Self Defence: A Myth–busting Guide to Immune Health

We are surrounded by bold claims and quick fixes for ‘boosting’ our immune health. In this expert guide, leading immunologist Daniel M. Davis sorts the fact from the fiction.

• 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?

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?

World-renowned immunologist Daniel M. Davis examines the effects of stress, diet, age, exercise, the microbiome and more on the immune system, punctures the key myths, and equips us to make informed choices for ourselves.

Review

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

About the Author

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.