.
I may have to find out if there's a follow-up book or where we are now in 2015 with immunotherapy.
January 22, 2017
This book I found fascinating reading. It is effectively a history book talking about science and medicine and our discovery of the mechanics of the human immune system, but with particular reference to the people who did the research. It also says all this in particular reference to cancer. The books we read these days are usually about the end result, without talking about the journey to this moment.
May 22, 2011
Interesting look at the history of using immunotherapy (and learning more about the immune system) for the treatment of cancer. I like the insights on how science actually works through mistakes, missteps, politics, etc.
May 18, 2010
Technical. Very in depth, but I liked it. I am used to reading medically detailed books. Good read if you are interested in the history of cancer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2014
Too much: this old white dude did this or that, I think I wanted more of the story of science told and not the story of these men who discovered it. Didn't finish it.
July 23, 2007
Loved it.
April 29, 2017
Very informative, Hall traces the early cutting edge ideas in treatment, like a text book reviling the origins of cancer treatment from the late 1800's. Definitively worth reading, as instincts ran closer to the source of a potential cure early on, tracking potent molecules, and cell immune response, with the discovery of interleukin-2, a most effective treatment.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews