Structure

On Immunity by Eula Biss is a memoir the main focus of which is her quest to learn everything she could about childhood inoculations after giving birth to her first child, a son. Her story flashes briefly back to her childhood when her oncologist father taught her about good and bad germs and using the story of Achilles to introduce her to the concept of immunity. In her later efforts to have resolution about childhood inoculations and the benefits and risks they present, she was greatly influenced by both her parents. Her father was always available to respond to her questions when she ran up against brick walls in her research. Her mother, a poet, also inspired her to be open to all opinions and to not have preconceived notions.

The story of Eula and her quest to learn the truth about infectious disease and manmade vaccines...