Top 40 disease and illnesses books
The Story of the Human Body
What is The Story of the Human Body about?
“The Story of the Human Body” sheds light on the evolutionary process spanning millions of years, unraveling the path that led to our present-day appearance. The author gradually unveils the factors behind the transformations in our bodies and the reasons for these changes. You will also learn how our well-being nowadays is connected to the way we have evolved.
Eat to Beat Disease
What is Eat to Beat Disease about?
Discover the power of your plate with “Eat to Beat Disease” by William W. Li. The book gives us insights into optimizing our health through the foods we eat. With compelling research and practical advice, Li reveals the hidden healing potential of everyday ingredients.
When Breath Becomes Air
What is When Breath Becomes Air about?
“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi describes an autobiographical story about the fight against stage 4 metastatic lung cancer. You will learn how the author has been on both sides of hospital life: as a doctor and a patient.
How Not to Die
What is How Not to Die about?
“How Not to Die” by Michael Greger reveals the importance of nutrition and how one can avoid the major diseases of our time, terrible ailments that, for many people, seem incurable and deadly. Most importantly, you will learn how to nourish yourself in order to live a long and healthy life.
Illness as Metaphor
What is Illness as Metaphor about?
In "Illness as Metaphor", Susan Sontag challenges the inherent metaphors attached to diseases and how they shape our understanding and treatment of the sick. Exploring societal perceptions, the book argues that metaphorical narratives wrongly place the blame on the person’s psyche or personality. This seminal work compels readers to rethink our approach to illness and the power of language in shaping our understanding of it.
The Cancer Journals
What is The Cancer Journals about?
"The Cancer Journals" by Audre Lorde is a deeply moving exploration of her courageous journey with breast cancer. Lorde’s account is a compelling critique of societal norms, particularly regarding women’s health. Being a black, lesbian and feminist writer, Lorde brings a unique perspective of how identity and society intersect with health.
Sick
What is Sick about?
"Sick: A Memoir" by Iranian-American novelist Porochista Khakpour is a raw journey into the world of chronic illness. This brutally honest account shows the author’s struggle with late-stage Lyme disease — an often misunderstood condition. Khakpour's narrative is a profound exploration of pain, identity, and the quest for understanding, exposing the reader to the physical, emotional, and psychological toll of her illness.
The Collected Schizophrenias
What is The Collected Schizophrenias about?
Esme Weijun Wang’s "The Collected Schizophrenias" provides an insightful look at the realities of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Wang’s essays span a wide range of topics concerning mental health, and offer a candid perspective on these highly stigmatized conditions. This book combines well-researched facts with personal experiences, examining an often misunderstood topic.
Rabid
What is Rabid about?
While rabies is still a deadly threat today, killing 55,000 people annually, mostly in Africa and Asia, its grip on our imagination holds less sway. "Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus" serves as a reminder of its historical impact, exploring this fearsome virus. The authors, journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy provide a rounded view of the disease exploring the science of virus, symptoms, and the search for vaccine.
The Great Mortality
What is The Great Mortality about?
"The Great Mortality" by John Kelly recounts a pandemic that spanned an entire continent — the Great Plague. Kelly animates history with detailed depictions of the plague's devastation, making the material accessible to both casual readers and historians. Filled with poignant human stories, the book explores a variety of topics, from feudal society and economics to medicine, and features strikingly vivid scenes and alarming eyewitness accounts.
Black Death at the Golden Gate
What is Black Death at the Golden Gate about?
Have you ever heard of bubonic plague in San Francisco? "Black Death at the Golden Gate" by David K. Randall is a riveting and detailed account of the public health officials' battle against this disease. This book also resonates with the current public health challenges, making it a timely read.
Pale Rider
What is Pale Rider about?
Written by a science journalist and novelist Laura Spinney, "Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World" is a riveting journey through the devastation of the Spanish flu. Through factual information and personal stories, Spinney paints a picture of the world grappling with a crisis. This book serves as a crucial history lesson, revealing the importance of learning from past pandemics to avert future global disasters.
Get Well Soon
What is Get Well Soon about?
Throughout history, people have been plagued by various diseases. Some of them turned into pandemics so scary that they could wipe out all of humanity. A great mix of research and dark humor, "Get Well Soon" by Jennifer Wright, tells you all about these outbreaks, as well as the strange and fascinating ways people tried to combat them.
The Vital Question
What is The Vital Question about?
