Every moment, trillions of microscopic combatants called bacteriophages wage an invisible war within and around us. These viruses attack and destroy bacteria without harming other life forms, including humans. 

Phages, vastly outnumbering harmful viruses, power ecosystems, drive evolution, and hold the potential to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. Despite their life-saving potential, phages remain largely unknown, overshadowed by the fear associated with viruses. The Good Virus urges us to reconsider thier role and explores how these microscopic warriors could transform medicine.

Science journalist Tom Ireland delves into the fascinating history and future of phages, introducing readers to the pioneering French-Canadian scientist who discovered them over a century ago and their early use as medicine—years before penicillin. 

While Western medicine has dismissed phage therapy, it has thrived in parts of the Soviet Union, where drinking phages remains common. Today, researchers are racing to harness their potential to combat superbugs while uncovering their broader roles in shaping immunity, producing oxygen, and inspiring technologies like CRISPR.

Celebrating viruses' paradoxical ability to heal rather than harm, The Good Virus reveals the astonishing power of phages and invites readers to reimagine nature’s most misunderstood life form.