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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
‘In some imaginary universe, he might be revered as Professor Sir Andrew Wakefield.’
Who is Andrew Wakefield, and why is he referred to as ‘the father of the anti-vaccine movement?’ Why has this movement gained so much momentum?
Once again, vaccination is a hot topic. Once again, those for vaccination and those against face off. Social media provides an additional vector for the spread of (mis)information. Rumour becomes fact. People remember horror stories. Fears cloud judgement. And, because of non-vaccination, some diseases are returning. Why are people choosing not to have their children vaccinated?
Part of the answer lies in activities undertaken by Andrew Wakefield, then a doctor in the UK, trying to prove a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. His study was published in the Lancet in 1998 and has since been retracted. Mr Deer goes into painstaking detail to provide the background. He provides biographical detail of Andrew Wakefield, a description of the rigged research undertaken to try to prove a connection, and the hopes of those families struggling with a disability and looking for answers. Heartbreaking stuff.
Fifteen years of investigation: a long investigation, several different players (many of whom only had parts of the story) and plenty of statistics. I read page after page, wondering how on earth Andrew Wakefield got away with presenting misinformation as science. I felt sorry for the families caught up in his ‘proof’, and angry with the medical establishment for not acting earlier. So, Andrew Wakefield is banned from medicine and has left the UK for the USA where he is feted by conspiracy theorists. Sigh.
As Mr Deer writes:
‘The way I saw it, it was never about the science, the children or the mothers. It had always been about himself.’
I found this a difficult book to read for two reasons. Firstly, I really did not want to believe that the checks and balances that should apply to research had failed, and secondly, I feel incredibly sad that people continue to believe in a totally discredited study (some of the children involved had signs of autism before they had the MMR vaccine). The downside of children not being vaccinated is a rise in preventable diseases. Diseases which can cause serious illness and may result in death.
Yes, I am aware that there are some children cannot have some vaccinations for medical reasons. But those reasons do not apply to most. I am absolutely in favour of the rigorous testing of vaccinations, to identify possible side effects and issues.
I believe that vaccination saves lives. I remember standing with my father, a survivor of the poliomyelitis epidemic of the early 1950s, in a queue in the early 1960s to have the Salk vaccine. I remember how hard it was for my father to stand in that queue. He never fully recovered from polio.
I wish that those who don’t believe in vaccination would read this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Who is Andrew Wakefield, and why is he referred to as ‘the father of the anti-vaccine movement?’ Why has this movement gained so much momentum?
Once again, vaccination is a hot topic. Once again, those for vaccination and those against face off. Social media provides an additional vector for the spread of (mis)information. Rumour becomes fact. People remember horror stories. Fears cloud judgement. And, because of non-vaccination, some diseases are returning. Why are people choosing not to have their children vaccinated?
Part of the answer lies in activities undertaken by Andrew Wakefield, then a doctor in the UK, trying to prove a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. His study was published in the Lancet in 1998 and has since been retracted. Mr Deer goes into painstaking detail to provide the background. He provides biographical detail of Andrew Wakefield, a description of the rigged research undertaken to try to prove a connection, and the hopes of those families struggling with a disability and looking for answers. Heartbreaking stuff.
Fifteen years of investigation: a long investigation, several different players (many of whom only had parts of the story) and plenty of statistics. I read page after page, wondering how on earth Andrew Wakefield got away with presenting misinformation as science. I felt sorry for the families caught up in his ‘proof’, and angry with the medical establishment for not acting earlier. So, Andrew Wakefield is banned from medicine and has left the UK for the USA where he is feted by conspiracy theorists. Sigh.
As Mr Deer writes:
‘The way I saw it, it was never about the science, the children or the mothers. It had always been about himself.’
I found this a difficult book to read for two reasons. Firstly, I really did not want to believe that the checks and balances that should apply to research had failed, and secondly, I feel incredibly sad that people continue to believe in a totally discredited study (some of the children involved had signs of autism before they had the MMR vaccine). The downside of children not being vaccinated is a rise in preventable diseases. Diseases which can cause serious illness and may result in death.
Yes, I am aware that there are some children cannot have some vaccinations for medical reasons. But those reasons do not apply to most. I am absolutely in favour of the rigorous testing of vaccinations, to identify possible side effects and issues.
I believe that vaccination saves lives. I remember standing with my father, a survivor of the poliomyelitis epidemic of the early 1950s, in a queue in the early 1960s to have the Salk vaccine. I remember how hard it was for my father to stand in that queue. He never fully recovered from polio.
I wish that those who don’t believe in vaccination would read this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
informative
slow-paced
There was just something about this book that I didn't enjoy. There was the author's need to point out people's weight that felt out of place and weird but there was something else but I just don't know what it was. It could have been the pacing but it really hurt how the book flowed and how much I wanted to read it.
informative
slow-paced
Andrew Wakefield is one of the darkest figures of our time, personally responsible for launching a mass panic about vaccines that has resulted in a resurgence of deadly childhood epidemics worldwide. He has also caused untold grief to misguided parents who view this con-man as a saviour, and to autistic people who face further stigma by being falsely portrayed as ‘vaccine-damaged’. Written with the meticulousness of a journalist determined to find out the truth and the pulse-pounding pacing of a thriller, The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a profoundly important book.
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: the legacy of autism and the future of neurodiversity
The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a definitive account of the most consequential medical fraud of the twentieth century and of investigative reporter Brian Deer's role in uncovering it. Deer's book is a compelling reminder of what great investigative journalism looks like and why it matters.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Deer shines some of the brightest rays yet to reveal the rotten heart of one of the greatest public health frauds in history.
