Self Defence

Dan Davis is a world class scientist and one of the best science communicators of his generation. From the role of tobacco scientists in promoting stress to why astronauts take antihistamines, Self Defence will answer every question you have about your immune system and many more. It is deeply absorbing, wise and beautifully written. Packed with astounding science, compelling stories and ideas, it will change the way you think about your body and live your life

CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN, author of Ultra-Processed People

Utterly absorbing. Nearly every paragraph brings a revelation

BILL BRYSON, author of The Body

Expertly cutting through all the myths, marketing hype and simple slogans, this is the best book on immune health I have ever read

ALICE ROBERTS, author of Crypt

A beautifully written overview of our immune system. But perhaps even more importantly, this book is an instruction manual which guides the reader through the blizzard of popular science and pseudoscience that obscures discussions about our health

BRIAN COX, world-renowned physicist

Professor Davis unravels one of the most complex and vital elements of human biology: our immune system. Disentangling the science of immunity and addressing the key questions we all want answered, this book is a masterclass in science communication and essential reading for anybody who wants to understand their health

RUSSELL FOSTER, author of Life Time

A fascinating guide to the immune system, cutting through the myths with clear, evidence-based science. Daniel M. Davis empowers readers to make informed choices about their health in a world of so much misinformation

RHIANNON LAMBERT, author of The Science of Nutrition and co-host of The Wellbeing Scoop

Admirably clear, readable and reliable. Davis writes with infectious enthusiasm about the beauty and complexity of human immunity

GAVIN FRANCIS, author of Recovery

An engaging and thorough look at the factors affecting our immune health. If you’ve ever been tempted to take steps to ‘boost your immunity’, read this first!

SARAH GILBERT, author of Vaxxers

The ultimate self-help book - genuinely one of the most worthwhile books I've ever read. Davis is a captivating and authoritative guide, addressing many seemingly simple questions about our immune health, from vitamins to vaccines, from stress to the microbiome. We learn how to learn about the only thing in the universe that’s arguably more complex than the human brain

NICK LANE, author of Transformer