Overview

Previously published as Self Defence: A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health Discover the truth about our immune system and learn how to stay healthy – from the world-leading scientist our health experts turn to. ‘Astounding. Will change how you think about your body and live your life’ – CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN, author of Ultra-Processed People ‘Incredibly impressive … Brilliant’ – LIZ EARLE, author of How to Age ‘A great book from a world expert’ – TIM SPECTOR, author of Food for Life Is it true that orange juice wards off colds? Are mental health and inflammation really connected How do we distinguish bogus claims from useful advice – and what can we actually do to support our immune system and stay healthy? Globally renowned immunologist Daniel M. Davis cuts through the noise to reveal the truth about our immune system – from the effects of diet, exercise and the microbiome to stress, sleep and old age. In an era of misinformation and marketing slogans, this ground-breaking guide equips us all with the key insights we urgently need to make wiser decisions for our health. ** A DAILY MAIL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 ** ‘The best book on immune health I have ever read’ – ALICE ROBERTS 'Utterly absorbing' – BILL BRYSON 'Beautifully written' – BRIAN COX 'Read this book' – SARAH GILBERT 'Fascinating and empowering' – RHIANNON LAMBERT 'Essential reading' – RUSSELL FOSTER 'The perfect antidote to those assumed truths about immune health' – SUZANNE O'SULLIVAN

Full Product Details

9781529967739

Table of Contents

Reviews

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 -- TIM SPECTOR, author of Food For Life and co-founder of ZOE 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

Author Information

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.

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