Book Recommendation: The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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Dr. Tiffany Vora recommends the book The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Why have I dedicated my life to science—particularly biology? Because the natural world is so beautiful, I just can’t stop looking at it.
That’s why I was hooked right into the latest book from Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human brims with the sheer joy of understanding the world of biological cells. That same type of joy lured me into molecular biology, but Mukherjee makes a compelling case for me to widen my sights:
💡 “A gene without a cell is lifeless—an instruction manual stored inside an inert molecule, a musical score without a musician, a lonely library with no one to read the books within it. A cell brings materiality and physicality to a set of genes. A cell enlivens genes.”
Image credits: CDC via Unsplash.
For a few hundred pages, the author blends the history of cellular biology with the amazing systems and processes that have been uncovered by fascinating scientists over the decades. This approach will feel familiar if you’ve read other works by Mukherjee, such as The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene: An Intimate History.
💡 But here the author has another agenda: to open our eyes to the stunning advances in cellular biology that are revolutionizing medicine today.
Yes, there are sections about the cells that make us sick, such as cancer, bacteria, and viruses (no surprise, given that much of this book was written in the early days of the pandemic). Perhaps more exciting are the chapters in which we come to know our cells and how they are being harnessed by scientists and doctors to help us live healthier, longer lives. Blood cells, immune cells, neurons, and stem cells all enjoy time in the spotlight.
Image credits: National Cancer Institute via Unsplash
💡 Fortunately, Mukherjee also takes the time to begin to explore some of the ethical issues that arise as our cellular biotechnologies become ever more powerful.
For example, he examines cellular-based fertility treatments, from IVF to CRISPR (and potentially beyond). If the hair on your arms stands up every time you hear the phrase “designer babies”, then this book will help you ask the tough questions that our societies need to tackle as the very future of our species becomes … malleable.
The Song of the Cell may not be the best place to start if you haven’t thought about biology in a few years (or decades). Mukherjee is an excellent wordsmith; however, at times the clarity of his text can suffer from his search for a compelling turn of phrase. But if—like me—you feel a thrill each time the natural world reveals one of its secrets to you, then I suggest picking up a copy of The Song of the Cell.
It may not be a quick read, but it should leave you with the sense of momentous possibility that marks this special moment in human history.
There has never been a better time to be a biologist … and there are only better things to come.
Dr. Tiffany Vora speaks, writes, and advises on how to harness technology to build the best possible future(s). She is an expert in biotech, health, & innovation. For a full list of topics and ways to collaborate, visit her Work Together webpage.
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