Why Aren’t We Dead Yet?

The Curious Person’s Guide to the Immune System
Idan Ben-Barak

“An accessible account of a complex and important topic.”

Prof. Peter C. Doherty, Nobel Prize Winner

“…dotted with pub-worthy facts (two to four pounds of human body weight is made up of microbes) and playful footnotes that make for an accessible and amusing look at the hidden world of ubiquitous microscopic creatures like bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses. Woven into the humor is a bona fide crash course in parasitology, microbiology, and gene transfer…”

SEED

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“I enjoyed this lighthearted insider’s guide to germs…I'd love to shrink down to microscopic size to see some of the odd lifeforms described in this book.”

BoingBoing.net

“A terrific introduction to the complicated beast that keeps us alive.”

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, author of Great Mythconceptions

“[F]riendly and engaging…accessible to anyone who's curious about the mechanics of the human body.”

The Age

“The book is hilarious in a science-nerd kind of way, and the personal notations and anecdotes from Ben-Barak put a real human touch on information that can sometimes come off as clinical and complex.”

Science for the People

“I loved this book. Ben-Barak assumes the reader starts with no knowledge of the immune system but does not make the further assumption that we’re ignorant. He explains in simple terms but without condescension. He adds liberal doses of humor, often self-deprecating. He writes with an unusual kindness that makes me think he is a kind person, one who would be a lovely dinner guest.”

Tonstant Weader Reviews

“This surprisingly ambitious, eminently accessible book brilliantly summarizes the essential features of the immune system for a lay audience. The quirky humour masks an underlying authority and competence. The work is right up to date, even incorporating recent Nobel Prize winning insights into the evolutionarily ancient innate immune system. It is a triumph of popular medical science.”

Sir Gustav Nossal, former Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Council of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Children's Vaccine Program

From highly respected microbiologist and the creator of the YouTube sensation “Dumb Ways to Die,” comes this exploration of the immune system, what keeps it running, and how germs are destroyed…

So how come we’re not dead yet? In this lively and accessible book, Idan Ben-Barak tells us why. He explores the immune system and what keeps it running, how germs are destroyed, and why we develop immunities to certain disease-causing agents. He also examines the role of antibiotics and vaccines, and looks at what the future holds for our collective chances of not being dead.

This is entertaining and thoughtful science writing to inspire the student interested in a career in medicine or immunology, or to inform the reader who just wants to understand more about their body while having a laugh along the way.

“An accessible account of a complex and important topic.”

Prof. Peter C. Doherty, Nobel Prize Winner

SEED

View all reviews

“I enjoyed this lighthearted insider’s guide to germs…I'd love to shrink down to microscopic size to see some of the odd lifeforms described in this book.”

BoingBoing.net

“A terrific introduction to the complicated beast that keeps us alive.”

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, author of Great Mythconceptions

“[F]riendly and engaging…accessible to anyone who's curious about the mechanics of the human body.”

The Age

Science for the People

Tonstant Weader Reviews

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 8.27in × 5.31in

Extent:240pp

ISBN (13):9781947534377

RRP:$16.95

Pub date:5 Nov 2018

High-res cover:Download Image

AWARDS

2015 The Bragg UNSW Press Prize for Science Writing - Short-listed

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AUTHOR

Idan Ben-Barak

Idan Ben-Barak holds a BSc in medical science and an MSc in microbiology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is currently completing a PhD in the history and philosophy of science at the University of Sydney. His first book, Small Wonders: how microbes rule our world was published by Scribe and translated into five languages. It won the 2010 American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru SB&F (Science Books and Films) Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Young Adult category. Idan’s new book is Why Aren’t We Dead Yet? the survivor’s guide to the immune system, published by Scribe. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children.

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We publish books that matter — narrative and literary nonfiction on important topics, and the best of local, international, and translated fiction.

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