The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

This is by far the most comprehensive book on the history of medicine I've encountered. I was genuinely surprised to discover how inseparably oncology is woven into medical history—from the incurable breast tumor described in ancient Egypt to sarcomas found in immunosuppressed patients in the 1980s.

Siddhartha Mukherjee masterfully blends personal stories of his patients, ranging from rare but treatable Hodgkin lymphomas to the devastatingly common pancreatic cancer, making the book both touching and insightful.

It's a profound work, accessible to general readers while offering invaluable historical context for doctors—who may be familiar with treatments but not the rich history behind ‘The Emperor of All Maladies'.

PS: If I were the author, I'd have focused more on biology than history. Just a different perspective—but still, the book is a masterpiece.