In "The Vital Question," Nick Lane, a biochemist, studies a fundamental mystery: why does life operate the way it does, and how did it all begin? Lane argues that focusing solely on genetics isn't enough. He proposes that the origin and evolution of complex life is tied to how cells utilize energy. The book explores the power of energy in shaping the course of evolution and many more.
The Pandemic Century
What is The Pandemic Century about?
The last century has been marked by numerous disease outbreaks and outbreak scares. In "The Pandemic Century," Mark Honigsbaum delves into the details of these incidents, combining history with medicine in a way that allows us to get the full story. He also touches upon just how detrimental human error and medical prejudice can be. If you want to learn more about recent pandemics you might've not even known about, this book is a must-read.
The Next Pandemic
What is The Next Pandemic about?
Ali S. Khan, a public health first responder, tells us firsthand about the infectious diseases humanity has encountered. He believes that even with technological progress, viruses will always plague us, but the thing that often turns a small virus into a big problem is human error. How can we prevent a new pandemic from happening, and can we? "The Next Pandemic" can give you some clues on that.
On Immunity
What is On Immunity about?
Have you ever wondered why we need vaccines? After her son was born, Eula Biss investigated the science and the ideas behind vaccines to make sure she knew what was going into her son's body. In "On Immunity," she talks about our fear of the medical industry - fear that is often caused by ignorance. The book helps you learn about vaccines not only from a scientific, but from a mother's perspective.
Genome
What is Genome about?
In his book "Genome," Matt Ridley explains what a genome is and how it works. The questions this book raises will transform how you perceive longevity, diseases, and inheritability. Matt Ridley depicts the history of our species by using one gene from each pair of chromosomes as an example.
Forensics
What is Forensics about?
Have you ever wondered how forensic scientists find criminals with small clues? "Forensics" by Val McDermid goes behind the scenes to show how they do it, providing us with real-life cases from her own and her colleagues' experiences. So, if you are fascinated by forensic science and crime scenes, this book is the perfect next read for you!
Too Much of a Good Thing
What is Too Much of a Good Thing about?
Have you noticed that traits that helped us survive in the past make our lives harder in the modern world? Our desire to eat until we're full, which kept us from starving, now leads to obesity. Our blood's ability to form clots, which kept us from bleeding out when wounded, now leads to heart attacks. In "Too Much of a Good Thing," Lee Goldman explains how abundance affects our bodies and what we can do to fix it.
The Big Necessity
What is The Big Necessity about?
In "The Big Necessity," Rose George talks about the thing that people prefer not to talk about - bodily waste. Even in the modern world, one in four people don't have access to a toilet with proper sewage. Bacteria spread by our waste causes more deaths every year than any other disease. So, while this might seem like an uncomfortable read at first, it's definitely worth your time.
The Vitamin Solution
What is The Vitamin Solution about?
Have you thought about incorporating vitamin supplements into your diet? Maybe you're unsure about which ones you need, if any? If that's the case, "The Vitamin Solution" by Romy Block and Arielle Levitan is your perfect guide to safely and gradually introducing vitamin supplements into your life.
The Case Against Sugar
What is The Case Against Sugar about?
Nowadays, the rates of obesity, liver diseases, and other health issues are skyrocketing. One of the main reasons for this is sugar, which is hidden in virtually any food you can find on your local supermarket's shelves. In "The Case Against Sugar," Gary Taubes clears up any misconceptions about sugar and gives you all the information you need to make responsible dietary decisions.
Ask Me About My Uterus
What is Ask Me About My Uterus about?
It's crazy how often women's pain and health problems aren't taken seriously by medical professionals. In her book "Ask Me About My Uterus," Abby Norman describes her own experience of being dismissed by doctors. She had to learn medicine and diagnose herself with endometriosis before they believed her! It's time to start taking women's pain seriously, and if you want to learn more on the subject, this book is for you.
The Body
What is The Body about?
Have you ever thought just how fascinating your body is? It is such a complex system, yet all of its components manage to function in total synchronicity. If you want to learn more fascinating things about your body, "The Body" by Bill Bryson is the book for you.
Heart
What is Heart about?
The heart is our most vital organ, and thanks to modern medicine, it's incredible how much we know about and how much we can do with it. Written by cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar, the book "Heart" tells us about fascinating discoveries and successes in the field. These include the first open heart surgery, the heart-lung machine, and many more!
Food Fix
What is Food Fix about?
