BAD SCIENCE. A paperback book written by Ben Goldacre, published by Harperperennial

Essential Stats

• Pages: 288
• Published: Thursday 2nd April 2009
• Dimensions: 20cm tall, 13cm wide, 3cm thick
• Weight: 359 grams
• ISBN: 000728487X
• RRP: £8.99
• Availability at Amazon UK:
  • 37 new books from £2.12
  • 12 used books from £2.00

Bad Science Cover

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• General
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• English
• Paperback
• Regular Size

Reviews

I really enjoyed the book. Quite readable. Being an engineer I am very aware of the scientific ignorance of most people. And the annoying attitude of media people - misunderstanding and arrogance. Science is not a religion. Something is not true because an eminent person, a celebrity or a person in funny clothes says it is. But in the field of health the ignorance and misunderstanding of science is dangerous. I was left needing to know more detail of all the topics raised. But that is up to me to do my own further study

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.

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.

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.

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.

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