null
Skip to main content

An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives [Paperback]

Paperback
SKU: 9780062698490
Buy More - Save More. Below are the available bulk discount rates for each individual item when you purchase a certain amount
Quantity Price Savings
25 - 99 39%
100 - 249 43%
250 - 499 47%
500 - 999 49%
1000+ 51%

Format Lightweight and affordable. Perfect for student groups and classrooms, and a versatile option for corporate trainings, team reads, or large-scale events.

Price $19.99

Total for 25 copies:

Adding to cart… The item has been added
You can purchase this title directly online anytime! If you need a formal quote for budget approval, submit a request and we’ll get it to you quickly.
  • Free shipping over $95
  • Price Match Guarantee. Found a better price? Let us know! We’ll work to match it so you get the best value with BookPal.

Overview

National Bestseller

“One of those rare nonfiction books that transcends the genre. ... Extraordinary.” —Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God

A grand tour of the human immune system and the secrets of health, by the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times journalist


A terminal cancer patient rises from the grave. A medical marvel defies HIV. Two women with autoimmunity discover their own bodies have turned against them. Matt Richtel's An Elegant Defense uniquely entwines these intimate stories with science’s centuries-long quest to unlock the mysteries of sickness and health, and illuminates the immune system as never before.

The immune system is our body’s essential defense network, a guardian vigilantly fighting illness, healing wounds, maintaining order and balance, and keeping us alive. Its legion of microscopic foot soldiers—from T cells to “natural killers”—patrols our body, linked by a nearly instantaneous communications grid. It has been honed by evolution over millennia to face an almost infinite array of threats.

For all its astonishing complexity, however, the immune system can be easily compromised by fatigue, stress, toxins, advanced age, and poor nutrition—hallmarks of modern life—and even by excessive hygiene. Paradoxically, it is a fragile wonder weapon that can turn on our own bodies with startling results, leading today to epidemic levels of autoimmune disorders.

Richtel effortlessly guides readers on a scientific detective tale winding from the Black Plague to twentieth-century breakthroughs in vaccination and antibiotics, to the cutting-edge laboratories that are revolutionizing immunology—perhaps the most extraordinary and consequential medical story of our time. The foundation that Richtel builds makes accessible revelations about cancer immunotherapy, the microbiome, and autoimmune treatments that are changing millions of lives. An Elegant Defense also captures in vivid detail how these powerful therapies, along with our behavior and environment, interact with the immune system, often for the good but always on a razor’s edge that can throw this remarkable system out of balance.

Drawing on his groundbreaking reporting for the New York Times and based on extensive new interviews with dozens of world-renowned scientists, Matt Richtel has produced a landmark book, equally an investigation into the deepest riddles of survival and a profoundly human tale that is movingly brought to life through the eyes of his four main characters, each of whom illuminates an essential facet of our “elegant defense.”

The book, An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives [Bulk, Wholesale, Quantity] ISBN# 9780062698490 in Paperback by Matt Richtel may be ordered in bulk quantities. Minimum starts at 25 copies. Availability based on publisher status and quantity being ordered.

Details

Author:
Matt Richtel
Language:
English
Format:
Paperback
Publication Date:
03/24/2020 00:00
Pages:
448
Publisher:
William Morrow & Company

Customer Reviews

This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!

Need Books? BookPal Makes it Easy

  • Free Shipping

    Enjoy free ground shipping on us! Most orders over $95 qualify for free standard ground shipping.It takes an estimated 7-10 business days to deliver and may require additional processing time

    Learn More
  • Dedicated Account Managers

    At BookPal, we go beyond the transaction by providing personal support and a dedicated account manager for every customer.

    Learn More
  • Flexible Delivery Options

    We offer flexible delivery options such Free Ground Shipping (on most orders over $100), Expedited Premium, Expedited Express, International Shipping etc.

    Learn More
  • Sales Tax Exemption

    BookPal is a tax-exempt supplier for all 50 states. We can provide you with a tax-exempt certificate to use on your orders.

    Learn More
  • Price Match Guarantee

    With over 3 million book titles available, it's impossible to always be the lowest priced. If you find a lower price on a new title elsewhere that is available to ship in the quantity you need, we are happy to discount your books and match the lower price.

    Learn More
  • Multiple Payment Options

    BookPal accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and checks by mail, along with Purchase Orders upon approval. We also accept ACH payments and wire transfers.

    Learn More

We are here to help, reach out to our team anytime!

Connect With Us

Subscribe to our newsletter for $25 off your next order of $500+

Review Your Cart Close Close
Your cart is empty Your cart is empty Your cart is empty
Recently Viewed Recently Viewed
Back to top Back to top