Matt Richtel

A riveting book of personal stories and a court case with breaks for neuroscience and scientists. Hard to put down. And very timely for me.

My daughter just got her driver's license and drives my car. My rule -- turn off the smartphone ringer and put it in the way back where it cannot be seen or reached from the driver's seat. Some parents think I'm crazy. They don't understand the addictive quality of these devices and they need to read this book. Or others like it.

I once saw a young woman texting at the wheel going 70 mph in the fast lane of a 4-lane freeway. I shook my finger at her. She looked up at me, then back down to her device. Then I pulled way back to avoid the collision she was about to cause... if not this time, the next.

My only Internet is my PC and I'm happy to be away from it when out in the world so I can focus. My flip phone keeps me available for my kids. They can call or text which sends a buzz. But I never, ever, pick up while driving. (If it's an emergency, they can call 911!) And I do not get annoying, pushy pings or flashy colors demanding my attention. Don't get me wrong -- I love the Internet. But I prefer to keep it at home and not harassing me everywhere I go.

I was once forced to get a smartphone when the company discontinued its flip phone service. I hated it. So I found another company with a flip service. I'm now happily back to a flip phone, my focus, and my sanity.

This book is the most engaging I've read in a while. My driving daughter now wants to read it, as she should. It is highly recommended -- for its important message, but also for being a good, riveting read.… (more)

Meh. I somewhat forced myself to finish this one, sure that it'd somehow come together to be great, but it never did. The back of the paperback pulled me in- the description sounded great!- but what we got was the premise (man creates an AI kind of software that can predict conflict domestically and internationally, intrigue ensues) suffocating underneath a simultaneously haughty-yet-self-pitying unlikeable main character (who is described at every turn, by himself and those around him, as anti-social, stubborn, and thinking aloud) and a convoluted plot. Even with these elements, the story could have at least been a bit thrilling, but the pacing absolutely drags, and the twist (that his loyal manservant has been a part of the secret world-ending non-denominational cult) feels untethered. You can see what this book wanted to be, and reading the author's note at the end, explaining his inspiration (the real-life Neturei-Karta, a group of Orthodox super-religious Jews who did not believe in the founding of a secular Israel, believing it would go against the true return of the Messiah), I totally get it. But the execution just doesn't work. I'd skip this one.… (more)

The human immune system is not an easy thing to get your head around, even for professionals. In the last twenty-five years, there have been massive leaps in the medications available to treat autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks itself. This story discusses some of those great discoveries as well as the building of the knowledge about a very complex system of the body. Matt Richtel does a great job in explaining this in terms non-professionals can understand as well as introducing people with these diseases.

The story starts personally as a childhood friend of the author develops Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Things are not going well but Jason is determined to fight. Over the course of the book, we also meet Bob who has HIV and a remarkable immune system. Then there’s Linda and Merredith, who have autoimmune diseases and have had different experiences with treatment. In between their stories is the history of immunology and how pieces of the puzzle have been found over the decades. Some of the researchers who have made big breakthroughs are also familiar to a post-COVID reader – Anthony Fauci and Peter Doherty. Richtel explains their discoveries and others clearly and simply. He notes when things are about to get more complex. I didn’t mind this (he’s more fascinating than 90% of the immunology lecturers I’ve had) but some might find it annoying.

Yes, the science is simplified a lot but that’s OK. It’s not a textbook, it’s a non-scientist explaining the science in an entertaining way that puts a human face to those behind the blood tests, examinations and medications. This book really cemented how intertwined cancer is with the immune system and how immunotherapy takes a novel (but totally logical) way of treating it. It also makes all the side effects of immunotherapy make sense because they are immune-related. I do wish there had been a bit more on CAR-T cell therapy, where the patient’s own T cells (a type of white blood cell) are collected and engineered to fight an increasing number of cancers. But it’s hard to remember how common this was pre-COVID, plus it’s expensive so it probably wasn’t used as commonly.

The strength in this book is the patient stories, with Jason’s story being the most emotional and the common thread throughout the book. Richtel uses his journalism skills to allow the reader to really get to know each of them and cheer them on. I found the ending quite emotional given the human faces of the story, knowing that non-fiction doesn’t always get a happy ending. It’s a very readable book and I devoured it. Highly recommended for those who want to know more about the immune system in an easy to read fashion.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com… (more)

In "An Elegant Defense," New York Times reporter Matt Richtel discusses the intricacies of the human body's immune system, "the glue that defines the whole of human health and wellness." It is our first line of defense when we are injured or ill. This remarkable sentinel has multiple tasks. Among them are cleaning wounds, regenerating tissue, and repairing organ damage. In addition, the immune system keeps a watchful eye on potential malignancies and other threats. Unfortunately, this powerhouse sometimes goes on the offensive against healthy cells. The affected patients may then develop rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's Disease, AIDS, or other autoimmune disorders.

"An Elegant Defense" is an introduction to a complex subject, but it is also a warning for us all. We are harming our immune systems with the overuse of antibiotics and antimicrobial cleaners. We need good bacteria, many of which reside in our gut, to maintain our health. When we wipe these out, we become more vulnerable to disease. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the proliferation of resistant bacteria, known as superbugs. Aside from the book's educational value, it has a personal side, as well. The author introduces us to various afflicted individuals who undergo a variety of treatments (some experimental), with mixed results.

Although this work of non-fiction is enlightening, it is quite long, detailed, occasionally dry, and overly technical. Richtel could have trimmed some of the jargon-filled chapters in which he provides information that average individuals may not comprehend. The bottom line is that serious problems can arise when our bodies try to fend off invaders. "An unchecked immune system can grow so zealous that it turns as dangerous as any foreign disease." In addition, cancer can trick the immune system into helping tumors grow instead of shrinking them. When it works properly, the immune system is our guardian angel; when it turns against us, it can be a vicious foe. Scientists and physicians have made exciting and groundbreaking discoveries, but there is still a great deal more to be learned.
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