[.ca] How the Immune System Works (ISBN 063204702X)

Wish I had had it sooner:
A week before my immunology final, I had finally had it with trying to understand the whole conceptual basis of the immune system from my lecture notes and Parham's "The Immune System." Both were great at giving me a detailed, granular understanding of mechanisms of each interaction, but I needed a higher-level overview of why the mechanisms were appropriate, how they interacted, and which component would respond to each class of threat. Sompayrac's book is witty, fun reading. It isn't overly simplified, and will require some effort if you're a complete beginner to the field; but if you're a student, it's an invaluable resource to supplement your textbook. You can get the detailed description from the textbook; but from reading this, you'll understand why the mechanism is important. My main regret is that I didn't think of searching for this book and buying it at the beginning of my class instead of a week before the final. FWIW, I supplemented the Parham book with this one, and also the High-Yield Immunology book to give a detailed outline. I received an A-; I think if I had gotten both at the start, it would have been an A.

Good start, but then it gets confusing:
I never write reviews, but I thought it is very important for me to write a review. I bought this book because I really had a difficult time understanding immunogy and it seemed like a worthwhile book to get. THe book starts out great, but then it just get too complicated. I I think this book is best for those with a average background in immuno. I am sorry to write this review, but I have to be honest.

EXCELLENT!:
This book saved me just in time for my Immunology final in medical school! It is a quick read, with just enough detail and the illustrations he uses (like MHC is "a billboard") make it memorable! FINALLY! All the pieces of immunology seemed to fall into place! Don't be like me and discover this book when it is almost too late! Get it before the course begins so you can see how everything will fit together! I only wish Dr. Somparyec had a "How the... works" for all of my classes! EXCELLENT book...well worth the $$ and the few hours it will take to read through it!

Beuatifully written and to the point!:
Lauren Sompayrac has done something completely original. He has written a book on immunology in prose that sparkles. The book is easy and fun to read, and very comprehensible. When you are finished, you will understand the basics of immunology. This is no mean feat in a subject as complex as this. The book creates a strong, coherent structure upon which further, more detailed knowledge of immunology can be added if it is your goal,say, to do immunological research. For students, this is the perfect book with which to start. For the average doctor in clinical practice, Sompayrac's book contains everything you need to know. The writing is so clear, strong and direct that I intend to read Sompayrac's other books on Virology and Cancer, two other extremely important areas of medicine. I have been practicing medicine for 30 years, and I can tell you that most medical writing is turgid, dull, boring, flatulant, pedantic, and coma-inducing...in other words, God awful. I am hoping that medical book publishers take notice of this man's work, other writers will follow suit, and perhaps he will start a new trend. Frederick A. Pereira, MD

A True Gem. A Genuine Primer of Immunology.:
This is a find. Ordered in frustration about having to relearn immunology (it changes really quickly, and you don't use it much as a clinician), this is one of those gems that enough people don't know about and brings a really intensely interesting field into the reach of anyone who knows college biology (I mean the basic courses, not the 300 and 400 level advanced stuff). The format is 10 lectures, each on different pieces of the immune system, but written in a very conversational, immensely accessible manner. This book should be given to all medical students as reading BEFORE reading Janeway or Abbas or Roitt (those are the major giant, comprehensive immuno textbooks), as it will let them approach those more daunting tomes with a sense of having their feet on the ground. Also a must for scientists wanting to learn about the immune system. Highly recommended.