A Patient's Point of View

I was intrigued by the title, Survival of The Sickest, A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease. But as I got into it, I couldn’t detect much evidence that Dr. Sharon Moalem was much of a “maverick." Coming from a deeply mechanistic viewpoint, and a solid belief in the religion of evolution, I was largely disappointed. Sure, there were a couple of bright spots, especially in her exploration of the role of iron and our immune system, not to mention the idea that the body is inclined to produce adaptations based on survival rather than longevity. Yes, thanks to our sturdy ancestors, you and I are survivors of the Black Plague and other pandemics. But no need to test your patience by reading about it.