Matters of Life and Death: Perspectives on Public Health, Molecular Biology, Cancer, and the Prospects for the Human Race

(Paperback)

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Cancer has become the scourge of the 20th century. It was always part of the human condition, but until recently it was not a common cause of death as most people died from infectious diseases. Now that most of us will live long enough to be at risk of developing cancer, we need to learn as much about it as possible; this requires an understanding of molecular biology. John Cairns has made significant contributions to cancer research, molecular biology and virology. He believes that it is possible to explain what is known about cancer and molecular biology in terms that can be understood by readers with little or no scientific background. In this book, the author explores the revolution in public health, the origins and principles of molecular biology, and our emerging understanding of the causes of cancer. Finally, he discusses how these developments are likely to affect future generations. As Cairns points out, the last 200 years have altered our life expectations beyond recognition. Even in developing countries, people are starting to believe that everyone ought to be able to live well into old age and be protected from the major causes of premature death. This change in our exp

Reviews

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1997 "A collection of beautifully written, reflective essays... Cairns's writing is a fine example of how science can be presented to the general reader in an extremely scholarly way, and why writing of this kind can be of equal interest to fellow scientists, reflecting as it does a remarkable imagination and intellect... [A] reflective and thoughtful account... "--Sir David Weatherall, The Times Higher Education Supplement "[Cairns's] lucid exposition shows how experiments, observations, and calculations support some of the grand conclusions of modern biology. He offers fresh--although sometimes controversial--insights."--Joel E. Cohen, Nature "A brilliant and impressive analysis... [t]his book should be in everyone's personal library for many reasons; first, because Cairns is a lyrical writer and, second, he writes about science and molecular biology based on vast scientific knowledge, stressing the importance of history and of appreciating ultimate causes for all aspects of our lives and all that affects us. Interwoven are his perceptions of the beautiful and gracious things in life-art, music, literature-all with exquisite clarity. Matters is a joy to read."--Choice "Although this is a set of essays rather than an autobiography... several incidents of the distinguished physician-researcher's life surface amusingly... Well documented, the entire book has much to offer for serious general readers... "--Booklist

Author Bio

John Cairns, M.D., is recently retired from the Harvard School of Public Health. Before that appointment, he held posts as Director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and then as Director of one of the laboratories run by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London. He is the author of Cancer: Science and Society.