The Good Virus by Tom Ireland

The subtitle of this book is The Untold Story of Phages: The Most Abundant Life Forms on Earth and What They Can Do For Us and, as someone who has read quite a lot about viruses, this book came as a complete revelation to me. Bacteriaphages are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria, including those that cause a wide range of diseases in humans. They invade the bacteria cell and reproduce their DNA at an astonishing rate until they explode out of the cell and start again. What a great image! And this is happening in our bodies and in every animal, inch of soil, drop of natural water billions of times per minute.
This is a fascinating, vivid and engaging book. It educates with humour and clarity, dealing with the science and history of phages – from their original discovery in France, through the dark history of the Soviet Union (the original phage treatment clinic in Tiblisi is still operating today), and the very slow process of acceptance within the scientific community. Phage treatment has had some almost miraculous results, often in cases of infection that were considered untreatable. In a world where bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics, phage treatment could offer a glimmer of hope – but only if the medical community rethinks how it regulates drug licences.
I absolutely loved this book – every page has new and interesting facts, and you come away from it with a whole new body of knowledge – which is always a bonus. Highly recommended!

Thank you for the advanced copy, this book is a gem. It left me speechless, read from start to finish.

Well written, well put together and understandable I believe by everyone. This book is for everyone and not just fans of science. My mind was blown - I feel like I know everything about phages.

Highly recommended

What an amazing popular science book! I can’t remember the last time I thoroughly enjoyed reading one as much as this one. The Good Virus is truly a marvel from beginning to end!

Don’t know what a phage is? Prepare to have your eyes opened and your mind blown because once you learn about these nifty little viruses, you won’t look at things the same way again. A virus is often a ‘dirty’ word and one that is associated with plagues, death, disease and illness. But phages are a breed apart. They hold such potential to revolutionise healthcare and the way in which we live, it’s certainly a ‘watch this space science’.

From key players in phage discovery, to case studies and the amazing researchers involved in the science now, there’s so much to learn from this book. Whether you’re a scientist, a science lover or someone who would love to know a little bit more about this area with no scientific background at all, it’s a book for everyone.

It’s written superbly and in such a way that it’s accessible for all. It effortlessly breaks down complicated science into easy to understand nuggets and in such a way that you’ll enjoy it all along the way. I already knew a little about phages and it’s early beginnings and applications but there was so much I learnt and am still yet to know! It really is such an interesting area of science so it’s a must read for all.