Dr Zubin Damania, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and host of ZDoggMD Show
A magnificent book. Too few people know how greed and deceit conspired to create the myth that vaccines cause autism. Only Brian Deer can tell that whole story, because he uncovered all of its chilling twists and turns.
Dr Ivan Oransky, president, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and co-founder of Retraction Watch
As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed with fury the impact that Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent science has had on the health of children. This brilliantly written book is a must-read.
Dr Su Laurent, author of Your Baby Month By Month: what to expect from birth to 2 years
An extraordinary story of medical fraud and scaremongering, told by the courageous and tenacious journalist who revealed the truth.
Simon Singh, author of Fermat’s Enigma
This riveting history of Andrew Wakefield’s career as an advocate for the discredited link between the measles vaccine and autism serves as a stirring demonstration of the process and power of investigative journalism … Deer recounts uncovering Wakefield’s deceptions thanks to testimony from disillusioned parents of study participants and guidance from more meticulous scientists … Readers who love a good debunking will find Deer’s narrative logical, exciting, and enraging.
Publishers Weekly
Riveting from start to finish. Thankfully, reporters like Brian Deer exist. He is not afraid to look into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and to fight back on behalf of all of us for whom scientific rigour is so important, but also perhaps more importantly, for the families whose lives have so often been devastated by misinformation and bad science.
Ava Easton, Chief Executive, Encephalitis Society
It’s a remarkable story and this is a remarkable book … [H]elping to explain the political and social predicament that now afflicts so many of us — the crisis in truth and its exploitation by people without scruple.
David Aaronovitch, The Times, ‘Book of the Week’
At times Deer’s book reads more like a thriller, and reveals the extent to which an ostensibly empirical scientific endeavour can be distorted by the subjectivity of human nature.
Decca Aitkenhead, The Australian
Well argued and entertainingly written.
Robin Osborne, GPSpeak
Very detailed yet easy to read story of the events … It’s investigative journalism at its best and medical research at its worst … The Doctor Who Fooled the World is a fantastically detailed look at why we need investigative journalism and the global effect of misinformation.
Sam Still Reading
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul A. Offit, Science
Deer has been on the front line investigating this scandal for more than a decade, and his book is captivating on many levels … This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Foreword Reviews
Seldom has any new book been more timely than The Doctor Who Fooled the World … At times the book reads more like a thriller than a journalistic investigation.
The Sunday Times Magazine
It’s fantastic … I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely enthralling, disturbing, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
Heidi Robertson, host of The Skeptic Zone
In this coronavirus age, where conspiracy theories run rampant, it’s an essential reminder: facts matter.
Natalie Kotsios, The Weekly Times
Riveting … a compelling portrait of hubris and the terrible dark shadow it can cast.
Saad B. Omer, Nature
Exposing researchers who lie, cheat and fake their data often requires the work of courageous whistleblowers or tenacious investigative journalists. Enter Brian Deer, an award-winning reporter for the Sunday Times of London.
Michael Shermer, The Wall Street Journal
Mind-boggling … Every chapter drops your jaw.
Derek Beres, The Big Think
Although many people think they know this now-infamous story, it is likely they are unaware of all its dramatic details.
Paul Offit, MD, Science
This stunning work sounds an urgent message and demonstrates the essential role of investigative journalism in uncovering the truth.
Kristen Rabe, Foreward Reviews
This is storytelling at its best … And this is ultimately, investigative journalism at its best … The Doctor Who Fooled the World does an amazing job of taking you to the beginnings of the modern-day anti-vax movement, opening your eyes to the ulterior motives of the man who lit the match and started a fire that sadly, can't seem to be put out.
Melody Tan, Mums at the Table
This book is the whole story. 4.5 STARS
Robyn Douglas, The Advertiser
The Doctor Who Fooled The World provides a damning indictment of the processes and procedures against scientific fraud in medical academe … The great strength of Deer’s book is how he clearly explains the issues associated with medical and scientific research in the specialised area of vaccinations. His account is readily accessible to persons without such knowledge or training. The Doctor Who Fooled The World should be read by all of us for its explanation of campaigns against vaccination – battles between science and superstition, science and pseudo-science – which, if not put to rest, will have devastating consequences for all of us.
Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books
I really enjoyed it, with a few caveats: there are some pretty fatphobic descriptions, I wish he'd examined why Wakefield's supporters/audience were overwhelming women instead of just stating it, and I think having seen the HBomb video made things much easier to follow--not sure how someone who hasn't seen it would fare.
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
The book was very interesting, but I found that Deer came across as very pleased with himself in a way that grated. I suppose if you're the person who uncovered Andrew Wakefield's fraud then arguably you've a right to be pleased with yourself, but that perception made it a more frustrating read than it might otherwise have been.
It's also uncomfortable to read from an autistic perspective, in part because of the subject matter but also because of Deer's attitude and approach to talking about autism. I also felt that he focused a lot on the parents of autistic people and put little attention on autistic people themselves, to the detriment of the book.
Additionally, this feels less like a book by Brian Deer about Andrew Wakefield than a book by Brian Deer about Brian Deer. Still worth reading, for anyone interested in the subject matter, but not what it could have been.
It's also uncomfortable to read from an autistic perspective, in part because of the subject matter but also because of Deer's attitude and approach to talking about autism. I also felt that he focused a lot on the parents of autistic people and put little attention on autistic people themselves, to the detriment of the book.
Additionally, this feels less like a book by Brian Deer about Andrew Wakefield than a book by Brian Deer about Brian Deer. Still worth reading, for anyone interested in the subject matter, but not what it could have been.
informative
slow-paced
Focused more on Wakefield and what he was doing and is doing than the actual details of the fraud.
I found most of the post-revelation information a little boring.
I found most of the post-revelation information a little boring.