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Decoding Academia: Immunity Review (Patreon)

Published:
2024-04-16 12:50:29
Imported:
2026-06
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We often have a lot of criticisms regarding the gurus, and sometimes people ask us for recommendations for alternative 'good' sources so on this episode of Decoding Academia we provide one suggestion. Specifically, we take a deep take into 'Immune' by Philip Detmer, the co-founder of Kurzgesagt. We discuss the complex but accessible account it offers of the science of immunology. We consider the change of perspective the book offers, the joys, insane complexity, and horrors of evolution, the importance of vaccines, and some potential parallels with broader decodings.

Links

Immune by Philip Dettmer

Kurzgesagt: How The Immune System ACTUALLY Works – IMMUNE

Kurzgesagt: You Are Immune Against Every Disease

Files

Comments

Matt Dear

I turned to my gf over the weekend and said "The moment of certainty is that which you have given in to delusion". This wasn't me being toxic, I was just joshing. But, there is something to it I think. Things are always more complicated than they first appear, doubly so if it's not your area of expertise. I'm not saying truth doesn't exist, just that it's very hard to nail down. So, if someone is purporting truth, it's best to check their credentials.

Adam Sher

I support the interspersion of positive reviews. Please continue to sprinkle these into the stew of dispair. This was very enjoyable to listen to and I ordered the book as a result of this review. Almost as inspiring as Very Bad Wizards.

Max

Gotta admit I was a little disappointed realizing I'd already heard this. (Via youtube a few weeks ago?) More content! Faster! Just kidding thanks for all your quality material. Definitely buying this book.

Kit McLean

Question for those who have read this: is it best to get the actual book? I'm a 90% audio-booker, with the 10% rest being kindle. But if a big part of this is the illustrations I'll consider the paper option!

Chomagerider

Haven't finished the episode yet, but I think I've heard enough to say that it's fantastic. Will probably buy the book. If only to support an amazing German content creator (bit of a rare thing). But, I gotta say. These metaphors... Can't wait for someone like a Jordan Peterson - or worse yet Joe Rogan or dare I say Bret W - hijacking them to make their points against immigration etc... They just scream "open borders are terrible" :D

Robert Andrews

Great book and podcast. In a similar (?) vein, I managed to actually enjoy an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast (instead of hate-listening to it in preparation for a DtG episode - :D ), featuring real archeologist, Flint Dibble in a debate with Graham Hancock. Hancock got pretty testy at times as Dibble stormed both his motte and his bailey, as GH repeatedly tried to retreat from claiming knowledge that there was a globe-straddling technology dispensing ancient civilization to how-do-we-know-there-wasn't-have-we-actually-looked-on-every-square-inch-of-the-earth? The end of the podcast was also great in a different way as Dibble ended by pointing out all the ways that archeology is not just underfunded but progressively defunded, with important departments in both ancient history, languages, anthropology and social sciences being shut down to save money. I'm sure that Chris would have more than enough of an appetite for this debate, but I would also recommend it to Matt (and all other DtG listeners) because Dibble doesn't just debunk but has a lot of really interesting knowledge of his own that he gives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DL1_EMIw6w

Chandra Collins

Loved hearing about this book and the analogies. Seems like an intriguing read. I think you guys should also check out another author, Sam Kean. He has a podcast, too. His stories combine science, history, and social and personality components.

Jeff Faulkner

Thank you for the extensive heads up on Immunity + the enthusiasm and good vibes. Felt great. I ordered the wire-bound version.

Butler of Dogs

Loved the episode. But it is the thymus that involutes by adolescence. Not the thyroid!

Gray

This book was a great recommendation - just finished it. I’m a doctor and have a friend who has gone to the opposite end of the spectrum from Rogan, Weinstein and the antivaxxers, and is, for want of a better term, a COVID dooms dayer. I’ve struggled to articulate my confidence that, while not underplaying the massive and terrible impact of COVID and long-COVID, my confidence that from a population perspective we’ll ultimately get through it. I think this book expresses why brilliantly. I’d be interested in a discussion about the hyper-COVID folks. I haven’t found any gurus pushing this end but X definitely has an echo chamber of folk who have incorporated it into a really destructive narrative, with loss of trust and faith in science, society and governments. Typically these people tend left in the way antivaxxers and lab leakers tend right. It’s weird to me how similar the arguments are. I know it’s not a new idea how the extremes circle back and almost meet, but it’s strikes me as a good example of the snake eating its own tail.

Will

Wow, that segment of Dr K was something else. Really shows that just because you're into your yoga and your silent meditation retreats and do all of these things to 'rid yourself of ego' - if you're a narcissist, you're a narcissist. Loving the new format gents!

Kgar

Really enjoyed this

Sarah S

Great. Next, Texas will start prosecuting women for killing sperm.

Password1234!

Just started listening to Immunity thanks to this, and it is excellent! The way the body is described as a planet throws me back to being a child watching The Magic School Bus... Well, that or the scene from Southpark where the gerbil is up Mr Garrison's ass

Derek Yap

I loved this book! The Kurzgesagt YouTube channel also has great videos to explain some of the content. My wife does research in immunology and when I asked her to verify things about the book she’d say it’s accurate, but just scratches the surface. Which is perfect in my opinion.

Joanna Mulvaney

Every so often i write a review article for the online research news mag I edit where i take a biomedical point of interest that’s been in the news a lot and break it down for lay readers. They are factual and rely on literature reviews and interviews with researchers when i can get them on the phone email. The mist recent ones have been in trans surgery panic, why measles is bad and what the deal is with IgG4- inspired by Brett’s bonkers takes. i am always looking for suggestions. the point of the mag is to make info in biomedical research papers etc accessible and useful. If this is something people here would be interested in contributing to or learning more about, please get in touch. we are currently run by a non profit.