David Isaacs

The book starts with how infection works and then how vaccination works. This is a little dry, particularly if you have a non-health/science background, but persevere as the book becomes a lot more interesting after that. Prof Isaacs does a great job in explaining all the technical/scientific terms in lay language, plus there is a glossary at the back if you get stuck. Diseases such as smallpox, polio, tetanus and diphtheria are all covered in detail as to why immunisation is important and how vaccines for these diseases were developed. It’s not just about the disease though, with chapters exploring when things went wrong and how anti-vaxxers think. It ends with a wishlist for the future, suggesting which diseases would benefit from vaccines.

The book is easy to understand, and told in a clear, factual manner that also takes in a lot of history. Many of these diseases were deadly before the advent of antibiotics, and others were still fatal in the modern era in both in developing and developed countries. It struck me how I’ve only seen one case of tetanus in my career (there are six or seven cases in Australia per year now), when not so long ago it would have been common. (I don’t even think I could diagnose half the diseases that are on the Australian National Immunisation Program – they are that rare, thanks to vaccination). It’s a story that effortlessly describes the degree of achievement in public health and infectious diseases in an accessible way. Read it and then double check that you’re up to date with your vaccinations!

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Advanced Numerical Tests: The ULTIMATE guide for anyone who is serious about passing advanced numerical tests. It contains lots of sample test questions and essential tips on how to prepare for the tests. The author of this comprehensive guide, David Isaacs, is a masters degree qualified mathematician who has achieved the highest grades possible in GCSE, A Level and Masters Degree level Mathematics. This book is designed specifically for every graduate and jobseeker and will build your confidence to sit and pass timed advanced numerical tests. Feared by many, these tests often decide your fate. They are often used by employers to test your mathematical ability under pressure, the pressure being the time limit to answer all questions. You will need to answer the questions quickly and correctly in order to progress onto the next stage of the application process, which is usually an interview. This book seeks to make you, the candidate, fearless of such tests and able to operate under the pressure of being timed.… (more)