Racing to the Beginning of the Road: The Search for the Origin of Cancer

This was a wonderfully written book. I know nothing of science, and was mesmerized by the writing and the information imparted. Weinberg writes like a novelist, but has the impeccable scientific background to convey how important basic research was to the discovery of how cancer occurred on the molecular level. It gave me a great appreciation for research, and hope for the future of cancer treatment.

This book puts to rest the debate of whether basic science should receive as much priority as clinical science. Himself one of the most prominent figures in cancer research, Weinberg writes with captivating (and often amusing) narrative power how a very simple basic curiosity - how do we build a cancer cell from scratch? - has led to revolutionary views of cancer. Peter Gorner, the Tribune writer, once wrote "Science would like you to think that it marches steadily forward in white-coated splendor, but the truth is more mundane - fits and starts are the usual rhythms, with flashes of insight wasted by years of wrong-headedness...". In that sense, Weinberg captures successfully the frustration and maddening uncertainty every scientist has to endure to test their hypotheses as well as the jubilation and excitement that come when pleasant accidents occur, leading to the ultimate breakthroughs. More importantly, Weinberg highlights the critical intellectual input from scientists who cares more about the basic biological processes than curing diseases. These results from the basic scientific research have, unexpectedly, solved many central questions in cancer biology and AIDS. Many stories presented in the book thus challenge the currently prevailing wisdom of "disease-directed" scientific research. If you want to know how science operates in reality, this is THE book.

A true scientist turns spell-binding author as he unfolds the fascinating mystery of cancer and the blow by blow drama of the pursuit of its secrets. This is a page turner as much any novel you can find. Why? Because truth is stranger than fiction and a lot more relevant--if half of American males will have cancer before they die, and if 1,500 people are already dying every day in America from this mysterious enemy. If you are concerned about cancer, or you think one of your friends or children could do battle in this area, then this is the book for you and for them.