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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
I found this to be a little repetitive. Maybe that's because I'm already on a science degree or because I listened to it as an audiobook but regardless it got very samey. Some of the cases it used were very interesting so I enjoyed those. I'd recommend it to anyone who often finds the news confusing and contradictory as it gives you an understanding of how to challenge research and not believe everything you see in the media.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.21
I think this should be read by every person over 16. It's shocking the amount of crap we're being fed by the media and drug companies about food, drugs, health and homeopathy. From there being no evidence as to how beneficial having 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day actually is to overestimates about how beneficial the likes of vitamin C, antioxidants and turmeric are (it's actually the curcumin that's in turmeric that is beneficial) and the ridiculous amounts of it that we'd have to eat of said curcumin to get any benefits from it at all. From the frankly ridiculous things being taught to school children all over the UK about how to increase brain function to the alternative therapies that make us think they're removing toxins from our bodies when in fact they do nothing. What we are actually seeing are the natural reactions of the ingredients used within them.
I also appreciated that it mentioned that our weight and health are dependent on many more things than our diets alone and that some of these things are genuinely out with our control. This will annoy and anger you but it'll also make you more aware of the world around you
CAWPILE = 9.21
I think this should be read by every person over 16. It's shocking the amount of crap we're being fed by the media and drug companies about food, drugs, health and homeopathy. From there being no evidence as to how beneficial having 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day actually is to overestimates about how beneficial the likes of vitamin C, antioxidants and turmeric are (it's actually the curcumin that's in turmeric that is beneficial) and the ridiculous amounts of it that we'd have to eat of said curcumin to get any benefits from it at all. From the frankly ridiculous things being taught to school children all over the UK about how to increase brain function to the alternative therapies that make us think they're removing toxins from our bodies when in fact they do nothing. What we are actually seeing are the natural reactions of the ingredients used within them.
I also appreciated that it mentioned that our weight and health are dependent on many more things than our diets alone and that some of these things are genuinely out with our control. This will annoy and anger you but it'll also make you more aware of the world around you
I can't remember where I heard about this book. Probably somebody on Goodreads or Peter.
[a:Ben Goldacre|1387272|Ben Goldacre|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1285983498p2/1387272.jpg] makes some very good statements about homeopathy, anti-vaccinators and nutritionists. What he spoke primarily about are things that I've always held to be true, anyway, particularly about the placebo effect, and how homeopathy can be seen as a placebo. His comments on the MMR vaccines and the HIV/AIDS remarks (vitamin C is better for HIV sufferers than AZT) and issues presented are new to me, and I'm surprised, particularly by the latter, that people could even believe them.
I'm admittedly amused by his campaign against Gillian MacKeith and Patrick Holsford. Living in Australia, I haven't heard about either of these public figures, and so learning about them and was new to me. I've done some browsing around about these two myself, and I have to say that while I'm disappointed they've become so influential, I'm not surprised. People can be quite easily bought.
A lot of people have said this book should be required reading, but I don't agree. People should be looking deeper into claims made by others about new scientific finds, and people should be demanding the full research. Nobody should go by one book alone. This is a good book, sure (although I do find Goldacre to be rather arrogant), but people should move beyond just going by this book. Look further. Look beyond.
[a:Ben Goldacre|1387272|Ben Goldacre|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1285983498p2/1387272.jpg] makes some very good statements about homeopathy, anti-vaccinators and nutritionists. What he spoke primarily about are things that I've always held to be true, anyway, particularly about the placebo effect, and how homeopathy can be seen as a placebo. His comments on the MMR vaccines and the HIV/AIDS remarks (vitamin C is better for HIV sufferers than AZT) and issues presented are new to me, and I'm surprised, particularly by the latter, that people could even believe them.
I'm admittedly amused by his campaign against Gillian MacKeith and Patrick Holsford. Living in Australia, I haven't heard about either of these public figures, and so learning about them and was new to me. I've done some browsing around about these two myself, and I have to say that while I'm disappointed they've become so influential, I'm not surprised. People can be quite easily bought.
A lot of people have said this book should be required reading, but I don't agree. People should be looking deeper into claims made by others about new scientific finds, and people should be demanding the full research. Nobody should go by one book alone. This is a good book, sure (although I do find Goldacre to be rather arrogant), but people should move beyond just going by this book. Look further. Look beyond.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Really gives you food for thought. Despite being published in 2008, its message couldn't be more relevant as Goldacre reflects on how baseless scientific claims are used by the media and politics and exaggerated for financial gain.
Expert information in an accessible format.
Expert information in an accessible format.
funny
informative
slow-paced
Amusing, at times alarming, and above all very informative about the failings of well-meaning alternative medicine nuts, disingenuous charlatans, incompetent science journalists, malevolent pharmaceutical companies, and willfully close-minded politicians.
Anyone with a vague interest in how evidence can be manipulated or misinterpreted, or in the state of public understanding of science as a whole, should pick it up.
Anyone with a vague interest in how evidence can be manipulated or misinterpreted, or in the state of public understanding of science as a whole, should pick it up.
Read this book. Please! There is so much counter intuitive data and skewed stats and mistaken views that the "science" community (especially as presented by some politicians, and journalists) is puting out there that is hurting people. Not just average Joe. But all the average joes. Even if you have little interest in the nuts and bolts of some of these discoveries it is important to remember that the finished machine is out there affecting the world we live in. We need to put our money on the machines working for the greater good rather than against it.
challenging
funny
informative
fast-paced
Expertly written and easily accessible, this book is an examination of how the media perpetuates baseless scientific claims for clout. It is equal parts funny and depressing, and I really recommend. Also rather prescient of today's times, considering it was written in 2008...
Interesting, but half way through it sort of felt like the point had been made.
A great read that touches on three important issues. First, how many scientists and non-scientists don't really follow the proper method of sharing their findings (thus making mistakes because no peers reviewed their hypothesis). Second, how media completely ignored the proof and only focuses on scare-mongering (as that sells better). Third, is about how we as people in this day and age have stopped trying to understand how things around us function and instead look for the dumbed down version.