Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Survival of the Sickest: The Surprising Connections Between Disease and Longevity

Lenore avatar reviewed on + 193 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


Loved this book. The author makes it a very entertaining read, despite the serious subject matter. I liked it so much that I got a copy after reading it in the library, and sent one to my sisters as well. Fascinating, easy to understand and clear. I found the idea that viruses may have become incorporated into our DNA over our evolution an amazing idea, true or not.

Fascinating to discover the genetic advantages of diseases that today have become huge detriments, such as sickle cell anemia (resistance to malaria), and diabetes (resistance to cold weather, as sugar acts like antifreeze in the blood, and along with other specific genetic traits, helps prevent, among other things, frostbite).

It did, however, take until the end of the book and author's photo for me to realize that "Sharon Moalem" is a man. :)