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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
I disliked (and DNF) the last Goldacre book I tried so I don't know why I expected this to be different. Goldacre has lots of points that I agree with, but that gets lost in his increasingly angry writing. Basically, he seems to think the opinions of one crusty British man outweigh everyone else's. He's also rude, condescending, patronizing and pretty much just a giant ass. People might be more open to what he has to say if he was less offensive.
Giving future books by this author a pass. DNF.
Giving future books by this author a pass. DNF.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
I give it three bees ๐
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is a book on how science is being misused and misrepresented in the medicinal and nutritional markets.
The book starts pretty aggressively with Goldacre's not so subtle opinion on nutritionists, alternative healers and others who are either misusing science to sell health products or treatments or simply making up things and putting on a sciency explanation in the name of profits. The book then moves on to media coverage and the lack of proper science writers. Goldacre accuses the media for being humanists who are secretively jealous of science. And lastly Goldacre moves onto how the pharmacological industry can misuse science to best represent their product.
As mentioned, Goldacre is going very hard against those that he argues is misrepresenting science to the general public. I fully understand the anger, as a reader, some of the cases mentioned does make you feel that something needs to change. But at the same time, I find it extremely tiring to read what sometimes borders onto rants, even if he argues for and proves every point, it's just too much. Which is a shame because Goldacre manages to fill in a lot of information on the scientific method and something that I remember learning with interest in my studies, how to conduct proper studies where you eliminate biases.
Another thought I had while reading this book is that while it clearly makes a case against the people and companies mentioned in this book, it feels like a witch hunt and frankly, if someone who believes in the people and companies that Goldacre is arguing is duping people, then are they really going to change their minds when reading this book? I would imagine they would become more entrenched in their view. And then ironically this book becomes a part of confirmation bias for people who shares Goldacre's views.
I really do want to recommend this book, but I didn't like the tone and what interesting content is in there, it's hidden behind layers of anger and derision.
The book starts pretty aggressively with Goldacre's not so subtle opinion on nutritionists, alternative healers and others who are either misusing science to sell health products or treatments or simply making up things and putting on a sciency explanation in the name of profits. The book then moves on to media coverage and the lack of proper science writers. Goldacre accuses the media for being humanists who are secretively jealous of science. And lastly Goldacre moves onto how the pharmacological industry can misuse science to best represent their product.
As mentioned, Goldacre is going very hard against those that he argues is misrepresenting science to the general public. I fully understand the anger, as a reader, some of the cases mentioned does make you feel that something needs to change. But at the same time, I find it extremely tiring to read what sometimes borders onto rants, even if he argues for and proves every point, it's just too much. Which is a shame because Goldacre manages to fill in a lot of information on the scientific method and something that I remember learning with interest in my studies, how to conduct proper studies where you eliminate biases.
Another thought I had while reading this book is that while it clearly makes a case against the people and companies mentioned in this book, it feels like a witch hunt and frankly, if someone who believes in the people and companies that Goldacre is arguing is duping people, then are they really going to change their minds when reading this book? I would imagine they would become more entrenched in their view. And then ironically this book becomes a part of confirmation bias for people who shares Goldacre's views.
I really do want to recommend this book, but I didn't like the tone and what interesting content is in there, it's hidden behind layers of anger and derision.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Reading this book felt a lot like talking to my husband after he hears various news pieces. He would love to see more people trained to critically look at science they here. I feel like if this were a more common theme we would have had a better pandemic, but itโs hard to tell. I was thinking it might be nice to have his opinion on all of the information that is out there regarding Covid.
this is a very well written book that investigates the myths and sometimes malice of purported research. It proves the adage that "research can be made to prove anything". I found some parts more interesting than others mainly because some concepts were newer to me than others but the whole is a very interesting book
Excellent read. I wish more popular science books were written like this.
funny
informative
medium-paced
I wanted to enjoy this book and really tried to finish it, but there's just something about the tone of the book that I found off-putting. There was some interesting information in there and some solid arguments, but the borderline smugness of the author in pointing out the faults in pseudoscience isn't going to win anyone over. I'm on the side of good science and even I felt a little antagonised in reading this.