This nonfiction book covers some of the history of the use of bacteriophage to treat infections that antibiotics fail to treat. It also touches on some current day uses of phage, and potential future uses.

While I did learn a lot about the history of bacteriophage from this book, I had some issues trusting the writer. In a couple of spots, information is simplified to a point where it is no longer representative of truth, which forced me to question everything the author presented as fact. I also found the sections dealing with current uses and potential future uses of bacteriophage to be underdeveloped. I was able to follow most of it (I am a microbiologist), but other readers might not be able to.

This was a fascinating look at the history of viruses that attack bacteria, or bacteriophages, and their use in the fight against antibiotic resistant super bugs. There is a well researched book about the history of the scientists and science that discovered and studied phages from 1917 to today. It also talks a lot about the politics and approvals that have caused the US to be slow to adopting this type of remedy which I found fascinating. I recommend this book for those that enjoy history, medicine or medical history.

"Four people die every hour from an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection in the United States."

I vaguely remember many years ago hearing someone argue that American medicine wasn't really so great and that our former enemy - the Soviet Union - was actually more advanced because they had medicines we didn't. At the time I'd never heard of bacteriophages (I don't even recall if the name was mentioned) but the smugness in the argument was enough to put me off.

Lina Zeldovich, whose parents were courageous enough "to dissent in the dictatorial Soviet state" (from the dedication), tells us the history of research on "phages," which are viruses that naturally prey upon bacteria. The narrative is heavy on the history of Soviet Georgia and especially Giorgi Eliava and Frenchman Felix d'Herelle, two who independently discovered that their samples of bacteria were being destroyed by something they couldn't see. Although most of their colleagues ridiculed their findings, they later collaborated and established an institute in Georgia (in the USSR) to produce phages.

While Zeldovich is an advocate of phages, she's not as blind to history as my friend was. We read of the fickle favor the Soviets had for Eliava and his phages, as both he and his wife were executed in Stalin's purges, and funding for the institute was at the mercy of self-serving Soviet bureaucrats. But in a world where bacterial infections are increasingly becoming antibiotic-resistant, phages have finally found champions in the United States and a few modern companies are trying to develop phages that will satisfy the stringent rules of the FDA. She also discusses the significance of a memoir I read a few years ago, The Perfect Predator, which opened minds and doors to the potential of phages.

This is a very well-researched book on the history of phages. That history might be a bit heavy for some readers, but I felt Zeldovich did a great job while also conveying the challenges faced by researchers trying to produce phages. And hopefully the time will soon come that phages become more common in our medicines. (I received an advance digital copy of the book from the publisher.)

Without trying, I’ve recently come across numerous written and audio media about antibiotic-resistant infections. Nothing that I’ve read/heard has offered a suggestion about what we might turn to as antibiotic resistance grows. Then this book appeared on NetGalley, and I felt compelled to request it.

The Living Medicine is phages. Once a rising star, talk of them all but disappeared with the rise of antibiotic therapy. I found it very interesting that the use of phages was essentially discontinued in America right around the same time that antibiotic resistance became a problem. I can’t imagine that today’s physicians even know much about them.

The author, Lina Zeldovich, has accomplished something that’s tough to do in nonfiction. The writing is engaging and packed full of information. I learned a lot about the FDA and its approval process, bacteria in general, disease, cures/treatments, drugs and research. Perhaps none of that sounds fun on its own, but the writing easily drew me in and kept me interested.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting access to a digital ARC in response to my request.

"The Living Medicine" by Lina Zeldovich is an exploration of the history, near-oblivion, and reemergence of phages, the “living medicine” that offers a promising solution to antibiotic-resistant infections. Phages—viruses that target and destroy bacteria—were discovered over a century ago and showed early promise in treating diseases like cholera and dysentery. However, political tensions, notably during Stalin’s reign and the rise of antibiotics in the West, led to their relegation to the fringes of medical science. Zeldovich chronicles the history of phage research, particularly the work done in Soviet Georgia, shedding light on the tenacity and isolation of the scientists who believed in phages’ potential when the world seemed to have turned its back.

While the historical sections detail the lives and struggles of phage researchers, much of this background may feel overly detailed for general readers, especially those eager to get to the modern implications. And, I'll be honest, I was rolling my eyes when she recounted how she supposedly took the initiative to learn about phages on her own at age 5, and other similar instances of mythologizing the genius of intrepid phage scientists. But however rose-colored the glasses, the narrative serves as a reminder of how scientific progress can be shaped by cultural and political forces—and sometimes at great human cost.

