Lawrence Ingrassia's A Fatal Inheritance mixes memoir and the history of cancer research for an engaging and heartbreaking tale. Ingrassia recounts the story of multiple families with generations of cancer ravaging large numbers of family members, often hitting quick young in life. And even if one survives one bout of cancer, it is often the case that they be hit with another (and potentially another) form of cancer. It is brutal to read about what these families have gone through. Because it's not something like breast cancer that scientists suspected may have a genetic link, this was potentially just seen as bad luck. Over time, Ingrassia lays out to the long search scientists went through and the final race to the finish line to identify a genetic mutation that causes this recurrent cancer. If someone has the gene, their children have a 50/50 chance of getting it. Ingrassia heartbreaking recounts being the lone child in his family not to have the gene. This is a deeply moving book on the personal front, and the medical mystery was fascinating. He also provides some complex ethical questions about the condition (should people test for it? should it be edited out of the gene?). This was great!

The format of this book reminds of While You Were Out, also written by a journalist (Meg Kissinger), which melded her family history of mental illness and reporting on how it has been treated and viewed by society.

I really enjoy a book that I can both learn something new wrapped up in the package of a memoir. Because I also work in the medical research field, this book was complete catnip to me.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

Very interesting read. The author did a good job of thoroughly describing the scientific history of the area of cancer genetics and how it related to his own family’s experience. The dense science focused chapters were followed by a chapter or two focusing on the author’s family history which helped reinforce the topic’s relevance. I already had an interest in genetics due to my own medical history, but this was fascinating. It also highlighted how complex the human genome is and how long discoveries can take. The author also explored some of the ethical implications and dilemmas from said discoveries (and technologies) which some may not have initially thought about. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning more about genetics and the role they play in disease development, medical research, etc.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I love a medical mystery especially when it’s true. This just had way to many people to keep track of and I needed a family tree for each family. It was engaging and it hooked me from the start but I just couldn’t keep up with all the people.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Fatal Inheritance is a deep dive into the hereditary development of cancers. The author was inspired by his own family to research the topic for this book. The evolution of scientific theories regarding the cause of cancer is covered, as well as the treatments that have been developed as a result of this information. I was fascinated by this book! The author does a great job of sharing the material without making it dry or boring. I also liked how he shared the stories of his family members throughout the book, reminding the reader that while this book is about science, it is also very personal and sad. This was a very interesting, well-written book.

A Fatal Inheritance is a poignant exploration of familial cancer tragedies, weaving together personal loss with groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Through meticulous research and inspiring storytelling, the author navigates the complexities of genetic inheritance, urging readers to embrace hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Author Lawtence Ingrassia tells not only his family's story of losing his mother and all three of his siblings to cancer but of the dedicated research Dr. Fraumeni and Dr. Li had done for decades to track the genetic connection in families and using gene therapy for treatment. For anyone who has had cancer in their family or is interested in gene therapy treatments, this will be a book you will want to read.

For me, having had cancer, but not a family connection, this book was interesting to me, although sometimes tedious reading. But I am forever grateful for cancer researchers, oncologists and those like this author who can tell their heartbreaking story as a way to enlighten others.

For those with cancer: do your homework, fight with all the weapons we have in today's arsenal against cancer, and never give up hope!

My thanks to Net Galley, Henry Holt & Co, and Macmillian Audio for advanced copies of the e-book and the audiobook.

A Fatal Inheritance is a really powerful combination of the scientific advancement of genetically inherited cancer risk and reflection of the personal impact it has had on the author’s family. More narrow in focus than The Emperor of All Maladies, this book focuses specifically on Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and mutations on the P53 gene that are genetically inherited and result in dramatically higher rates of cancer and at younger ages for many people that inherit it. The book charts the history from when Li and Fraumeni first suspected that cancer risk could be genetically inherited, through the advancement of knowledge, preventative testing and treatment, to the latest advancements that may someday help eliminate or manage the P53 gene. The book is both helpful and devastating. As someone who lost her mother at a relatively young age there were moments in this book where I wanted to cry and throw up all at the same time. For the loss of my mother, and for my fears for myself, despite no indication of genetic risk in my family. If you have personally been impacted by the loss of a loved one this could be a really difficult read for you. If you have a history of cancer in your family it might be enlightening and scary. No matter what, it’s really well done and written so that a reader that is not versed in medical language understands the science and story Ingrassia shares.

