rises

Shortlisted for the 2022 Royal Society Science Prize
Shortlisted for the 2022 Orwell Prize for Political Writing

Times Science Book of the Year
The Guardian's Best Political Book of the Year
A Sunday Times Top 5 Bestseller

*Revised and updated edition with a new chapter reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 two years later, and what comes next*

Has the UK government really followed "science" throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as it claims?

As head of the Wellcome Trust, Jeremy Farrar was one of the first people in the world to hear about a mysterious new disease in China—and learn that it could spread easily between people. A member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) emergency committee, Farrar was a pivotal figure in both the UK and the World Health Organization at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst extreme uncertainty, rapid developments, and missed opportunities. “Spike” is his acclaimed inside story. His account sheds light on the UK government’s claims to “follow the science” and is based not only on Farrar’s own opinions but also on interviews with leading scientists and political figures.