Rating: 
Summary: great book
Review: A close relative of mine is a cancer survivor, and the shadow of this horrific disease has become a new member in our family. Weinberg's book is a quick and very well written primer for the layman on cancer and the history of oncological research. Not only does it contain up to date information about the latest genetic discoveries in the field, but it also presents them in a didatic and lighthearted style only an insider could offer. Reading this book, I felt like having a glimpse of the kind of books that will be written abou cancer in (hopefully) 20 years: books in which all the mechanisms leading to tumor formation will be laid bare for the student, and effective therapies will be available for all kinds of cancer, with minor burden of side effects. Books in which all the suffering caused by cancer nowadays will be as part of medical history as polio is. I felt enpowered by this book and actually enjoyed reading it (the account of how a virus can cause cancer by stealing proto oncogenes from normal cells is fascinating). The only reason I have not given 5 stars is some difficulty in the last chapters due to the complicated naming conventions of genes, but I guess this is a fault of the unfinished status of genetic oncology and my ignorance. If cancer or the history of medical research in general interests you, I strongly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable information!
Review: Extremely informative, written in interesting form like a scientific novel, a systematic mini-survey of the molecular biology of cancer. Takes you through 30 years of discovery, explaining how false expectations were replaced by the discovery in laboratories of right pathways. Among the useful pieces of information you'll pick up: cancer cells are not destroyed by chemo and radiation, only some DNA damage occurs. Unless the p53 gene is little enough damaged, then the tumor is not stopped, and Weinberg explains why. He fully describes the 6 mutations that are required, over time, to produce a metastasizing tumor. My wish: that Weinberg would next write a book about cancer treatments.I end with an aside for those who are in love with the red herring called "holism", and imagine that "reductionism" is dead and of little or no use in the elucidation of complexity. The entire field of genetic and cancer discoveries, all of microbiology, is nothing but plain ol' reductionism applied to very long molecules, molecules so long and often disordered in shape that new techniques of chemical analysis had to be invented (like PCR). This book and any standard text on molecular biology provides full evidence for the truth of my assertion.
Rating:
Summary: A lucid, insightful account of biology gone bad
Review: Having read several books on the history and casues of cancer, I can honestly say that this was the most entertaining and insightfull. With the skill of a master technician, Weinberg carefully constructs step by step the processes that cause a normal human cell to turn rogue. He effortlessly weaves such topics as the viralological, carcinogenic and genetic causes of cancer to give the reader a clear and concise overview of the reasons for cancers existence. Along the way he also debunks several common myths about cancer (IE. that enviromental pollutnats are responsible for a large portion of human cancers). While its is not necessary to have a degree in biology to read this book, a general understanding of physiology and genetics (basic) certainly makes it more enjoyable. My only regret with this book was that it was a mere 170 pages long.
Rating:
Summary: The more we know the more the hope
Review: It is amazing to find out that we know so much about how cell biology and cancer works. I would have thought that these details would be all that is needed to find a cure for cancer. The book reveals these secrets in an understandable way and makes you feel we are on the edge of bringing this knowkedge out of research and to patients. It has been said that knowledge is power. In the case of cancer it is also hope.
Rating:
Summary: Must have: great intro and overview of current research
Review: No prior knowledge of cell biology or genetics is required. I have gained an appreciation for the complexity of cancer research thanks to the book. I highly recommend it. You also learn a fair amount of the history of the development of cancer research. And don't think you need to read through hundreds of introductory pages to accomplish this. The book is under 200 pages. Once again: What I found great about the book is it explains very clearly the current thories on how cancer starts and spreads without requiring any prior knowledge in the field. For the scientifically oriented who are interested in the details, it has a big reference and endnote section. 5 stars for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!!
Review: The aspect I liked most about the book is the lucid writing. A vast topic such as cancer has been masterfully explained in simplistic terms.
I recommend this book to everyone who thinks biotechnology is rocket science.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent entry to cancer biology
Review: There are very few books out that give the reader an overview modern cancer biology. This short book gives a clear picture of a complex and current subject. It uses historical perspective on scientific discovery to enliven the reading. It's well organized and readable without background in biology, but with enough depth to interest biologists in other fields. I also reccomend Robert Weinberg's "Genes and the Biology of Cancer", written with Harold Varmus, which covers the same material in a little more depth.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent entry to cancer biology
Review: There are very few books out that give the reader an overview modern cancer biology. This short book gives a clear picture of a complex and current subject. It uses historical perspective on scientific discovery to enliven the reading. It's well organized and readable without background in biology, but with enough depth to interest biologists in other fields. I also reccomend Robert Weinberg's "Genes and the Biology of Cancer", written with Harold Varmus, which covers the same material in a little more depth.
Rating:
Summary: Cancer, we shall conquer thee!
Review: What we know about cancer has increased dramatically in the past 20 years, and the author has played a part in many of the major discoveries that have occurred. Weinberg goes through the path of discovery in a largely chronological order, showing the initial theories on the workings of cancer, and then bringing in the revisions to these theories, revealing aspects of cell biology at the appropriate times, so that the reader does not become overwhelmed by excess information at the start of the book, a fault that seems to be common in many popular science books. Overall, I feel that this is one of the best books in the Science Masters series, and a must read for anyone interested in cancer. I feel that it would also make valuable reading for anyone whose work relates to the health sciences in any way, since after reading this book, you have a rather thorough understanding of cancer in a general sense, without all of the technical details which would only be of interest to a researcher or doctor specialising in cancer. There is also the possibility that this book would be of value to a cancer sufferer, since understanding an illness can often help a person to better cope with it, and this book would really let the patient understand what was happening in their body, and why, and understand why various treatments work for some types of cancer, but not others.
Rating:
Summary: Cancer, we shall conquer thee!
Review: What we know about cancer has increased dramatically in the past 20 years, and the author has played a part in many of the major discoveries that have occurred. Weinberg goes through the path of discovery in a largely chronological order, showing the initial theories on the workings of cancer, and then bringing in the revisions to these theories, revealing aspects of cell biology at the appropriate times, so that the reader does not become overwhelmed by excess information at the start of the book, a fault that seems to be common in many popular science books. Overall, I feel that this is one of the best books in the Science Masters series, and a must read for anyone interested in cancer. I feel that it would also make valuable reading for anyone whose work relates to the health sciences in any way, since after reading this book, you have a rather thorough understanding of cancer in a general sense, without all of the technical details which would only be of interest to a researcher or doctor specialising in cancer. There is also the possibility that this book would be of value to a cancer sufferer, since understanding an illness can often help a person to better cope with it, and this book would really let the patient understand what was happening in their body, and why, and understand why various treatments work for some types of cancer, but not others.
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