A heartbreaking book. Lots if medical jargon but very well written and accessible to the non science reader.
Ingrassia artfully tells his family's and others tragic stories about Li–Fraumeni syndrome, a terrible hereditary cancer syndrome.
He writes about the discovery and research done on Li–Fraumeni and other cancer syndromes, along with hopeful future therapies.
He speaks about losing almost his entire immediate family to cancer at young ages. A devastating book.

Although I would not use this book for teaching, I think it would work well in a medical humanities or narrative medicine course. It's very gripping and full of tragedy but also resilience. The writing is graceful and powerful.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this advanced reader’s copy. Although they can sometimes be heartbreaking, I love reading memoirs on the history of scientific research and breakthroughs. The memoir aspect in telling about the science gives the reader real feeling and connection to the subject. I especially related to this book as a nurse who spent a couple years caring for cancer patients and giving chemotherapy. It was fascinating (and also heartbreaking) to hear about the discovery of the p53 gene mutation and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and how this affects a person’s hereditary risk for developing early onset cancer. Genetic testing is amazing to be able find out your risk based your family history or remove it all together if you choose. And now there are some immunotherapy treatments for certain mutations as well, which I have given. We have come so far and are continuing to make strides. I greatly enjoyed reading this author’s story about his family and I’m glad he doesn’t have the mutated gene, but I’m sorry for all the loss he has endured. Thank you so much for sharing your family’s story with us.

One part of this book is academic. The other part reveals heart-breaking stories of those that have succumbed to cancer.

Lawrence Ingrassia educates readers with remarkable progress that has been made over the years with genetic cancer research. Between chapters of the scientific reports, he inserts his personal story of what happened to his family. Sadly, he lost his mother at a young age, and later his two adult sisters and brother along with his nephew – all to different types of cancer.

Ingrassia knows more about cancer than most people. He writes about how his family and others have been studied. He said epidemiologists have faced intense competition for funding from the National Cancer Institute driving them to want to be first to make advancements.

This book is well written and informative. It’s also very sad and complicated with some of the reports. It opens up a lot of unanswered questions related to those affected by this devastating disease. This book will appeal to those interested in hereditary factors of cancer, those interested in genetic research and others who are curious.

My thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 14, 2024.

Highly recommended. Ingrassia has produced an easy-to-read history of cancer as an hereditary illness. Bravo!!

Books that reveal medical research and information through families are interesting, informative, and heartbreaking at the same time. A Fatal Inheritance is no exception. We learn about the research of Dr. Frederick Pei Li and Dr. Joseph Fraumeni, beginning in the 1960s when cancer was considered to be caused by very bad luck but very little was known about real causes. Through their research, the doctors discovered Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an alteration in the TP53 gene. This gene provides instructions to make tumor protein 53, which when properly functioning acts to suppress tumors. The author, Lawrence Ingrassia experienced things in a much more personal way. Cancer killed his mother, brother, and sisters, in terrible and tragic ways. Many of the family members had multiple types of cancer, with some of them beginning at very young ages. After genetic testing, the author was found to be one of the few members of his family that did not have the abnormal gene. When Ingrassia's brother Paul (also a fellow journalist) died after having lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, Lawrence felt compelled to tell their family's painful story in parallel with that of Drs. Li and Fraumeni.

This is a difficult book to read, mainly because of the incredibly painful family history of the Ingrassia family. But it may also be the best way to learn about genes and cancer so we can always remember that there are real people behind genetic research.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. A Fatal Inheritance will be published on May 14, 2024.

Larry Ingrassia and his family are part of a medical phenomenon where they are prone to cancers and malignancies from a very young age. Mysteriously, there seems to be no answer as to why this is so. As the years go by, Ingrassia discovers that a genetic glitch is responsible for generations of various cancers. In this book, he approaches the issue from two viewpoints: the scientific and medical research to find and fix the genetic problem, and the personal toll taken on families for generations. The true strength of this book is Ingrassia's account of having a mother, three siblings and a nephew who all eventually suffer tmerminal cancers- science is unable to find a cure for them.

"A Fatal Inheritance: How a Family Misfortune Revealed a Deadly Medical Mystery" by Lawrence Ingrassia is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of a family's medical mystery, intertwining personal narratives with the broader implications of genetic research. The book stands out for its meticulous research, the author's empathetic storytelling, and the ethical questions raised by the intersection of medicine and personal privacy.

