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Reviews of: Bad Scienceby Ben Goldacre
Reviews Excellent piece of scientific journalism Ben Goldacre's book is well-structured, guiding the reader from the smaller manufactured health issues (detox, cosmetics) up to the big guns (fish oil, vitamin pills, antioxidants, AIDS). He covers each important point meticulously and with superb referencing. I wish that the majority of science journalism was as accurate and lively as his work. 2010-03-10 A book that implores you to look carefully at the facts The vast majority of the reviews of this book give it 5 stars. Now, as this book sometimes shows, often the public will swallow whatever twisted statistics they're presented with, and this fact can be manipulated to get the public to believe all sorts of ridiculous things about the world of health and medicine, much to the dismay of those who want people to read beyond the headlines and understand that the human body and the medicines and cures available for it are a lot more complicated than can be summed up in one page of a newspaper, written by somebody who isn't even a scientist. In this case, the demonstrable and scientically measured facts are in front of you. Nearly 200 5-star reviews can't be wrong- this is a great book. 2010-02-18 This should be compulsory reading for everyone I have been a professional scientist for nearly three decades, and even I learned something from this book! Written in a clear and easy-to-read style, with lots of fun examples, the way in which modern pharmaceutical companies and journalists twist the facts is incredibly scary. And the chapter on "Gillian McKeith, or to give her her full medical title, Gillian McKeith", is a real eye-opener. Nobody should be allowed to buy or sell any health services - nutritionists, GPs, alternative practitioners, drug companies - anybody - without signing a written affidavit to say that they will embrace the principles in this book. The science is great. The book is great. He's not saying anything new, he's just reminding us of how proper science really works. Even weeks after finishing this book, I find myself quoting from it and remembering the principles that Ben Goldacre describes. I think it's fair to say that this book has revolutionised the way I think. And I have a genius IQ. If I can find something to learn from this book, then anyone can. 2010-02-17 An Interesting Intoduction to Understanding Scientific Literature A wonderfully written book by Ben Goldacre, whose style of writing is easy to understand for the lay reader while still interesting to those with a more scientific background. I needed little motivation to pick up the book and couldn't put it down once I got started. A must for any young scientist wishing an easy intoduction into understanding the ways scientific literature can be manipulated and the ways to spot it. 2010-02-15 Good content, not so good tone I *REALLY* enjoyed the placebo section of this book. However, the parts detailing (in not so much detail funnily enough) weren't that interesting. I studied this stuff in my first year of my Biology A Level so that was a waste of time honestly. I also thought that the author is obsessed with homeopaths and nutritionists. More should have been written on the media and its role and the scientific method should have been discussed in depth with references. I found that the author mentioned many studies to support his ideas but did not provide full references - the exact thing he accuses nutritionists etc of doing. I also found the tone of the writer came across as quite arrogant at times. I found that he diminished the role of nutrition in health when in fact nutrition is key for overall health. However, I did end up learning about the placebo effect which I'm greatful for as I'm interested in psychology. If you're a Biology student, don't bother buying this book as you'll learn 1/2 of the book matter in class anyway. 2010-02-06 |
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