The Living Medicine

How phages will save us when antibiotics fail

By: Lina Zeldovich

Narrated by: Melanie Carey

The fascinating and dramatic story of a forgotten, life-saving cure to conquer deadly bacterial infections - bacteriophages - and the remarkable scientists behind them

When antibiotics started to fail the race to save humanity from deadly antibiotic resistant infections began. Science journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals the remarkable history of bacteriophages or 'phages', through the colourful lives of the British, French, Soviet and American scientists who discovered, developed and are now reviving this unique living medicine for seemingly incurable diseases.

Starting with the original discovery of bacteriophages, or 'phages', in 1917, Zeldovich reveals how they were all but forgotten as antibiotics rose to medical stardom in the West and Stalin purged leading scientists behind them in the former Soviet Union. It was only when patients started dying from antibiotic resistant infections that those scientists who fled the former Soviet Union realised their unique knowledge of phages presented a safe and effective solution for the future of humanity. Today new work has begun to develop this cure to safeguard our future.

Eye-opening, gripping and impeccably researched, The Living Medicine is a remarkable portrayal of how curiosity, bravery and collaboration seeded one of the most important scientific discoveries of our time.

©2024 Lina Zeldovich (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK

Fascinating story

It is a non-fiction story of medical research but told from the perspective of the people involved: the researchers, the doctors but also the patients. This storytelling aspect made it a great listen