Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Andrew Wakefield is absolutely the worst. An informative read and well worth the effort cause I kept getting lost in the names and jargon and all that
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This is the culmination of a two decades-long investigation into the fraud that helped launch a callous, venomous public health crisis by claiming to link the MMR vaccine to autism.
While a large portion of the first couple of parts are extremely science-heavy and slow to get through, don’t be deterred. Deer is demonstrating how the victims of Wakefield’s crusade – us – never had a hope when faced with the intricacies of scientific practice, terminology and industry politics. We instead have no choice but to place faith in the people oath-bound to do no harm, which makes for Deer’s detailed timeline of Wakefield’s betrayal of the public that much more impactful.
Don’t, however, go into this book believing it’s going to be a wit-filled, snarky takedown of Wakefield’s laughable attempts to push the claim vaccines cause autism. It is a slow read with a lot of information to process, but Deer clearly respects his audience (unlike the fraudster) to offer anything less than all the facts. If you’re after a shorter, punchier story about Wakefield, I’d recommend hbomberguy’s YouTube video on vaccines, which cites a lot of Deer’s work and from whom this book was recommended.
Ultimately, the beauty of Deer’s writing lies between the lines. Deer offers suggestions in throwaway remarks, not to distract the reader, but to help them understand the mentality of the moment, the players and Deer’s intentions (my favourite was when he noted Wakefield’s divorce only by mentioning he had a ring-less left hand ). As the reader it is vital we understand how and why Wakefield succeeded, if for only a time, to fool everyone and cement an urban myth onto the international consciousness.
My only sadness is that we didn’t see more of Deer himself. By the end I wished to know, if only to recognise and laud, the true depth of his investigation. Which nights were sleepless, which interviewees the toughest, did it all ever feel insurmountable? But then the uncomfortable parallel between Wakefield and Deer, two sides of the same story, would be too structurally obvious to ignore. It’s also insulting (to Deer) and vastly too crediting to Wakefield. Better that Wakefield is banished to be the boogeyman under the bed, feared briefly by children, laughed at by adults, and then forgotten — a fate far better than he deserves.
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
hbomberguy book go crazy!! this book took me almost a month to read but it was still so captivating. wakefield (with deer's insight) is a fraud from the start. an infuriating and enlightening read.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
this book took me a good near two years to get through all of it, because the information was so mind-boggling it was getting hard to process. but i think it's an important read for everyone to at least try to get through: deer does a good job summarizing the story of ex-doctor Andrew Wakefield from the start of the conspiracy to 2019, and its a horrifyingly interesting journey
informative
slow-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
As others have noted, the writing is somewhat disjointed -- *Bad Blood* is a better example of a journalist writing about a medical story they uncovered.
But despite the choppiness, I found this book eminently readable and understandable. It's not an in-depth look at the anti-vaccination movement; it's the story of what Andrew Wakefield did, what he said, and all the consequences of those actions.
It's depressing, as any story about the anti-vax movement is, but it's extremely clear and leaves no room for doubt -- all of Wakefield's lies are laid bare.
But despite the choppiness, I found this book eminently readable and understandable. It's not an in-depth look at the anti-vaccination movement; it's the story of what Andrew Wakefield did, what he said, and all the consequences of those actions.
It's depressing, as any story about the anti-vax movement is, but it's extremely clear and leaves no room for doubt -- all of Wakefield's lies are laid bare.
I knew Andrew Wakefield was terrible but I didn’t know he was this awful. You expect Brian Deer would have personal grudge against Wakefield but he doesn’t. He simply asked the “who, what, where, and why” that others should have asked. What he found was the worst scientific fraud in memory. Wakefield brought nothing but fear, guilt, and disease to his disciples and they thanked him for it. Wakefield is living a life of luxury while those who oppose toil in obscurity. Brian Deer is fair. He doesn’t blame desperate parents. Those parents are in an impossible situation and they were misled. Wakefield’s misdeeds are exposed, not by a vindictive journalist, but by an honest and fair one.
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Unbelievable and terrifying.
Very interesting, however Deer’s style of writing is quite confusing in parts which detracts from the story.
Very interesting, however Deer’s style of writing is quite confusing in parts which detracts from the story.