The Cancer Chronicles

Parts of this book read like very good science writing and I learned a lot about cancer that I probably never would have chanced to research otherwise.

I was annoyed by Johnson's constant “Look at me, I'm a cancer research outsider!” reminders. Nobody would show up at any scientific research conference in any field and expect it to be accessible to a lay audience.

The epilogue was abrupt and Johnson's subsequent divorce made me mistrust a lot of the narrative that was used to shape the book. I don't know, using your ex-wife's experience of cancer to shape your nonfiction investigation (memoir?) just seems kind of scuzzy.