Self Defence

A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health

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Is it true that orange juice can help ward off colds? How does age affect our immune system? Is mental health really connected to inflammation?

We are surrounded by bold claims and quick fixes for ‘boosting’ our immune health. But one thing the science is clear on is that everyone’s immune system is completely unique – what is good for one person may not work well for another. So how do we separate the bogus claims from the useful advice? And given its sheer complexity, is there anything we can do to improve our immune system?

In this expert guide, world-leading immunologist Daniel M. Davis examines the effects of stress, diet, age, exercise, the microbiome and more on the immune system, punctures the key myths, sorts the fact from the fiction and equips us to make informed choices for ourselves.

As renowned immunologist Davis argues, the immune system is extremely complicated and widely misunderstood … [Self Defence] offers an illuminating picture of a fascinating area of science
Daily Mail, Best Health Books of 2025

Self Defence ... bridge[s] the gap between the scientific research of [Davis'] day job and what people want to know about immunity .. The immune system can be hard to unravel ... Daniel M. Davis follows the twists and turns of the evidence and offers nuanced responses to immune health questions ... Above all, his friendly tone and clear writing give the reader a much deeper appreciation of the complexity of the human body
Times Literary Supplement

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

About Daniel M Davis

Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as ‘an inspiration’ by Tim Spector, ‘beautifully rendered’ by Brian Cox and ‘masterful’ by Alice Roberts. Davis has published over 150 research papers and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.

Details

Imprint: Bodley Head
Published: 05/06/2025
ISBN: 9781847927569
Length: 304 pages
Dimensions: 241mm x 28mm x 162mm
Weight: 504g
Price: £22.00

All editions

Self Defence

A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health

Format:

Buy the book from:

As renowned immunologist Davis argues, the immune system is extremely complicated and widely misunderstood … [Self Defence] offers an illuminating picture of a fascinating area of science

Top immunologist Daniel M. Davis separates fact from fiction in this insightful guide

Treads familiar questions with exceptional sharpness … The book succeeds in inoculating the reader against easy health answers, headlines, and platitudes

Eradicate[s] long-held myths and replace[s] them with wonder at the complexity of the body’s defence system

The immune system holds the key to modern diseases and this great book from a world expert offers practical tips and dispels many myths on how best to enhance it

Utterly absorbing. Nearly every paragraph brings a revelation

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

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

About Daniel M Davis

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