Self Defence

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
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 *
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
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
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 *
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