Pathogenesis

Thrilling and eye-opening. From neolithic diseases to Covid-19, Jonathan Kennedy explores the enormous role played by some of the tiniest life on Earth: the power of plagues in shaping world history. -- Prof. Lewis Dartnell, bestselling author of <i>Origins</i> and <i>Being Human</i> This book challenges some of the greatest cliches about colonialism and leaves you wondering why you ever gave them the time of day. A revelation, and also that rarest thing, a science title that is entirely comprehensible and often a pleasure to read. -- Sathnam Sanghera, bestselling author of <i>Empireland</i> From the fall of Rome to the Spanish conquest of the Americas to the industrial revolution, germs have played as much a role in history as guns, generals and great men ... Jonathan Kennedy restores the microbes of infectious disease to their rightful place in the story of human evolution and the rise and fall of civilisations. Science and history at its best. -- Dr Mark Honigsbaum, author of <i>Pandemic Century</i> Kennedy debuts with a virtuoso analysis of the fallout from encounters between deadly viral and bacterial pathogens and human populations that lacked immunity. . . . He marshals a wealth of surprising scholarship in lucid and succinct prose. The result is a fascinating look at history from the perspective of its tiniest protagonists. * Publishers Weekly, starred review * After recent years you don't need us to tell you that infectious diseases have the power to change history... A compelling case -- All the best books to look forward to in 2023 * GQ *