The Family That Couldn't Sleep

In The Family That Couldn't Sleep, D. T. Max explores the chilling world of prion diseases, which have plagued humanity for centuries, including fatal familial insomnia and kuru. The narrative weaves together historical insights and firsthand accounts, tracing the origins and implications of these fatal neurological disorders linked to prions—misfolded proteins that defy traditional definitions of life and disease. Highlighting key figures in prion research, such as Nobel Prize winners Daniel Carleton Gajdusek and Stanley Prusiner, Max delves into humanity’s complex relationship with greed, ambition, and survival. Through meticulous research, he uncovers the alarming spread of these conditions, making the book both a cautionary tale and a fascinating scientific journey.