Richtel brilliantly blurs the lines between biology primer, medical historical text and the traditional first-person patient story. ... Richtel harnesses his reporter’s eye for the human condition.” — Washington Post

“Exhaustively researched. ... Richtel brings a novelist’s knack for unspooling narrative conflict to bear on Shaw’s real-life drama.” — San Francisco Chronicle (A Best Book of the Year)

“A hard-to-put-down account of the body’s first line of defense.” — Publishers Weekly

“A thorough, richly entertaining and just-wonky-enough beginner’s class in immunology through the case studies of four patients.” — Wall Street Journal

“Keen and elegantly raw. ... Not just a morality tale but a probe sent into the world of technology. ... Richtel draws all the characters with a fine brush, a delicacy that treats misery both respectfully and front-on.” — Christian Science Monitor (One of the 10 Best Nonfiction Books of the Year)

“Argues that creativity ‘is as natural as reproduction itself’ while exploring its evolutionary origins, examining its science and providing insight from notable creative types.” — New York Times Book Review

"The Pulitzer-winning author unpacks the myths and mysteries of the creative process, and shows the research that proves why it's not just the 'Big C' geniuses who can tap into it." — Salon

“Engaging and lively. … Crisp, conversational and at times darned funny. … What distinguishes Inspired is its expansive range and conversational tone, as well as Richtel’s ability to synthesize a lot of complex research, simplifying without oversimplifying.” — Washington Post

“Inspired makes the convincing case that true creativity spans industries, movements, and endeavors.” — Scientific American