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Books » Science » General
Bad Science
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Bad-Science-Ben-Goldacre/9780007284870
By
Ben Goldacre
RRP $19.99 $12.66 Save $7.33 (37%)12.66
Free shipping Australia wide Ships within 24 hours from UK supplier | Rating: | | | Format: | Paperback, 288 pages | | Other Information: | Illustrations | | Release Date: | 02 April 2009 | Guardian columnist Dr Ben Goldacre takes us on a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the bad science we're fed by the worst of the hacks and the quacks! When Dr Ben Goldacre saw someone on daytime TV dipping her feet in an 'Aqua Detox' footbath, releasing her toxins into the water and turning it brown, he thought he'd try the same at home. 'Like some kind of Johnny Ball cum Witchfinder General', using his girlfriend's Barbie doll, he gently passed an electrical current through the warm salt water. It turned brown. In his words: 'before my very eyes, the world's first Detox Barbie was sat, with her feet in a pool of brown sludge, purged of a weekend's immorality.' Dr Ben Goldacre is the author of the 'Bad Science' column in the Guardian and his book is about all the 'bad science' we are constantly bombarded with in the media and in advertising. At a time when science is used to prove everything and nothing, everyone has their own 'bad science' moments -- from the useless pie-chart on the back of cereal packets to the use of the word 'visibly' in cosmetics ads.This book will help people to quantify their instincts -- that a lot of the so-called 'science' which appears in the media and in advertising is just wrong or misleading. Satirical and amusing -- and unafraid to expose the ridiculous -- it provides the reader with the facts they need to differentiate the good from the bad. Full of spleen, this is a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the world of 'bad science'. About the AuthorBen Goldacre studied Medicine at Oxford. He is 31 and now works full time for the NHS as an academic and hospital doctor, seeing patients and explaining difficult ideas to difficult people. He is the author of the 'Bad Science' column in the Guardian. During the past three years it has become one of the most popular columns in the paper, receiving hundreds of emails every week with tip-offs for stories. Ben also appears regularly on TV and radio commenting on cosmetics, adverts, scares and alternative therapies. Reviews'From an expert with a mail-order PhD to debunking the myths of homeopathy, Ben Goldacre talking the reader through some notable cases and shows how to you don't need a science degree to spot "bad science" yourself.' Independent (Book of the Year) 'His book aims to teach us better, in the hope that one day we write less nonsense.' Daily Telegraph (Book of the Year) 'For sheer savagery, the illusion-destroying, joyous attack on the self-regarding, know-nothing orthodoxies of the modern middle classes, "Bad Science" can not be beaten. You'll laugh your head off, then throw all those expensive health foods in the bin.' Trevor Philips, Observer (Book of the Year) 'Unmissable!laying about himself in a froth of entirely justified indignation, Goldacre slams the mountebanks and bullshitters who misuse science. Few escape: drug companies, self-styled nutritionists, deluded researchers and journalists all get thoroughly duffed up. It is enormously enjoyable.' The TImes (Book of the Year) 'Thousands of books are enjoyable; many are enlightening; only a very few will ever rate as necessary to social health. This is one of them.' Independent 'It is an important book and if you were to pick up just one non-fiction book this year you'd do well to make it this one' Benjamin Beasley-Murray, Daily Mail 'Goldacre's prose always reads well' TES 'Duck the health quacks with a brilliant new book that debunks medical nonsense.' Metro 'The book's light-hearted tone is a help to the reader nervous of science and statistics!This is a fundamentally good book.' Druin Burch, TLS 'The most important book you'll read this year, and quite possibly the funniest.' Charlie Brooker 'One of the essential reads of the year so far.' New Scientist 'There aren't many out and out good eggs in British journalism but Ben Goldacre is one of them!Fight back. You could start by reading this book.' Telegraph '[A] hugely entertaining book!This isn't just an essential primer for anyone who has ever felt uneasy about news coverish of faddish scientific "breakthroughs", health scares and "studies have shown" stories -- it should be on the National Curriculum.' Time Out 'A fine lesson in how to skewer the enemies of reason and the peddlers of cant and half-truths.' Economist '"Bad Science" introduces the basic scientific principles to help everyone to become an effective bullshit detector.' Sir Iain Chalmers, Founder of the Cochrane Library 'This book reawakened my love of science.' BBC Focus (Peer Review) 'Read this book.' Sunday Business Post 'It is an important book and if you were to pick up just one non-fiction book this year, you'd do well to make it this one.' Daily Mail |
| Publisher: | HarperPerennial | | ISBN: | 000728487X |
| EAN: | 9780007284870 | | Dimensions: | 19.0 x 13.0 x 2.0 centimeters (0.29 kg) |
| Age Range: |
15+ years |
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Reviews
4.0
out of 5 based on
7
reviews.
