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Bad Science Kindle Edition
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Ben Goldacre
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Product description
Review
"Great fun for science and statistics geeks, this is challenging in the best sense of the word." ---Library Journal
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Ben Goldacre is a doctor and science writer who has written the "Bad Science" column in the "Guardian" since 2003.
Jonathan Cowley is a British actor whose recording of "The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise" by Julia Stuart earned him an "AudioFile" Earphones Award. He has narrated many audiobooks as well as film trailers and documentaries on both sides of the Atlantic. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Jonathan Cowley is a British actor whose recording of "The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise" by Julia Stuart earned him an "AudioFile" Earphones Award. He has narrated many audiobooks as well as film trailers and documentaries on both sides of the Atlantic. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product details
- File size : 1274 KB
- Print length : 386 pages
- Publisher : Fourth Estate (7 December 2008)
- Word Wise : Enabled
- ASIN : B002RI9ORI
- Language: : English
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: 87,408 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,262 global ratings
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Top reviews from Australia
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Reviewed in Australia on 14 February 2019
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This book should be compulsory reading for all school students as it details the method of deception we are seeing around science today. If we were all aware of the authors insights we would understand the process that led to the global warming hoax we all suffer under now. We worth having in your library for reference too.
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TOP 10 REVIEWER
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A terrific, well-written book by a clever, well-informed doctor.
Top reviews from other countries
Harty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bad news for quacks and charlatans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2019Verified Purchase
This is one of the most interesting, engaging, informative. horizon broadening books and disturbing books I've ever read. Some of his observations beggar belief, until you do your own research and discover for yourself the accuracy of his exposure of the almost unbelievably outlandish individuals, companies and practices covered. From individuals to huge companies, no quackery is safe from his academic laser gun. He doesn't mince his words either. He goes into some depth with regard to scientific method, data and research, but there is not enough room in such a book for all the evidence - you'll find it on his website (badscience.net). This book is very bad news for fake medics, questionable researchers, big pharma, journalists, miracle pill manufacturers, etc. and it is no wonder that he is hated and feared by so many in the world of both alternative and mainstream 'medicine'.
The poor reviews are excellent evidence for just how controversial and challenging this book is.
N.B. There is a huge amount to take in and understand, so read it twice and you'll get even more out of it.
The poor reviews are excellent evidence for just how controversial and challenging this book is.
N.B. There is a huge amount to take in and understand, so read it twice and you'll get even more out of it.
9 people found this helpful
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MISS S H DEMPSTER
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The plural of anecdote is not data"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 July 2016Verified Purchase
When I was contemplating buying this (on the recommendation of a friend) I was baffled by the polar opposite reviews for it.
Bad Science looks at the scientific method for research (not as boring as it sounds) and gives concrete examples of when it has gone wrong. Obviously this doesn't win Goldacre any friends, but he is quick to point out that the examples given are not intended with malice, they are chosen from the many he could have picked.
He also takes apart Homeopathy (which I think is why there are so many negative reviews) by showing that the trials performed are flawed. He points out some of the absurdities of Homeopaths and guides a reader clearly to seeing that the ideas are nonsense. If you're a big fan of Homeopathy or other alternative therapies, you will probably hate what he has to say.
Most interesting is the discussion of Placebo medicine and also how a person's beliefs can influence the outcomes. It's made me far more aware that a lot of the time, the pills I take are probably doing nothing for me, but my belief in them stops the issue. That to me is no bad thing!
My copy has bookmarks stuck in it everywhere with things I want to follow up and find out more about.
A profoundly interesting book, that you may well find yourself pushing onto friends and family.
Bad Science looks at the scientific method for research (not as boring as it sounds) and gives concrete examples of when it has gone wrong. Obviously this doesn't win Goldacre any friends, but he is quick to point out that the examples given are not intended with malice, they are chosen from the many he could have picked.
He also takes apart Homeopathy (which I think is why there are so many negative reviews) by showing that the trials performed are flawed. He points out some of the absurdities of Homeopaths and guides a reader clearly to seeing that the ideas are nonsense. If you're a big fan of Homeopathy or other alternative therapies, you will probably hate what he has to say.
Most interesting is the discussion of Placebo medicine and also how a person's beliefs can influence the outcomes. It's made me far more aware that a lot of the time, the pills I take are probably doing nothing for me, but my belief in them stops the issue. That to me is no bad thing!
My copy has bookmarks stuck in it everywhere with things I want to follow up and find out more about.
A profoundly interesting book, that you may well find yourself pushing onto friends and family.
19 people found this helpful
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Janie U
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good start but too long and too repetitive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2020Verified Purchase
This book comes highly recommended and appears to challenge some myths which is always a good thing. There are 370 pages split into 16 chapters, each tackling a specific health claim.
The book was published in 2008 and the UK has moved a long way since then. The vote to leave Europe seemed to show the public's weariness with experts and scientists whereas the rigorous "following the science" approach to tackling the COVID 19 outbreak very much seems to point to experts being back in favour.
Some chapters are still very relevant (Homeopathy and Bad Stats as examples) but others have completely lost their relevance (Brain Gym and Dr Gillian McKeith). Unsurprisingly I found myself absorbed completely by some chapters and so bored I skimmed through others.
There are many valid points in the book but I became worn down by the author's relentlessly disenchanted view of the world. The purpose of the book is to challenge but the constantly negative style that develops in hard work to read.
About halfway through I started to tire of the author's ranting but stuck with it as there are still many valid points that he makes. To make the book more engaging it needed a lighter touch at some points.
