Allergic

Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World

By: Theresa MacPhail

Narrated by: Jaime Lamchick

An “important and deeply researched” (The Wall Street Journal) exploration of allergies, from their first medical description in 1819 to the cutting-edge science that is illuminating the changes in our environment and lifestyles that are making so many of us sick

Hay fever. Peanut allergies. Eczema. Either you have an allergy or you know someone who does. Billions of people worldwide—an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the global population—have some form of allergy. Even more concerning, over the last decade the number of people diagnosed with an allergy has been steadily increasing, placing an ever-growing medical burden on individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems.

Medical anthropologist Theresa MacPhail, herself an allergy sufferer whose father died of a beesting, set out to understand why. In pursuit of answers, MacPhail studied the dangerous experiments of early immunologists as well as the mind-bending recent development of biologics and immunotherapies that are giving the most severely impacted patients hope. She scaled a roof with an air-quality controller who diligently counts pollen by hand for hours every day; met a mother who struggled to use WIC benefits for her daughter with severe food allergies; spoke with doctors at some of the finest allergy clinics in the world; and discussed the intersecting problems of climate change, pollution, and pollen with biologists who study seasonal respiratory allergies.

This is the story of allergies: what they are, why we have them, and what that might mean about the fate of humanity in a rapidly changing world.

©2023 Theresa MacPhail (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“An important and deeply researched book by Theresa MacPhail, a medical anthropologist who memorably portrays the human face of disease . . . In Ms. MacPhail’s analysis, allergy is not only the evil twin of immunity, but also the unexpected dark side of material progress, which has made us unhealthy in ways that we struggle in vain to cure. The author doesn’t have an easy fix for the allergy crisis, but her compassionate insights into the problem make for engrossing reading.”—The Wall Street Journal

“A fascinating account that most of us (sniffle sniffle) will find of compelling interest—and also a powerful reminder that what we do to the world around us eventually affects the world inside us.”—Bill McKibben, author, educator, and founder of Third Act

“A holistic study of how allergies continue to bewilder medical science . . . While the culprits responsible for the increases in allergic sufferers are debatable moving targets, MacPhail skillfully narrows down the possibilities and some of the solutions. . . . [Her] examination of the science of immunology from a social and cultural perspective will give readers plenty of relevant, thought-provoking information. An exhaustive and accessible report.”—Kirkus Reviews

great book! science, experts and stories well told

science, experts and stories well told. if you have allergies or know anyone who does you'll love it

Great insight. Very sincere!

MacPhail clear had done a TON of research. And impressively she synthesized into a good story, but is honest that we don’t have all the answers yet. Still vey insightful on allergy causes.

She does a great job of narration too. It is quite captivating

Allergy families: READ THIS BOOK

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to look into the how, why, when, what, etc. of all things allergy. Loved it.