 – Customer review on 10/04/2011
Ben Goldacre makes some very good statements about homeopathy, anti-vaccinators and nutritionists. What he spoke primarily about are things that I've always held to be true, anyway, particularly about the placebo effect, and how homeopathy can be seen as a placebo. His comments on the MMR vaccines and the HIV/AIDS remarks (vitamin C is better for HIV sufferers than AZT) and issues presented are new to me, and I'm surprised, particularly by the latter, that people could even believe them.
I'm admittedly amused by his campaign against Gillian MacKeith and Patrick Holsford. Living in Australia, I haven't heard about either of these public figures, and so learning about them and was new to me. I've done some browsing around about these two myself, and I have to say that while I'm disappointed they've become so influential, I'm not surprised. People can be quite easily bought.
A lot of people have said this book should be required reading, but I don't agree. People should be looking deeper into claims made by others about new scientific finds, and people should be demanding the full research. Nobody should go by one book alone. This is a good book, sure (although I do find Goldacre to be rather arrogant), but people should move beyond just going by this book. Look further. Look beyond.
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4.0
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– Customer review on 27/02/2011
A very important book. There are a heck of a lot of people out there who should be made to read it! If you're interested in being able to tell the truth from the half-truths and the outright lies, fed to us by both science and the media, this really is essential reading. Well written, well informed.
It was a little heavy going just over half way through, but it's worth sticking at it to have that background for the later chapters. Read the whole thing, it's worth it.
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5.0
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7
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 – Customer review on 16/11/2010
I thoroughly recommend this book, especially for journalists, but it is also essential reading for scientists, doctors and anyone who finds their mouth flapping when trying to put their friends / family straight on why spending a fortune on a new fad weight loss herbal concoction is a complete waste of money.
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5.0
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7
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– Customer review on 05/07/2010
A book that absolutely everyone should read, no exceptions. I've already prescribed it for several friends. This book was a huge eyeopener for me, and has completely changed the way I view science reporting in the media. Better yet, this book will arm you with the information to win any workplace debate on pseudoscience (as long as you take the right side, of course)!
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4.0
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7
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– Customer review on 08/12/2009
Excellent read.
Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in intelligent argument concerning some of the "recieved wisdom" of the day, and looking for sensible challenges to much of the sloppy media stories which pass for real information.
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5.0
out of 5 based on
7
reviews.
– Customer review on 20/11/2009
This book is essential reading. I am a retired scientist, and have seen through my career how my work and that of my colleagues is misrepresented by the media. I am angered by the media not being able to distinguish fakes, quacks and cranks from the real thing and those who belive it does not matter. It does. Lives depend on it, and Goldacre makes clear. He focuses on medicine, a rich area of superstition and exploitation by quacks, and also on the British media, particularly TV, but while we may not recognise the names we know the style of the flakes anly too well.
If you are a scientist you will be going yes! yes! If a non-scientist and open minded you will be informed and partially immnised against false claims in future.
You may need a bit of patience to cope with the section on placebo and staistics, but be patient - the non-xscientific reader will be better informed and healthier, but perhaps disillusioned. The section on media reporting I found very depressing.
Was this review helpful? [ Yes]
or [ No]
5.0
out of 5 based on
7
reviews.
– Customer review on 20/11/2009
This book is essential reading. I am a retired scientist, and have seen through my career how my work and that of my colleagues is misrepresented by the media. I am angered by the media not being able to distinguish fakes, quacks and cranks from the real thing and those who belive it does not matter. It does. Lives depend on it, and Goldacre makes clear. He focuses on medicine, a rich area of superstition and exploitation by quacks, and also on the British media, particularly TV, but while we may not recognise the names we know the style of the flakes anly too well.
If you are a scientist you will be going yes! yes! If a non-scientist and open minded you will be informed and partially immnised against false claims in future.
You may need a bit of patience to cope with the section on placebo and staistics, but be patient - the non-xscientific reader will be better informed and healthier, but perhaps disillusioned. The section on media reporting I found very depressing.
Was this review helpful? [ Yes]
or [ No]
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