I thought I would be entertained and informed by this book and generally I was but there were lots of times when I was bored and just wanted to skip to the next chapter.
The book was published in 2008 and the UK has moved a long way since then. The vote to leave Europe seemed to show the public's weariness with experts and scientists whereas the rigorous "following the science" approach to tackling the COVID 19 outbreak very much seems to point to experts being back in favour.
Some chapters are still very relevant (Homeopathy and Bad Stats as examples) but others have completely lost their relevance (Brain Gym and Dr Gillian McKeith). Unsurprisingly I found myself absorbed completely by some chapters and so bored I skimmed through others.
There are many valid points in the book but I became worn down by the author's relentlessly disenchanted view of the world. The purpose of the book is to challenge but the constantly negative style that develops in hard work to read.
About halfway through I started to tire of the author's ranting but stuck with it as there are still many valid points that he makes. To make the book more engaging it needed a lighter touch at some points.
I thought I would be entertained and informed by this book and generally I was but there were lots of times when I was bored and just wanted to skip to the next chapter.
4 people found this helpful
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David Brookes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everyone should read this
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 December 2018Verified Purchase
I can't recommend this book enough. I'd like to see this handed out at news stands to balance out tabloid nonsense. More importantly, it have me ammunition to bring stupid people to their knees, just like I always wanted. Evidence! Logic! The two barrels of my superiority shotgun. I'd like to see a follow up with contemporary issues, although most of this is still relevant. Engaging and informative, spry and witty.
9 / 10
David Brookes
Author of 'Cycles of Udaipur'
9 / 10
David Brookes
Author of 'Cycles of Udaipur'
3 people found this helpful
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Doccox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read it and weep!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2016Verified Purchase
BAD SCIENCE (Ben Goldacre)
Read it and weep!
There are still snakeoil merchants flogging us miracle cures, nostrums ,herbal remedies and spurious nutrional theory – the only changes since time immemorial have been the so-called sophistication in supporting the claims.
Ben Goldacre tackles the poor science behind the claims ( particularly poorly conducted performance trials and use of selective evidence ) and also exposes a number of charlatans along the way.
Whilst Pharma and other companies are quite strictly controlled about PR and claims , why not get sloppy journalism to report and promote new products. There are some classic examples here – certainly up to 2008.
I am a retired chemist ( I have seen my share of fudging of results and sales claims over the years and threatened to have one salesman fired for recommending an inappropriate product and calling me a liar to a customer) but anyone who can follow simple arguments will be educated ., informed , amused , horrified by Ben’s analysis of many so-called “ trials” of products – some ( not just Pharma companies with mega PR departments) but also involving councils and education departments where children have been used as guinea pigs in trials of pills to enhance intelligence resulting in zero / negligible data. The downside of many of the these fallacious schemes is the now common belief that ANY\THING can be fixed by a pill rather than a healthy lifestyle – SCARY.
There is a very interesting review of the Placebo effect ( as the old saying Nothing act faster than naadine – so take nothing) where patient expectations , beliefs , and doctors /patients attitudes can be as important as certain medications. This does not negate the real effects of drugs but it does have importance in marginal performance cases.
The author goes on to discuss the real tragedies where misplaced results , opportunism and sheer media frenzy resulted in the blocking of use of AIDS drugs in South Africa and the smearing of the triple MMR injection resulted in babies remaining unprotected until the results were critically re examined and original media hype was finally debunked.Sadly journalists only write miracle or scare stories - rarely the incremental development of medical science - often by arts and humanities graduates who cannot be bothered to assess the fundamentals of the science involved in clinical trials.
Read it and weep!
There are still snakeoil merchants flogging us miracle cures, nostrums ,herbal remedies and spurious nutrional theory – the only changes since time immemorial have been the so-called sophistication in supporting the claims.
Ben Goldacre tackles the poor science behind the claims ( particularly poorly conducted performance trials and use of selective evidence ) and also exposes a number of charlatans along the way.
Whilst Pharma and other companies are quite strictly controlled about PR and claims , why not get sloppy journalism to report and promote new products. There are some classic examples here – certainly up to 2008.
I am a retired chemist ( I have seen my share of fudging of results and sales claims over the years and threatened to have one salesman fired for recommending an inappropriate product and calling me a liar to a customer) but anyone who can follow simple arguments will be educated ., informed , amused , horrified by Ben’s analysis of many so-called “ trials” of products – some ( not just Pharma companies with mega PR departments) but also involving councils and education departments where children have been used as guinea pigs in trials of pills to enhance intelligence resulting in zero / negligible data. The downside of many of the these fallacious schemes is the now common belief that ANY\THING can be fixed by a pill rather than a healthy lifestyle – SCARY.
There is a very interesting review of the Placebo effect ( as the old saying Nothing act faster than naadine – so take nothing) where patient expectations , beliefs , and doctors /patients attitudes can be as important as certain medications. This does not negate the real effects of drugs but it does have importance in marginal performance cases.
The author goes on to discuss the real tragedies where misplaced results , opportunism and sheer media frenzy resulted in the blocking of use of AIDS drugs in South Africa and the smearing of the triple MMR injection resulted in babies remaining unprotected until the results were critically re examined and original media hype was finally debunked.Sadly journalists only write miracle or scare stories - rarely the incremental development of medical science - often by arts and humanities graduates who cannot be bothered to assess the fundamentals of the science involved in clinical trials.
5 people found this helpful
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