Why We Get Sick by Randolph Nesse and George Williams Summary
Overview of Why We Get Sick
Why do we get sick? Nesse and Williams revolutionized medicine by applying Darwin's principles to illness, revealing that many symptoms are actually evolutionary adaptations. This groundbreaking text challenges conventional wisdom - fever, morning sickness, and anxiety aren't malfunctions but ancient protective mechanisms still shaping human health today.
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Key takeaways
The Paradox of Our Bodies: Brilliance and Vulnerability
Have you ever wondered why, despite millions of years of evolution, our bodies still break down? Why we suffer from cancer, allergies, and infections despite being marvels of biological engineering? The answer lies in viewing disease through an evolutionary lens. Rather than seeing illnesses as simple mechanical failures, they're often consequences of our evolutionary history-compromises, trade-offs, and adaptations that once benefited our ancestors but may harm us in modern environments. This perspective, pioneered by Randolph Nesse and George Williams, has transformed medicine's understanding of why we get sick. Our bodies simultaneously showcase engineering brilliance and apparent design flaws. Our bones are stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum. Our kidneys filter blood with remarkable precision. Yet we have airways that cross food passages creating choking hazards, widespread nearsightedness, and arteries prone to cholesterol buildup. Understanding this paradox requires distinguishing between proximate causes (how the body works) and evolutionary causes (why natural selection hasn't eliminated harmful traits). Both explanations are necessary for a complete picture of disease.
When Symptoms Are Actually Defenses
The Arms Race We Can't Win
Stone Agers in the Fast Lane
The Genetic Paradox: Why Disease Genes Persist
The Inevitable Trade-off: Why We Age
Embracing Our Evolutionary Legacy
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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