Sandra Steingraber confronts the profound personal and scientific implications of her cancer diagnosis. Steingraber, a biologist, details her experience with cancer, exploring the environmental factors that may have contributed to her illness. The book weaves together her personal narrative with scientific research, challenging conventional understandings of disease and its causes. It is framed as a deeply personal investigation into the relationship between human health and the environment.

Having Faith is recognized for its powerful fusion of memoir and scientific inquiry, offering a deeply personal yet broadly relevant perspective on environmental health. Steingraber's background as a biologist lends significant authority to her examination of cancer's potential environmental triggers. The book is noted for its unflinching honesty and its ability to connect individual experience with larger societal and ecological issues. It serves as a compelling argument for greater awareness and action regarding environmental factors affecting human well-being.