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by Robin Sharma
The importance of our immune system
Immunity by William E. Paul is an insightful book that explains the intricacies of the human immune system. It explores the history of immunology and offers a new perspective on how the immune system functions, highlighting its importance in maintaining good health and treating diseases.
If asked, most people would say your immune system is a good thing, right? After all, the human immune system, especially when aided by medicine, is what defends us against viruses, bacteria and diseases of all types. However, this power doesn’t come without a hook: if your immune response is somehow off, it can devastate your body, producing life-threatening illnesses.
The body must strike a fine balance. To drive this point home, let’s look at a case famous among immunologists.
For millennia, the virus that causes smallpox plagued humankind. It killed hundreds of millions of people, until, on May 8th, 1980, the World Health Organization declared smallpox a thing of the past.
But how was it vanquished?
By boosting the immune system through vaccination, a technique discovered by an eighteenth-century English physician named Edward Jenner. He observed that milkmaids often contracted the less-serious cowpox, and that, upon recovery, they were immune to smallpox. Jenner knew that the two viruses were closely related and he hypothesized that intentionally exposing humans to cowpox could protect them from smallpox.
Thus the birth of vaccination, the activation of an immune response in our bodies that produces virus-killing cells. As a result of this discovery, the WHO launched a smallpox-eradication campaign in 1967 that used extensive vaccination with incredible success.
But the same immune response that vaccinations prompt can also go horribly wrong.
Indeed, diabetes is the result of a malfunctioning immune system. Usually the tissue of a patient is not the target of immune responses; however, the immune system of people with type 1 diabetes mellitus starts attacking the body itself. As a result, virus-killing cells called T cells break down the body’s own insulin-producing cells, which play an instrumental role in regulating blood-sugar levels. The result of this immune dysfunction is diabetes, a serious and even life-threatening illness.
Immunity (2015) is a guide to that great defender of the human body, otherwise known as the immune system. It gives a detailed explanation of how immune responses defend us against all manner of diseases, even cancers, and how a dysfunctional immune system can spell big trouble.
Immunity (2017) by William E. Paul is an insightful exploration of the human immune system and why it is essential for our health. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
Vaccines have probably had a greater impact on human health than any other human intervention [...].
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Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trialBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Immunity?
The main message of Immunity is the intricate workings of the immune system and its roles in protecting our health.
How long does it take to read Immunity?
The reading time for Immunity varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Immunity a good book? Is it worth reading?
Immunity is worth reading for its insightful exploration of the immune system's complexity and its impact on our well-being.
Who is the author of Immunity?
The author of Immunity is William E. Paul.