For today’s reader, Zeldovich provides an accessible understanding of how phages operate, with lytic phages acting as the real warriors against bacteria. Given the rise of antibiotic resistance, phages present a unique hope for modern medicine. However, they are not a straightforward solution: unlike antibiotics, phages require customization for each infection, making them more challenging to commercialize. "The Living Medicine" is both a historical account and a call to consider alternative approaches in the ongoing battle against superbugs—a timely read as we look toward new-old solutions for global health challenges.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

So what is a living medicine? And why would you want to take it? In this title, it is a phage or more properly a bacteriophage which is a virus that attacks specific bacteria. They are found anywhere there is bacteria and they "eat" that bacteria and leave other bacteria alone. Plus they can work when antibiotics fail. That is part of the point Lina Zeldovich is making in The Living Medicine, part medical discovery, part historical account and part biography.

Lina Zeldovich opens the book with a description of the present day and the problem with antibiotic resistant bacteria. She then jumps back to World War I and the search for cures to infectious diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and typhus. They had vaccines, but those took time to prepare. Giorgi Eliava was a doctor in Georgia (the country) who was working on cholera in Tbilisi when he accidentily discovered phages that were eating cholera bacteria in the samples he was testing, not that his microscope was powerful enough to see them, but he could see the results. Around the same time Felix d'Herelle at the Pasteur Institute in Paris encountered similar action in regard to dysentery. After the war Eliaya and d'Herelle got together in Paris and worked on refining the process of manufacturing phages that would kill various infectious diseases. In the 1920's and 1930's they worked on creating institutes in Tbilisi (Soviet Republic of Georgia) and Paris. Other folks started their own businesses doing the same in other parts of the world. But capitalism killed phages in the US since there was no governmental regulation and the public did not trust the manufactures. In the Soviet Union, phage research continued under government scrutiny and sort of thrived. Phages played a part in saving Stalingrad from the German invasion by preventing a cholera outbreak. But then there came the end of the Soviet Union and disintegration of many institutions which included the library of phages collected from all over the Soviet Union. But with the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria, scientists and the FDA in the United States are more willing to try other means. So do not be surprised if you get treated with phages in the near future.

If you are looking for an engaging book dealing with history, science, and medicine, pick up Lina Zeldovich's The Living Medicine! Your time will be rewarded!

Thanks Netgalley and ST. Martin's Press for the chance to read this title

As a nurse I find this book about living bacteria or "phages" very fascinating and anyone fascinated with medicine, history, and microbiology would as well. It is clear the author spent a good bit of time researching the topic in addition to making sure the scientist's stories were accurate as they dedicated their life's work to this project. Though there are some terms that maybe difficult for non-medical people, it doesn't take away from the significance of the book.
By reading this book, one can appreciate the benefits of bacteria, how phages can kill bad bacteria to control the spread of infection and how this could shape the future of our world.

‘The Living Medicine’ written by Lina Zeldovich is an informative and interesting book about phages, a lifesaving cure nearly lost. This book is a well written exploration into bacteriophages and their uses.

I loved reading this book and learning more about the science behind bacteriophages and how they can benefit us when antibiotics fail. Lina does a wonderful job of explaining bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. This discovery in the early 1900’s was almost lost in the 1990s in the Georgian Civil War where the scientists worked to save whatever phage cultures they could. Lina expresses that there is much more research to be conducted to further understand the amazing benefits and opportunities that bacteriophages may be able to assist with in the future.

The mix of history with biology is truly captivating and keeps the reading moving through the case.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartin’sPress for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own. #LivingMedicine #TheLivingMedicineBook #LinaZeldovich

I’ve known a little about phages for a while but now I know a lot more about them and their story. Overlooked for years, phages may be an answer to the insidious decline of antibiotics’ effectiveness due to overuse. Zeldovich does an excellent job of bringing this important story to life.

The Living Medicine by Lina Zeldovich is a very detailed and well researched read.
This book is extremely informative yet easy to understand.
An interesting story of the scientists behind a long-forgotten and life-saving cure: the healing viruses that can conquer antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. 


Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I had read a small number of articles on this subject prior to reading this book. With today's medicines becoming more and more limited by abuse and nisuse, it's amazing that "old" technologies may save us. Zeldovich explains the benefits without talking over the heads of those who will most benefit from their use. I'm recommending it to be read by everyone in my reading circle and my family.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC for review.

I went into this book without any knowledge on the topic of biophages and came out at the end with (what I think is) a good understanding and a hope for the future against antibiotic resistant bacteria.

This is one of my favourite types of nonfiction: a mix of science, biography, and history. All the science was very well researched and explained: I went in with no medical or biology knowledge and still feel like this was an amazing read. The history aspects felt very personal, probably from the author interviewing the scientists or their direct relatives. And the author did a fantastic job tying the history from the early 1900s all the way up to the present.

