• Overturns the classic narrative of history: Shows how diseases, not people, have often shaped the course of civilization.
• Combines science & history: Bridges the world of microbiology with political and social events.
• Explains why empires flourished or collapsed: Through the impact of diseases like plague, tuberculosis, smallpox.
• Offers a new perspective on inequality: Analyzes how epidemics affected social classes, colonialism, and inequalities.
• Has timely content: After COVID-19, provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between pathogens and society.
• Well-written & accessible: Does not require specialized knowledge — ideal for any reader interested in the world.
• Makes you see humanity differently: Not only through its actions but also through its ongoing battle with invisible enemies.

«Full of amazing facts… Pathogenesis not only covers thousands of years of history, but also attempts to radically change the way the reader views many of the (often very well-known) events it describes».

The Guardian

«Excellently written… Kennedy effortlessly weaves together scientific and historical research, and his confident voice will surely appeal to readers of Yuval Noah Harari or Rutger Bregman».

The Times

Jonathan Kennedy is a professor of Global Public Health at Queen Mary University of London. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Cambridge.
He has published in medical, sociological, and historical journals and has written articles for newspapers such as the Guardian and El País. Pathogenesis, his first book, received excellent reviews and became a bestseller.