"Bad Science" is a modern classic of scientific sceptical movement. Its importance and influence easily rank it alongside the defining works of Carl Sagan, Martin Gardener, James Randi, Michael Shermer, David Aaronvitch, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Carol Tavris, Paul Kurtz, Sam Harris and Phil Plait. My rather unscientific mind put it on my "to read" list for way too long. As I learnt more about the scientific method and critical thinking from subjects I was more comfortable with like history or the social sciences, I slowly made my way to Goldacre's book with trepidation. As it turns out, and according to Goldacre, this is the ...  Read the complete review

INTRODUCTION Ms Larsbaby pointed me in the direction of this book which a friend of hers had read. The point of the book seemed to be to debunk myths around science and in particular the "pseudo-science" peddled by groups as diverse as nutritionists and journalists. Famous health stories would be examined in detail and taken apart where appropriate. My interest piqued, I had a look to see what all the fuss was about. BRAIN GYMS, HOMEOPATHY AND NUTRITION The author's targets in the book for peddlers of bad science are many and varied. He highlights some well known cases to highlight his point, though is at pains to point out that ...  Read the complete review

Ben Goldacre is the very outspoken mouthpiece against really rubbish claims made by modern medicine or television charlatans. He is a medical doctor and journalist with a column in the Guardian newspaper with an uncanny bullsh*t detector second to none. I can't remember when I first came across his ways of thinking but it must have been when I was looking for an answer to Gillian McKeith, a woman that makes my neck hair stand on end, someone I find appalling to the n-th degree. Lately I have seen him voice his opinion on London's 6 o'clock news regarding LBC's Jenni Barnett and her rather stupid musings on the MMR back in January and the other week on Watchdog ...  Read the complete review

I don't read much non-fiction but this book really caught my eye as I had read a few of Ben Goldacre's articles in newspapers and had found them interesting. I was also drawn in by the tempting teaser on the front cover informing me that this updated edition included a new, previously unpublishable chapter. Well that sounded intriguing so I bought the book and took it away to read on my recent holiday. The last time I studied science was at school, but I like to think I am able to think logically and rationally. However it can be hard for anybody with my level of knowledge to see through the marketing, the woolly science and the downright scary reporting ...  Read the complete review

Have you ever read the newspaper health pages and wondered where they got the statistics from that doing X doubles your risk of cancer? Have you ever been bamboozled by the claims of the cosmetics industry about their magic lotions with their unpronounceable sciency sounding formulas and their claims to give you eternally youthful skin? Perhaps you are too scared to give your baby the MMR jab because you don't want to risk them becoming autistic. The books "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre delves behind these headlines to tell the truth about these issues and explain to the general public how bad science has invaded their everyday life. Ben Goldacre is a ...  Read the complete review