One commendable aspect of the book is Lawrence Ingrassia's dedication to unraveling the medical mystery that affected generations of a single family. The author's thorough research and investigative journalism bring to light the complexities of genetic disorders and the challenges faced by individuals grappling with the unknown. The narrative skillfully weaves together personal stories with scientific discoveries, creating a compelling and informative account.

Ingrassia's writing style is engaging and accessible, allowing readers to connect with the individuals at the center of the medical mystery. The author navigates the delicate balance between scientific explanations and the emotional impact on the family, ensuring that the narrative remains relatable and compelling. The inclusion of ethical considerations adds depth to the exploration, prompting readers to contemplate the implications of genetic research on personal privacy and medical advancements.

However, some readers may find the scientific details and medical terminology challenging to follow, especially if they lack a background in genetics or medicine. While the author strives to make the information accessible, individuals seeking a more straightforward narrative may find certain sections of the book demanding.

In conclusion, "A Fatal Inheritance" is a thought-provoking and meticulously researched exploration of a family's medical journey. Lawrence Ingrassia's empathetic storytelling and ethical considerations elevate the book beyond a mere medical mystery, creating a narrative that resonates with broader implications for genetic research and personal privacy. While the scientific details may be intricate, the overall impact of the book lies in its ability to blend human stories with the complexities of modern medicine.

This was a hard book to read as the struggles of the family book was depressing but a good read.

Some places were slow but is a definite read.

Thanks NetGalkey for letting me read and review

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co .Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

This memoir masterfully excavates the roots of cancer, marrying personal narrative with scientific sleuthing. Through its compassionate lens, we witness the unraveling of the enigma that has haunted families for generations. I found myself nodding in solidarity, tears springing forth as the author illuminated the dark corners of this merciless disease. Part detective story, part scientific odyssey, this book is a beacon of hope for those navigating the cancer labyrinth. Emotionally charged and intellectually stimulating, it's a must-read for anyone seeking understanding and resilience in the face of adversity.

This is not only memoir but an extensively and deeply researched and compassionate journey into the history of cancer research. More specifically this memoir explains how scientists came to identify what causes this rare and horrible quirk in some families' histories, and what that research means for individuals, and families, affected by cancer. As one such family, I found it hit home in the most poignant parts, while at the same time giving me those 'ah ha' moments.

This is a must read for anyone affected by this terrible disease and, at times reads more like a medical thriller than a memoir. It is an emotional read but that is in keeping given the subject matter.

While I really enjoyed reading the book, this was not an easy book to read. To read about how, one by one, his siblings and some of their children died from various forms of cancer was very difficult. But as difficult as this book was to read, the author kept me engaged and wanting to read more. And I did, spending many hours past my bedtime reading about the saga of the discovery of Li–Fraumeni Syndrome.

Author Lawrence Ingrassia is a professional journalist and editor who worked for many prominent news organizations, specifically reporting on business. However, with three of his siblings having suffered from cancer with some of their children also dying from cancer, he wanted to know more about the disease that hunted his family.

The book starts off with author Ingrassia profiling his own family’s dreadful losses segueing into the work of Dr. Frederick P. Li and Dr. Joseph F. Fraumani Jr. who collected records from various sources to analyze the data to see if they could detect a pattern for the clusters of cancers they were seeing in families.

Finally, they were able to announce their results in their landmark paper titled “Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children: Epidemiologic Study and Identification of a Familial Cancer Syndrome,” published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. If you search for the article on your favorite search site, you’ll be able to find a copy to read. Their results definitively showed that there was a likely a genetic component to the clusters of cancers they witnessed in families.

While there is no cure for Li–Fraumani Syndrome, there are now ways to test to see if a person is carrying the gene that causes the syndrome, allowing both the patient and medical professionals to keep a constant vigilance.

As I mentioned, this is not an easy book to read but it is a totally fascinating one. Readers will get a solid understanding of how research is conducted, and the consequences of discovery, as not everyone potential carrier wants to know if they carry the gene. The book also has an extensive notes section that are well worth perusing.

This book would be of interest to anyone who is drawn to scientific discovery or the detection and management of cancer.

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion which I have given here.]

While I did not finish this book as I found it repetitive and ponderous, the subject, finding a unique mutation on a cancer-protecting gene that transforms it to a cancer-facilitating gene, especially as it runs in families, is very interesting. I thought, however, that the book would have been easier to read and more compelling if it were half its length.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.