THE LAWS OF MEDICINE Field Notes from an Uncertain Science

In this elaboration of a TED Talk, Mukherjee (THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES) explains that physicians are asked to "make perfect decisions with imperfect information" because medicine is still a young science. Mukherjee reads his introduction, and then Santino Fontana takes over in a resonant, clear voice. His timing is perfect, and he expresses all the gravitas, fascination, and occasional disbelief found in this work. Mukherjee explains why a physician needs acute intuition, knowledge of human foibles, and a deep understanding of statistics. We learn why a battery of tests is not useful without understanding the individual patient, how a single anecdotal outlier in research can lead to further knowledge, and why human bias cannot be eliminated but must be acknowledged. Mukherjee's book is a precise and empathetic gem, and Fontana narrates it perfectly. A.B. [Published: JANUARY 2016]