Attention to the importance of blood health is the focus of Blood Works: An Owner’s Guide: What Every Person Needs to Know Before They are a Patient by Dr. Shannon Farmer, Dr. Irwin Gross, and Dr. Aryeh Shander. The body’s production of blood, its contents, and functions form the basis of this resource. The authors show how far we have come in understanding the importance of blood health, the accountability of medical practitioners when immediate information is available to patients, and patient choices. It contains sections painted in eye-catching colors, mixing graphs, resources, patient stories, photos, and other blood-related material.

Blood Works by Dr. Shannon Farmer, Dr. Irwin Gross, and Dr. Aryeh Shander is more than an overview of the fluid that feeds every part of our body. It is an all-inclusive resource that provides depth and detail in a way I’ve not seen before. The immune modulation effect of transfusion is a revelation to readers who have undergone this process, including those who have been through cancer treatments requiring additional transfusions to manage anemia. I wish Blood Works had been a part of my journey, but I am happy it is available for others on theirs. There is much to learn here, and the authors provide a benchmark for managing our health and options.