Our diets influence many things: our health, the environment, our society, and even the economy. "Food Fix" by Mark Hyman explores food not only in the context of nutrition but also in the context of supply chains, production, and policies that regulate it. This is perhaps the most complete guide to food you can get.
Touching the Rock
What is Touching the Rock about?
In "Touching the Rock," John M. Hull tells us about losing his vision and everything that follows it. He talks about how pleasant things lose meaning and how the most basic tasks become incredibly difficult. This book is his experience of navigating his blindness and continuing to foster his relationship with his wife, his son, and with himself.
Deadliest Enemy
What is Deadliest Enemy about?
The world has just recently gone through a global pandemic. Considering the speed at which new viruses appear, another one is just a matter of time. In "Deadliest Enemy," Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker explain which systems we need to develop and which resources to prepare to protect our world from yet another outbreak.
The Great Cholesterol Myth
What is The Great Cholesterol Myth about?
For decades, cholesterol has been considered the root cause of heart disease. However, modern research suggests that cholesterol levels are a poor indicator promoted by big pharmaceutical companies. If you want to learn actual strategies to maintain your heart's health, "The Great Cholesterol Myth" by health authors Jonny Bowden and Stephen T. Sinatra is the perfect choice for your reading list.
The End of Food Allergy
What is The End of Food Allergy about?
Food allergies seem to be getting more and more of a problem all over the world. However, not all hope is lost. In their book "The End of Food Allergy," Kari Nadeau and Sloan Barnett offer a program that allows you to retrain your immune system. It's based on recent research and requires you to work with your doctor, so it's both safe and effective.
The XX Brain
What is The XX Brain about?
According to recent research, women are more prone to Alzheimer's disease, migraines, depression, anxiety, and strokes than men. The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi introduces an extensive study on female brain health and preventing brain diseases caused by two potent X chromosomes. You'll discover practical tips on preventing Alzheimer's, a special women-oriented diet, and more.
Biohack Your Brain
What is Biohack Your Brain about?
Just like with any other organ in your body, it's important to take care of your brain. Kristen Willeumier tells you all you need to know about maintaining your cognitive health in her book "Biohack Your Brain." If you keep your brain healthy, you can reduce the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as improve your overall well-being.
Uncontrolled Spread
What is Uncontrolled Spread about?
COVID-19 took aback a lot of policy-makers and societies. "Uncontrolled Spread," by Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, explains why COVID-19 overwhelmed America's defenses. Gottlieb says the weaknesses exposed require a national overhaul to handle future outbreaks, whether from deadlier variants, a flu pandemic, or new threats. The book outlines important policies and investments to help the US and the world be better prepared for the next health crisis.
Vaxxers
What is Vaxxers about?
Sarah Gilbert is a successful researcher behind the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. In the book "Vaxxers," she explains the rapid development of this lifesaving vaccine. The book offers a firsthand perspective on the scientific advancements and incredible teamwork that went into creating the vaccine in under a year. Gilbert describes the challenges faced during this historic race against the virus and debunks fiction myths surrounding the vaccine's development.
No Cure for Being Human
What is No Cure for Being Human about?
Kate Bowler was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. In her memoir "No Cure for Being Human," she writes about finding meaning and living life to the fullest despite facing a terminal illness. Bowler challenges the "best life now" mentality and critiques empty positivity. She believes that life is beautiful and terrible, and we have to take it the way it is.
Stem Cells
What is Stem Cells about?
Imagine tiny workers in your body, some like master builders and others like skilled craftspeople repairing a particular tissue. This is the world of stem cells, introduced by Dr. Jonathan Slack, who is a leading expert in the field. In his book "Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction," he uncovers all the mysteries of these remarkable cells. He explains how they fuel our development as embryos, keep our bodies running throughout life, and show promising results in stem cell therapies.
The Emperor of All Maladies
What is The Emperor of All Maladies about?
For centuries, cancer has been a horrific emperor that brought havoc to humanity. In "The Emperor of All Maladies," Siddhartha Mukherjee, a doctor and researcher, reflects on the epic war against this disease. He discusses moments from the first glimpses of cancer to the latest procedures of chemotherapy and radiation.
The Wild Life of Our Bodies
What is The Wild Life of Our Bodies about?
Our bodies are not isolated fortresses. Instead, they are full of small inhabitants, like microbes, bacteria, and others. In "The Wild Life of Our Bodies," biologist Rob Dunn explores residents of our bodies and explains how these creatures might influence our immune system, weight, and even mental health.
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