A fascinating history of our most common illness, written by a leading immunologist.

The tickle in the back of your throat; the cough that won’t let you sleep; the stuffy nose and the constant need to sneeze – these symptoms are sadly all too familiar. Having a cold is so common in our day-to-day experience that we tend to see it as an inevitable inconvenience, rather than an illness that we should do something about.

But despite its persistence in our lives, the common cold is still somewhat of a mystery. The cold virus is mostly harmless, arguably man-made and has become a multi-billion-pound burden on our civilisation. For the last 100 years, scientists have been trying to explain what exactly colds are and where they come from – with mixed results.

Sneeze is the conclusion to a century’s worth of research on colds, starting from the foundational discovery that colds are caused by viruses, up to developments made during the pandemic. This vital book explores the history and science of the common cold, and explains how we as a society become better at avoiding them and fighting them, and, perhaps most ambitiously, the practical steps we can take to stop spreading them.

Inside, you will discover:

• The crucial differences between a cold and the flu


• How colds really spread (it’s not what you think)


• Why some people stay healthy while others always get sick


• Practical, science-backed ideas to help you through your next cold

With comprehensive science and richly detailed storytelling, Sneeze will ensure that you will never see that everyday sniffle in quite the same way again.