If someone had told me I would be laughing over antibodies and the immune system, I would have rolled my eyes, but it’s true. I challenge anyone to read Why Aren’t We Dead Yet? and not laugh at least once. Twice I had to read parts to a friend of mine just because it was so fun to read. Why Aren’t We Dead Yet? is an introduction to the immunology for nonscientists.

Idan Ben-Barak is a microbiologist and children’s author which makes a perfect combination for writing books that are easy to understand. That is essential from a topic as complex as our immune system that works with pretty much every system, even possibly our brains. Wow!

The book is organized into five chapters. The first is about the encounter when bacteria or virus meets the immune system and the various strategies both sides take in the battle. Then he covers how our immune system develops, a form or learning. Then he talks about the evolutionary process of both armies developing their strategies and armaments. It’s clear there will be no cease-fire. The history of research into immunology which leads into some of the new things like immune therapies and of all things “plantibodies.” Really, they are injecting antibodies into fused spleen and stem cells that can be put in chickens for eggs that deliver antibodies or into plants which is where the “plantibodies” come from. Who knows? Someday there might be anti-cancer veggies that are not over-hyped.

I loved this book. Ben-Barak assumes the reader starts with no knowledge of the immune system but does not make the further assumption that we’re ignorant. He explains in simple terms but without condescension. He adds liberal doses of humor, often self-deprecating. He writes with an unusual kindness that makes me think he is a kind person, one who would be a lovely dinner guest. If he’s ever in Portland, I will bake him some krumkake.

I fell a little bit in love with Ben-Barak while reading the introduction. He wrote "this book is not going to make your health choices more informed, your diet more sustaining, your hair more luxuriously radiant..." and I just sighed with happiness. I can't stand the over-promising self-help books that promise to fix my life. Like Ben-Barak, I am allergic to useful information. When he talks about boosting the immune system and questioning whether that's such a good idea since overactive immune systems can be a problem. Over and over, the good sense of the author was a comfort to this person who is allergic to self-help.

I learned a lot from this book. When I finish this review I am going to research more about Ipilimumab so I can forward it to a friend. I look forward to plantibody brussels sprouts someday.

I received a copy ofWhy Aren’t We Dead Yet? from the publisher, Scribe Publications..

Why Aren’t We Dead Yet? at Scribe Publications
Idan Ben-Barak author site

★★★★★
Science that made me laugh
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