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 ZOEDan 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 PeopleUtterly absorbing. Nearly every paragraph brings a revelation – BILL BRYSON, author of The BodyExpertly 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 CryptA 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 physicistAs 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 ScoopAn 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 VaxxersSelf 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

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.