Antibiotics: one of humanity’s greatest achievements – but invented by microbes. An epic story of discovery and innovation – but also of extraction and exploitation. This is the captivating story of how we have exhausted the fossil fuels of medicine.

Since their discovery, antibiotics have saved millions of lives, marking one of the most significant medical advances in our history. Dangerous Miracle combines the great story of the evolution of antibiotics over millions of years with the history of the past century: first as we mined the earth for naturally occurring antibiotic molecules, then as we learned to synthesize our own.

But like fossil fuels, antibiotics are a limited resource that we have treated as a cheap, unlimited fuel. They are unlike other drugs: each time we use them, we increase the risk of antibiotic resistance emerging, threatening their future effectiveness. If we want antibiotics to have a future, we must be prepared to adapt. And quickly.

Full of pioneering characters, major breakthroughs, and serious risks, Dangerous Miracle is a grand drama of science, history, and politics. It is a revealing account of the miraculous history and uncertain future of antibiotics.

‘An enjoyable, compelling, and absolutely essential read’ – KATE BINGHAM

‘Eye-opening and thrilling … Both an important history and a vital call to change the way new drugs are discovered’ – MATTHEW COBB

Pages: 352, Dimensions: 16.1x16.1cm