Memories: failures and dreams

Alain de Weck, M. D. born 1928, traces in this autobiographic description half a century in the development of allergology and immunology as a new medical discipline. After medical studies in Switzerland and France, he has pursued medical and biological research in the United States and a career as professor of immunology at the Universities of Bern (Switzerland) and Navarra (Spain). He has also been for a long time executive and President of various international professional associations and consulting expert within the frame of the World Health Organisation. His activities have been recognized by numerous awards and distinctions. This autobiographical book represents not only a full life story but also a number of reflections of general interest on the psychology of medical research („the zoo of science“), the evolution of medicine in the second half of the 20th century as well as considerations about the numerous personalities and countries of the world with which the author has been intimately associated. This book aims at a contribution to the history of allergy and immunology research.