Making Sense of Cancer: From Its Evolutionary Origin to Its Societal Impact and the Ultimate Solution

Recommended to King Charles III by the British Medical Journal

“Breivik has written a book that reminded me of the writings of the physicist Carlo Rovelli: the book tackles complex scientific questions in a lyrical, highly readable and enjoyable way, bringing in philosophy, broad learning, and different visions of the future.”
—Dr. RICHARD SMITH, former editor of The British Medical Journal

“This book grabbed me like a thriller! As a cancer patient, I have asked many questions. My father had bladder cancer, and my brother died of leukemia. This book helped me understand and accept.”
— Elin Schive, CANCER SURVIVOR


Embark on a captivating journey that will fundamentally change how you see cancer—and perhaps life itself. Cancer is more than a disease. It is an integral part of who we are—complex biological and cultural beings with a limited life span. You will be surprised, challenged, and even amused by this eloquent synthesis of knowledge. Firmly rooted in science and the principles of evolution, this book is a must-read if you aim to understand cancer.

Jarle Breivik (MD, PhD, EdD) is a professor of medicine at the University of Oslo and a former Fulbright Scholar with a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He is internationally recognized for his research on the evolutionary dynamics of cancer. His thought-provoking analyses, presented in The New York Times, Scientific American, PNAS, EMBO Reports, and Wired Magazine, have stimulated a profound debate about cancer, research, and biotechnology. In this book, Dr. Breivik brings it all together in a captivating story about humanity.