A review by lanja
Do You Believe in Magic?: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine by Paul A. Offit

dark informative medium-paced

4.5

I listened to the audiobook read by Corey Snow, who does a good job enlivening Offit's dry prose. (He also reads very slowly so I increased the speed by 35%.) A major undercurrent in this book is the role of the media in spreading disinformation and legitimating quackery. The credulity evinced by major media outlets with regard to "treatments" for e.g. autism is astounding and frankly embarrassing on behalf of the profession. Oprah's role in amplifying and legitimising snake oil was also quite shocking and although Offit never blames her as such, I feel that her continual platforming of anti-science guests like Jenny McCarthy contributed towards skepticism and conspiracy theories around science-based medicine -- ultimately leading to the Covid-19 vaccine conspiracies and protests. 

The book is also an indirect argument in favour of reform of American campaign finance and lobbying, given its descriptions of what is essentially legal corruption in politics. It is really a shame that so many politicians both Republican and Democrat put the interests of corporations ahead of citizens. Capitalism and democracy as they are practiced in the United States both look very grim through the lens of this book.