I've already recommended this book to my father and I think you should read it if you're interested in medical or science nonfiction.

Bacteriophages—viruses that kill bacteria—were once a revolutionary medical treatment, saving countless lives before antibiotics took center stage. This book recounts their fascinating history, from early discoveries to near extinction and their remarkable resurgence as a crucial tool in combating antibiotic resistance and future pandemics. Combining medical history with biography, the book is fascinating, easy to read, and offers hope for the future.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was fascinating! The author does a masterful job of weaving together science, biography, and case examples to tell the story of phages--viruses that eat harmful bacteria and may be the answer to antibiotic resistance. She explains how phage research blossomed in Russian Georgia and the struggles that ensued following the transition to the Soviet Union by focusing on the story of Giorgi Eliava--an incredible scientist.. She also explains why phages have never really caught on in the US, although that seems to be changing following a high-profile case where a deathly-ill man was saved by phage therapy.

I would recommend this to anyone who has the slightest interest in the topic--you will not be disappointed by this incredibly readable story about a very timely subject.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The is a very informative and quite readable exploration of phage medicine. Zeldovich takes us through the personal stories of those who discovered them, studied them intently, and produced them for public use. I liked her giving us the human side of the scientists. We also read about the political situation in the eastern Europe countries, where these scientists lived.

The use of phage medicine had mixed success in the West. Penicillin came into use and phage medicine fell out of favor. The last commercial phage medicine disappeared in the 1970s in the U.S., just when antibiotic resistance became apparent. American doctors had forgotten about phages and that their use was not hindered by the evolving bacteria. Medical researchers looked for stronger and stronger antibiotics instead.

This book is quite engaging. Zeldovich adds suspense to it by relating stories of desperate and hopeless cases and the race to find the phage that worked, saving the life. I learned much about modern diseases and medicines too. Now I know more about how the FDA approves trials and ultimately drugs. I know more about how research was done in eastern Europe compared to the West.

This is a very interesting and informative book and would appeal to those who like The Emperor of all Maladies or The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Fascinating subject for anyone concerned about serious antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Although it's been studied in Russia since the early 1990s, it was forgotten by the West after penicillin was discovered. Now the subject of bacteriophages, healing viruses, is being looked at again.

The Living Medicine: How a Lifesaving Cure Was Nearly Lost—and Why It Will Rescue Us When Antibiotics Fail by Lina Zeldovich is eye-opening. The main topic of the book is how bacteriophages, first discovered in 1917, are living medicines. In 1917, bacteriophages were discovered by a French-Canadian microbiologist, who noticed that certain viruses could infect and destroy bacteria. He observed that these viruses could be used to target specific bacterial infections, offering a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. This groundbreaking discovery laid the foundation for phage therapy, a treatment method that could become crucial as antibiotic resistance rises. Unlike traditional antibiotics, which often target a broad spectrum of bacteria, bacteriophages are highly specific and can target only certain strains of bacteria. This specificity reduces the risk of harming beneficial bacteria in the body, which is a common side effect of antibiotics. Additionally, bacteriophages can evolve alongside bacteria, potentially maintaining their effectiveness even as bacteria develop resistance. As well as the challenges in phages, the book discusses those who chose antibiotics over bacteriophages in the past.

Fascinating. I'd not heard of bacteriophages before reading this clearly deeply researched but wholly accessible book but now, wow. Zeldovich details the history of the research and how the phages fell from favor only to rise again as more ailment have. become antibiotic resistant. Thanks to netgalley for the ArC. You need not be a scientist to enjoy and learn from this.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.


I was all in for the first few chapters of this book. Then it seemed to slow down and delve into the personal lives behind the scientists. It slowly dawned on me that I obviously hadn't read the blurb closely enough and yes, after checking it and reading the first sentence (headdesk ,headdesk, headdesk) I realized my error. I take the blame for not reading closely enough to see that this book would not work for me. However I also feel, that for the average reader with no background in microbiology, this would be a tough slog. Sorry to DNF this but it's not for me.

Lina Zeldovich gives us a history lesson as well as a lesson about what phages are and why they could be important to the medical field. A large part of the book is devoted to the history of the study of phages, the scientists who did this work and why they were largely ignored at the time they were making breakthroughs in this field. You could tell that Zeldovich has spent a great deal of time researching this topic and is a bacteriophage expert (or at least an expert in the history of the development of the study of phages). Beyond that, the author, spends some time explaining what bacteriophages are, how the overuse of antibiotics has made them rather ineffective and how the use to lytic phages could help to save countless people in the future when antibiotics no longer work.

This was a brief synopsis, but I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in medical history, phages, and medicine in general. Overall, it was an interesting book to read.