Pathogenesis: How germs made history

In Pathogenesis, Dr. Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs have shaped humanity at every stage, from the first success of Homo sapiens over the Neanderthals to the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam. He explores the startling intimacy of our relationship with infectious diseases, showing how they have been responsible for some of the seismic revolutions of the past 50,000 years. The book challenges some of the greatest cliches about colonialism and reveals how the crisis of a pandemic can offer vital opportunities for change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 13 April 2023
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

A TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR

A SUNDAY TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR

Powerfully argued, fascinating and pacy

Sunday Times, Book of the Week

Superbly written, sure to please readers of Yuval Noah Harari or Rutger Bregman

The Times

Full of amazing facts

Observer

The book shines when it brings cutting-edge science to bear

Financial Times

A dizzying range of material

The Economist

A humbling story for humankind

Spectator

Challenges some of the greatest cliches about colonialism... A revelation

SATHNAM SANGHERA

Thrilling and eye-opening

LEWIS DARTNELL

Science and history at its best

MARK HONIGSBAUM

Unpicks everything we thought we knew... Mind blowing

CAL FLYN

In this revelatory book, Dr Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs have shaped humanity at every stage, from the first success of Homo sapiens over the equally intelligent Neanderthals to the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam.

How did an Indonesian volcano help cause the Black Death, setting Europe on the road to capitalism? How could 168 men extract the largest ransom in history from an opposing army of eighty thousand? And why did the Industrial Revolution lead to the birth of the modern welfare state?

The latest science reveals that infectious diseases are not just something that happens to us, but a fundamental part of who we are. Indeed, the only reason humans don’t lay eggs is that a virus long ago inserted itself into our DNA, and there are as many bacteria in your body as there are human cells. We have been thinking about the survival of the fittest all wrong: evolution is not simply about human strength and intelligence, but about how we live and thrive in a world dominated by microbes.

By exploring the fascinating relationship between humans and germs, Dr Kennedy offers a fresh perspective on our past, present and future. This is a must-read for anyone interested in history, science, and the human condition.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911709053