Keep Calm and Trust the Science: An Extraordinary Year in the Life of an Immunologist

by Luke O'Neill

Take a front row seat with Professor Luke O’Neill on a high-octane year. Luke has become one of the most well-known and trusted voices of Ireland’s COVID-19 pandemic. A world-renowned immunologist, he was thrust into the spotlight as we struggled to make sense of a crisis that saw the country grind to a halt. In these compelling diaries, Luke reveals what life was like behind the scenes as he endeavored to keep calm and trust that the science would save us.

Set against a national backdrop of banana-bread baking, TikTok dancing, and outdoor bingo, as well as the devastation to life and livelihood suffered by many, Luke’s lockdown diaries reveal the highs and lows of work at the cutting edge of science in his Trinity College lab along with how he coped personally with the pressures of public life.

Shot through with the natural positivity and humor that have made Luke a home-grown hero, Keep Calm and Trust the Science is an unputdownable account of one of the most dramatic years in Irish history from one of its key players.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

320 pages, Hardcover

Published April 13, 2022

Reviews

[Sarah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Luke O Neill

If you’re interested in science but don’t know where to start, I urge you to pick up one of his books. Informative, accessible and told with that beautiful Irish humour.

This book details his time as an immunologist during the pandemic, such a great insight!

Highly recommended!

[holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
having read and really enjoyed both of luke o’neill’s previous books i was a bit dissapointed by this. his previous books have dissected the science behind some of the most pressing issues faced by our society, but this book, which was his diary entries in the year covid hit, was no where near as good. i should have expected that really, considering this was clearly labelled as diary entries, but i just expected a bit more science wise. there was certainly some good information but it was a bit tedious having to get through all of the other information about this day to day life - while the extra info wasn’t boring, and did give some good insight into how hard he worked to educate irish people about the importance of mask wearing, vaccination etc, it wasn’t that appealing to me. overall, i wish this had just been a bit more focused on the science.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm in between votes for this one. It was an interesting read, but at times it felt like singing his own praises. Interesting to read about the emergence of covid in Ireland and through the experience of an immunologist, the amount of media exposure he got because everyone wanted his expertise, whilst still experiencing the same issues as everyone else - being bored out of his mind, gone through all series and movies he'd wanted to watch, and tied in with his band's gigs before, during and towards the relaxing of rules.

[Suz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The length of time this book took me to finish says enough!

[Eoin Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who never reads books that much I absolutely loved this book. I found it very engaging from the start and reflected on the tough times during the Covid-19 pandemic with Irish wit whilst remaining scientific throughout! I am a huge fan of Luke O’Neill and found him a great help during the entirety of the lockdowns over the last 2 years so reading his book was an absolute treat! The only reason I have not given it 5 stars is I personally would’ve liked a bit more insight into the science in parts where I found it kind of skimmed over them! The book being broken up like diary entries made it very easy to remember where you were and broke it up nicely!

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested!

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of my research in preparation for a podcast recording with Professor Luke, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Luke brings back all the tensions and anxieties we experienced during the coronavirus outbreak with flourishes of humour and humanity throughout - it seems even an immunologist can get sick of hearing about Covid at times! I look forward to seeing this book referenced for years to come and used to educate future generations on the power of science in the year that (almost) never was.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book , more like a diary but really interesting. Have listened to Luke right through the pandemic so was keen to read this. He was so honest about things like online abuse, having bad days, feeling annoyed because he missing travelling. Hadn’t realised he travelled so much! A thoroughly enjoyable read, loved his relationship with his sons, loved that he did the ironing, loved his busy schedule of interviews. Also a good recall of the year and all that happened in it.

[Andrea Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book to read. I found it entertaining to read a book where you knew what events would unfold before the author would as you've already lived through them! Also love Luke O'Neill so was also nice to get more of an insight into his life and his day to day activities. However, I think I probably read this a bit too soon, maybe this book would be more suited a few years after the pandemic has resolved.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the science parts. The reading from his diary, less so. I really don't care about his making eggs Benedict for his family, or how many pints he drinks at what pub, or what his favorite movies or songs are. Very egotistical. If I were reading a print book, I could have skipped over those parts, but it's difficult to do for an audio book. And I get his pronunciations are Irish, but Vebury for February? Annoying.

[Ciara H · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I listened to this on Borrow Box from Dublin City Library.
Probably a bad idea as I have COVID at the moment.
It has all the optimism and joy of Luke O'Neill but without his voice which is disappointing.

A great listen. Short sections. Worthwhile as it takes you through everything that happened during the first year of COVID.

[Margot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Luke O’Neill is a covid media star in Ireland - we have our own here in Australia. I expected more than a diary and didn’t learn anything much. Probably need to be a fan to enjoy it and I’m sure there are many.

[Aishling Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick over view month by month over the two years of Covid 19, more of a diary of what was happening and what Luke was doing during this time.. a quick read. Really brings back all we have been through..

[Mairo Dilworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Luke's regular Covid updates on the radio. His scientific approach always made such sense and his optimism was so reassuring. Reading his diary of that time is really interesting - the man behind the boffin!

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

O'Neill presents his account of the first year of the pandemic in the form of brief journal entries, evidently with a view to publication. A seasoned lecturer and broadcaster, the immunologist is a clear and competent communicator, adept at explaining the scientific background to his research in terms intelligible to the general reader. My objection, however, is to the inclusion of so much trivia. Written in a cheery vernacular, from which the expletives have not been deleted, most of O'Neill's early entries record the minutiae of private life: where he dines and with whom, what he drinks and how much (a lot!), his regular meetings with colleagues and friends, and chance encounters with several fulsome admirers and a few foaming mouthed detractors. In other words, and rather too many words, were it not for the diary frame the account would run on as interminably as the virus.

[Donatella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the diary format, always curious to read about the day to day of academics. Reminded me a bit of 'this is is going to hurt' but a pandemic edition.

And I liked it was Dublin based hehe. But sheesh how busy can a man be?

[Sinéy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing account of the first year if the pandemic in Ireland! Captured both the science and the emotion of this hard crazy time.

[Alec Mcallister · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do trust the science, but what an awful ego driven book to defend science. It’s all about him not about the science. Avoid.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good, but not as clever as others in this genre. Also, very linked to Irish statistics, which became off putting (while a pleasant change to US statistics usually referred to).

[Ambs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brought me back to covid times. It's interesting to read journal entries of an immunologist during this time! Wasn't too science heavy, included a lot of personal entries. Funny guy tho :)

[Gwen Gillham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, easy read. Loved the authors calm and sometimes wonderfully simple reflections. Brimming with optimism. One of the world’s real superheroes.