George Johnson (Get this book)Not quite "abandon all hope," but there's not much to cheer about in this wide-angled survey of where we are in the fight against cancer. Science writer Johnson has steeped himself in cancer lore, attended conferences and interviewed experts to conclude that the more we learn about the disease, the more complex it gets. Yes, there have been declines in incidence, but new cases will offset those declines simply because people are living longer; cancers essentially reflect the accumulation of DNA hits to a cell as it divides and divides again over time. A thorough and nuanced presentation of the state of the science of cancer research, refreshing in its honest appraisal that the war is far from over.--Kirkus
