A leading figure in immunology takes readers inside the remarkably powerful human immune system.Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title of the Choice ACRLThe immune system has incredible power to protect us from the ravages of infection. Boosted by vaccines it can protect us from diseases such as measles. However the power of the immune system is a doubleedged sword an overactive immune system can wreak havoc destroying normal tissue and causing diseases such as type I diabetes rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The consequences of an impaired immune system on the other hand are all too evident in the agonies of AIDS.Packed with illustrations stories from Dr. William E. Pauls distinguished career and fascinating accounts of scientific discovery Immunity presents the three laws of the human immune systemuniversality tolerance and appropriatenessand explains how the system both protects and harms us. From the tale of how smallpox was overcome and the lessons of the Ebola epidemic to the hope that the immune system can be used to treat or prevent cancer Dr. Paul argues that we must take advantage of cuttingedge technologies and promising new tools in immunological research.